The Fargo forum and daily republican., 1910-01-15
North Dakota Political Gossip

49, @---S---e--@--e(S
win forgive the men who then routed
him. Though the men who elected the
late Senator Johnson were then and
are now progressives, insurgents, eV~
erything the words imply, still Mar
shall e. Gronna, who have adopted the
faith Of insurgency as a matter Of con-
yenicnce, are now taking especial pains
to read, force. kick and trick them cut
OF the insurgent organization. j'hetr
motive IL revenge. They know not
what pol tical faith means, and IL they
had any such faith, their blind desire
for revenge would overshadow 1t.
Everyone acquainted with the polit-
ical history Of Nelson county and the
state knows that Mr.. Gronna was al ail
times M N. Johnsoi1's most bitter en-
erny. W henever Mr.. Johnson was sue
cessful Mr.. Gror a was defeated. In
the last campaign when Johnson was
elected u. S. senator. Mr. Gronna, while
pretending to Johnson's face that he
was supporting him, behind his back
was opposing him by fair means and
foul. mostly the latte Mr.. Gronna
now refuses to work in the same po-
litical faction as cny man who ever
supported the late senator.
Therefore. the rwo reasons why the
johnson men are to be punished are
the desires OF these two gentlemen for
revenge.
One or two instances may be cited
to prove these assertions. Judge Laud-
er OF Wahpeton was one of Mr.. john
sons most loyal Supporters. Mr. Mar
shall will never forget LADDERS speech
at the notorious Grand Forks confer
ence, nor will any man who heard that
speech of bitter denunciation. Mr..
Lauder came to Petersburg to attend
the funeral of the late senator as a
friend, with propriety and with the
best of intentions. Marshall & Gronna
came also, but as enemies, without
propriety and with evil intentions.
Hypocritically they wept while viewing
the remains at the johnson residence,
and then, before their tears were dry,
hurried over town and commenced
Matching up their political deals. An
honest man, so strong In his rugged
honesty that their political trickery
failed to defeat him was dead and they
rejoiced. The very day of the funeral,
before Johnson was cold in his grave,
Marshall and Gronna offered Lauder to
support him for congress. They never
intended 10 carry out that offer, for
in a few days they repaired to St,
Paul and wiped the name of Lauder
off the map. So they thought. Laud-
ers name was not even mentioned ac-
cording to their own reports of their
own slate making meetin. Thus they
sought to punish Lauder and put him
i'm a pocket. They will, no doubt, hear
from Mr.. Lauder in the coming cam
paign.
Mr. Bardi G, Skulason Of Grand
Forks is another of the Johnson men
whom Marshall & Gronna aim to pun
ish. He, like Lauder, stood up like a
man at the Grand Forks conference
and denounced the political methods
of Mr.. Marshall. (Cfronna took no hand
in that conference because he was at
that time an avowed stalwart) Skula-
son was. as much as any other man In
the state, responsible for Johnson's
election. He too must be punished
Marshall g. Gronna have, since Mr.
Johnson's death, made repeated ad-
vances to Skulason, offering him their
support for congress. Mr.. Skulasor
recently, at the request Of Mr.. Gronna
and Mr.. u. L. Burdick of Munich, N
D., met them at Lakota. Mr.. Burdick
who is Gronna's tool, then promised tc
run for lieutenant governor and to get
out of Skulasons way for congress. a
few days later Mr.. Marshall requested
Skulason's presence in Fargo and as
sumed the role Of political dictator, in
sisting that ,SlSulason must get out OF
the congressional fight. Skulason re-
fused. A few days thereafter Mr.. Bur.
dick journeyed to Fargo and met Mr.
Marshall Burdick then straightwaN
went back on his promise to Skulasor
and announced his candidacy for con
gress.
Marshall, Gronna & Burdick (h
seems to have been taken into the firm
as junior partner) will hear from
Bardi G. Skulason and all his friend
lin the coming campaign.
The methods OF this firm of politica
tricksters are plain as daylight and a
plainly despicable. To M. N. Johnson
insurgent friends they extend a pre-
tended hand. of friendship and allianc
for the sole purpose of betraying then
! So, let the friends of the late senate
. take notice and beware of any other c
{ fellowship ON the part of Marshall
Gronna, for their weapon is deception
. their motive revenge and their purpos
r punishment.