The Fargo forum and daily republican. [volume] (Fargo, N.D.) 1894-1957, 1911-12-08
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EkS AND M17E5

Mlnot Reporter: The progressive
movement is an actual movement by
The people for better and cleaner
things in politics. 1t is movement
which looks toward political reform
along a number OF lines. 1t means,
among other things the short ballot
sysetem of elections; conservation of
national resources. a better and more
economical system of government; the
cutting of red tape in governmental af-
fairs and the avoiding of multiple
ity Of officers for the purpose of ac-
complis hing what one could do. 1t
means higher ideals of citizenbhip;
business administrations instead of
political administrations and a great
many other things which are attrac-
tive TO the great body of clean minded
voters of the country,
To this movement are attracted men
who stand for better things; men who
have been political leaders and who
have properly administered such Of
fees as they have held, and men who
have advocated these principles In
such vigorous fashion, as to make
them leaders. We find at the head Of
this movement in this part Of the
state of North Dakota, such men as
r. A. Nestos. Alfred BIaisden, J. M.
Devine and others of this city, j. M.
Hanley of Man6an, and Sen. w. B.
diversion of Williston. These men are
looked upon as leaders in this move
ment because of their advocacy of
progressive principles and because Of
their consistent attitude toward these
principles at all times
We find in the state another class
of people who have taken up this
movement; men who are after offices
| for the Offices sake only, and who have
no proper conception of what the
principles mean. These men rightly
belong to the old gang; the old sys-
tenn of buying and selling voters, del
egates and representatives, who re-
gard politics simply as a sort of horse
! trading business, where delegates to
conventions or representatives to the
legislature are regarded as so much
property to be dickered with as the
self appointed leaders may dictate.
To this class belong the Stockwells,
the Bickfords and the Burdicks. All
new movements must bear the burden
of the self serving politician who at
tempts to ride into office upon it's
4 waves.
The attitude Of Mr.. BurdicIx of will
liston or Munich or wherever he may
belong, has become almost ridiculous.
II am going to run for congress said
Mr.. Burdick, and a number Of the
progressives were inclined to allow
him to do so. but after running for
congress few weeks, he suddenly
found senatorial timber in his system
and he concluded that the best way TO
become a United States senator was to
run for governor. Il will be govern
or said Mr.. Burdick, and he filled the
newspapers with the story OF his am
bition. HIS friend Gunder Olson
lthat faithful emissary OF l.. b. Han
na) called upon Mr.. Burdick and whis-
pered in his ear. Mr.. Burdick there
after announced that he would not
accept the gubernatorial nomination,
which indeed he seemed to regard al
ready as his own. Il will go to Nun
ich and will not run for anything
! Theoretically he started for Munich,
but Mr.. Helgesen is running for con-
gress in that district. and after sur
veying the situation carefully, and
finding that Mr.. Helgesen already had
the position occupied and double cop
per rivited for an indefinite period to
come. he breaks into the newspapers
again. 1T is all mistake about GO
ing to Munich" said Burdick, Il have
decided to allow the people Of the third
congressional district to elect me to con-
gress. All former bets are now de-
clared off" In the meantime, he has
filled the letter files of his friends with
pledges Of his support for different Of
fees, and now finds himself with many
embarrassing questions to answer and
enemies where he might have had
friends.
Butterfly Burdiclx has fitted from
| flower to flower. but the political frost
is touching his wing, and the primary
elections are still seven months away
i Schafer Record: A we'll known
man, who can il he SO desires, use
nearly one third OF the alphabet after