The Fargo forum and daily republican. [volume] (Fargo, N.D.) 1894-1957, 1910-08-15
N. D. POLITICAL GOSSIP

Slicn THAT lis has LItIGALEk1Eue I'D TURN
democratic. How foolish!
.A---
Bottineau News; why iddn't John
Burke apraint d. r. Macarthur Of
Bottineau u. s. senator instead of
Thompson of Cando. The place was
practically promised to him and we
are informed that he would have been
appointed but for the efforts OF some
Of John Burke's railroad friends who
are fierce enemies Of Macarthur. Be
that as 1t may Macarthur has been a.
true insurgent democrat and that Isl
the sentiment that elected Burke and
the sentiment he ought to have repaid.
Linton Record: All over the state
there Is a sentiment among republic
cans Of both factions that it is time
to reinstate North Dakota in the re-
publican column in the matter of the
governorship. Outside of the Grand
Forks Herald and the. Lidgerwood
Broadaxe, which are simply democra-
tic sheets with a penchant for being
classed with the majoritynparty, there
are no prominent republican papers
in the state that are supporting Gov
ernor Burke for a third term. All
over North Dakota men who voted
for Burke two and four years ago are
declaring themselves for Charles A.
Johnson, the republican candidate for
governor No friend of Mr.. Johnson
Is attempting to belittle the strength
of Burke. He is one of the shewdest
and trickiest politicians in the state.
He made one of the chief features OF
his two campaigns the allegation that
most Of the state officers were absent
good part of the time from the state
capital. But the fact is that during his
term OF offlce-especially in the cam
paign months-it is almost Impossible
to find Mr.. Burke in Bismarck. One
day he is present at state fair and
the next addressing the multitude as
sembled for some purpose or other at
Squedunk ossroads-anywhere and
everywhere that a possibility exists
OF advertising himself and shaking
hands with the voters. who gather to
look upon a live governor as they
would gather to witness a balloon as
cension or an elephant of abnormal
size.
His appointments, too, have been
made entirely with regard to the
political welfare of Mr.. Burke. AS his
election both times was largely due
to the votes of progressive republicans,
they were led to expect that, after
vacancy had been caused by the death
of Sen. Martin N. Johnson, Mr.. Mar
SHALL the most popular progressive
republican, would be chosen by the
governor to fill the unexpired term.
| Instead Burke appointed Mr.. Thomp-
son of Cando, a democrat who had
no state prominence. whatever, who
had done little to aid the minority
party in it's fights for state supremacy,
and who was chosen solely for the
reason that he was loyal to the per-
sonal interests of Mr.. Burke. Then
| when the governor found that the
| turning down of such democratic
leaders as Cashel and Purcell was rails
| ing commotion in the ranks of the
state democracy, he journeyed tc
washington city and procured the
resignation of Mr.. Thompson, so that
he might appoint Purcell, ignoring Mr.
| Cashel, who had been the choice of the
| democrats for senator at the primary
election of 1908
Few republicans when they voted
for Burke gave thought to what the
results of his election might be-that
it would land democratic senator II
congress from a state overwhelming.
republican, a senator who, able though
| he might be, would have but little in
fiuence with the large republican ma
iority in the senate.
Another thing that is tending strong
N to the overthrow OF Mr.. Burke Il
the fact that Americans generally ar
not friendly to third terms for execu
tives, whether they be presidents o
governors, as a. long term in an execu
tive Office gives the incumbent tn
power to build up a strong persona
machine composed of ofice-holders b
appointment and of those who see
such offices.
AS the personal character of G. A
Johnson is becoming better know
throughout the state the republica
voters of all shades of factional opir
ion are coming to the belief that Nj
Johnson should not have been defeate
two years ago. He is an able an
clean man in every respect. For eigh
years he was county superintendent
of Ward county, and gave general sat
isfaction. He was mayor OF Mine
two terms, and served his district ]
the lower house of the legislature q
: the sessions of 1905 and 1907. At tn
latter session he introduced a col
current resolution for a constitutions
amendment providing for the estal
lishment of normal school at Mino
and, after a brisk contest, in whic
the interests of Rugby as the sea
of the proposed normal school wei
advocated by Representative Tofsru
Mr. johnson was successful. TT
resolution passed both houses, was
the 1909 session again passed, and wi
be submitted to the voters at the CON
ing election. The proposed amen
ment will undoubtedly be adopted t
the voters, as that great area of THO
Unsettled country in the northwestel
part of the state now has no instit
ton for the education of teachers.
The writer served with Mr.. job
. son at the sessions of 1905 and 100
and there is not a man who was
!. member of either Of those session
OF whatever part or faction, who w
not bear witness to the ability al
personal Kindness of Charlie Johnso
: AS ex- Senator Hansbrough remarke
the other day, in a speech: &C.
Johnson possesses most of those ps
u sonal characteristics which made Jol
A. Johnson of Minnesota beloved
% all who knew him."
-e CANAalES.
For sale, the very best. zen Hart.