The Fargo forum and daily republican. [volume] (Fargo, N.D.) 1894-1957, 1910-11-04
Mr.. AAKER's REASONS.

Fargo. N, D., Nov. ITO The Fo-
rum; The cat is out of the bag and
Kietel Knudson of Grand Forks and
The Forum acknowledge that Nc
Kenzie is the power behind the stall
wart campaign. / am glad to see this
confession even though it is some
what late in the campaign. The peo-
pie. though. understand the situation
and win speak in no uncertain terms
on Nov. 8.
Now as regards Aaker's position be-
fore the primary. / announced my
self as a candidate for governor as
la progressive republican i'm July, 1909,
eleven months before the primary.
I wrote my own platform, was my
own campaign manager. paid my own
expenses, and / never received a dol
lar from anybody.
During the early spring I was re-
quested to meet Tom Marshall's ELI
minating committee and was requested
to get out of the race in order to give
Mr.. Buchanan the field alone / told
the eliminating committee that would
not do that as was the first candi-
date in the field, unless they had
ence, and one who could command a
greater support. / was turned down
by the committee, and made up my
mind that / would stay in the race
until the people of the state should
have had chance to choose between
us,
Several weeks before the primary
Kittel Knutson called at my ONCE and
offered me the stalwart support, as the
democrats would nominate Burke and
C. A. Johnson stood little chance
against him. Supporting Buchanan
was out of the question. I told Mr.
Knutson that / would be glad to get
support and needed votes to be elected
but stood for progressive politics on
Ia definite announced platform and
could not compromise with anybody
He stated that was not necessary and
he did not think anyone would ask
any more than that his friends would
want to be considered and expected a
square deal in case should win out.
This / very readily consented to and
Mr.. Knutson offered to see the proper
man. Mr. Knutson called on me sew
eral times reporting progress, but
there was never any other agreements
made No men were ever mentioned
who were slated for any appointment,
and / got the impression that the pur-
poses behind Mr.. Knutson's visit simp-
ly meant that the stalwarts We're anx-
ious to have me put up as active
campaign as possible In order to make
&c. A. Johnsons nomination easier.
The understanding with Mr.. Knutson
had little or no effect on the activity
of my campaign, because 1 had long
before decided that I could not AFFORD
to spend TO exceed $4,000. my annual
expenses for advertising the A. B. C.
The outcome of the primary shows
beyond dispute that L received no stall
wart support.
When Mr. Knutson called on me
some time in May the last time before
the primaries, he asked me for $50,
saying that he had done considerable
for me as correspondent to The Scandi-
navian, Chicago paper, and he had
also been to some travelling expense
in my behalf / was not in position
to refuse and handed him my check
for $50, but felt then as / know now
that he did not deserve It,
Mr. Knutson did not call again be-
fore the last part of July and then
came to offer me the appointment to
any Office cared to name, in case
G. A. Johnson was elected told him
that I was not interested in any APP
pointive office and had all could take
care of with my two schools.
My letters in The News, believe,
have amply demonstrated that never
stood nor placed myself under any
obligation to Alex Mckenzie nor any
one else. so did not have free hands
TO throw my influence wherever /
deemed it for the best interests OF the
state. have never allowed business
interests, nor political preferment, nor
even friends to stand between me and
the best interests of the community,
and I have demonstrated that again
and again during the past thirty years
and believe to the satisfaction of all
fairminded people.
The interview given The Forum July
is was given without sufficient con-
sideration and under the impression
that under the primary i owed 1t to
the winning candidate to support
him; but since have followed the
arguments pro and con, which have
appeared In The Forum, News,
Search-Light and other papers, and