Bismarck daily tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, Dakota [N.D.]) 1881-1916, 1910-08-31
REASON vs.. PATTERSON GHOST.

Grafton.
---- -
REASON vs.. PATTERSON GHOST.
It is quite evident that the Fargo
democratic organ and its Bismarck
bureau are unduly alarmed over little
things-the latest spasm being caused
by the election of a city commissioner
to fill an unexpired term caused by
the death of Commissioner Geiermann.
For this Office there were two candi'
dates, Messrs. Patterson and Le1hart.
There was very little interest and Ger.
tainly no excitement. If there had
have been it is believed the press OF
the city would have had something to
say about it, but readers Of the differ |
ent capital city newspapers must ad'
nit that except for the official an
nouncement no one would have known
that an election was to be held; and
as for issues-there were none.
1t ought to be pretty we'll under
stood about the state that the old
time conditions in Bismarck do not
now exist and that the election of this
man or that does not necessarily en-
danger the welfare of the city.
In the election Monday there was
no organized fight made upon Mr.. Pat
terson. The running of the city ul-
der the commission system is purely
business proposition and just now Mr..
Patterson is engaged in the most stu
pendous business enterprise ever I'M
dertaken in Bismarck by any one in
dividual. He is adding a couple OF
hundred thousand dollars to the build |
ing wealth of the city, and If success
full to the end will have endowed the
capital city with the most imposing
hotel in the northwest and the only
seven story fire-proof building IL, the
two Dakotas. There are those who
have not agreed with Mr.. Patterson's
conception of moral ethics and politt' |
cal methods and who would not now
turn the control of the city, in ad'
dition to that of the county, over to
him. But they do not believe that
any one man can now or ever again
run the affairs of the city as ne
pleases. To attempt it would be any
mans undoing. 1t is not at all likely
that it will be undertaken.
We have passed forever. the period
of corrupt, wide-open and law-defying |
apologists. The Bismarck Tribune
has for many years been opposed to
Patterson, politically, and his methods
have been freely criticized in these
columns. Under the same circum.
stances and given the same cause, the
Tribune will not hesitate to repeat
history. But it is time enough to cross I
bridge when we come to it. Under
the commission system each commits |
sioner's acts are open to public scru'
tiny. No lodging behind delinquent
committees, no evading the issue. The
meetings are open and each member
is responsible directly to the people
for his acts. The most moral and
upright man in the community might |
be the greatest failure on board of
this nature. Acts are what are want.
ed and by these may we judge. We
should certainly play the game of
government fair, even though the game
of party politics may not always be
on the square.
Bismarck is a large little city and
possessed of varied interests, and we
are old enough and strong enough not
to be "skeered at the cars" and We
hope patriotic and sensible enough
and bold and courageous enough to
undo any man or set of men without
any ceremony if the occasion de.
mands or justifies it. Mr.. Patterson's
election as a member of the city con-
mission may be misinterpreted by
some, but it will cause no uneasiness
here at home where. the people are
getting along in business way, in
a political way and in a moral way
quite as well as other communities of
this state.