The Fargo forum and daily republican., 1912-10-05
LAFOLLEIIE
DENOUNCED
BY PINCHOT
Much Of Speech Taken Up in
Refuting Charges
Mention Of Wilson Drew a
Burst ef Applause
Talked At Length on the Con.
seryation Question

1t was quite evident that the people
of North Dakota have not forgotten
their preference for LaFollette in the
turbulent rush Of political events dur
ing the last nine months, from the
manner In which they received Clifford
Pinchot's denunciation of the little
giant at the Fargo operahouse last
night. Although the former chief for
ester himself was given most cordi-
al ovation on his appearance on the
stage last night, he struck a couple OF
snags when he attempted to bellttle
the Wisconsin senator in the eyes Of
North Dakotans and when he boosted
Governor Wilson, whose name ELECTED
considerable applause.
No sooner had the chief speaker of
the evening been introduced in fer
vid speech by DIR. Creegan, an Old
personal friend" than he launched
into an explanation of the LaFollete
candidacy and the part both Colonel
Roosevelt and himself played in the
affair. Proclaiming Senator LaFol-
cite now not to be the LaFoIIette he
once thought he knew, the speaker
denied that Mr.. Roosevelt had ever
promised the badger senator his sup
port or urged him to become q candi-
date for the republican presidential
nomination. He said the report given
out by Colonel Houser, LaFollette's
campaign manager, that the little giant
had not been treated squarely nor
fairly by the man at oyster bay was
untrue
To substantiate his claim in this
matter, Mr.. Pinchot read aletter which
he himself had recently written to an
inquirer, In which he fully explained
n yi1rf hfcfxN 80 7 IEHJ
lette's candidacy for the presidential
nomination. In this letter he said
that Mr.. Roosevelt would not endorse
anybody for the presidency. Neither
would he bind himself from accepting
the nomination If it were rendered him.
LaFolIette Ruined Career.
mo one urged Roosevelt to become
a candidate for the presidency until
Houser himself admitted LaFollette
could, not win" declared Mr.. Ptnchot.
When Senator TsaF toilette refused to
put his aalts ssfis second to principal
and support Roosevelt a great career
was sidetracked and ruined forever.
It was evident that some of the La
Toilette admirers in the audience did
not take kindly to this comment from
the speaker for at that point many be-
gan leaving the operahouse and
throughout the rest of the evening
there was a continual stream of de-
parting auditors from various parts Of
the house, both upstairs and down.
Praised Wilson.
Probably the next mistake Mr.. Pin
chot made was in mentioning the name
of the democratic nominee, which
brought forth much applause. While
he mentioned RooSevelts name almost
in the same breath, it was plain to be
seen that the applause was intended
for Wilson as a great many demo-
cratic faces were seen in the audience.
When the atmosphere was senSed,
Mr.. Pinchot spoke very highly in
praise Of Governor Wilson, proclaim
ing him an honest, upright and moral
man of the highest integrity. But ne
asked his audience if the New Jersey
executive had the necessary backbone
to become president of the United
States. He said the country at the
present time had a somewhat illustri-
Gus example of a man who had done
good work as subordinate but who
had utterly failed When,as an expert
ment, he had been given the masters s
work to do. Mr.. Pinchot thought the
time for experiments was over.
Talked Conservation.
The meat or Mr.. Pinchot's address,
1t must be admitted, was not in his
discourse on things political, but upon
the one topic on which he is best pre-
pared to speak that of conservation Of
natural resources. And while much OF
the statistical. part of his address on
this question did not sufficiently hold
the attention of all Of his audience to
keep them from leaving the opera
house, the larger number who did re-
main were greatly enlightened by this
part of his speech.
One of the stories of his efforts in
the conservation work, told last even
ing, formed a part Of his address that
he delivered in the state last spring,
during the presidential primary. He
said he was once compelled to go to an
Office in Wall street to secure the sup
port OF a. senator. living many miles
from New York state, for the passage
of a certain forestry bill that would
be for the common good of the nation.
Mr. Pinchot was not interrupted at
that point in his story as he was when
he delivered the same address In Grand
Forks last March. when a man in the
front row asked him the name of the
senator and the Wall street person.
Mr.. Pinchot declined to answer, but
was reminded by the man on the front
seat that he ought to tell everything
square"
Looks for Success.
Mr.. Pincnot attempted to show the
relation Of Theodore to all the good ac-
conlplished in the conservation work,
He said the country owed much to the
colonel and that his election would
mean better homes and better condi-
tions for everybody.
The former forester was most opti-
paistic over the outlook next month.
He said two months ago he really felt
the third party had not the slightest
chance to win and that all that could
be hoped for was victory four years
hence. and after getting the people SO
dfggusted with the two old parties and
conditions as they were. Now he said
he actually believed Roosevelt and
Johnson would be elected.
zone Of two men will be elected" he
said. woodrow Wilson or Theodore
Roosevelt" He quite ignored the pres
fdent throughout his whole speech.
Other Speakers.
Mr., Pincnot was late in arriving at
the theatre. having been detained by
dinner engag cement. and before he
appeared III. r. Turner, chairman OF
the evening, introduced Mayor Sweet
and Captain Barclay, Texas democrat.
Captain Barclay was an energetic lit ;
tie fellow who said some funny things
and. although he did not appear at
all times To be a strict adherent OF the
Continued on Page Ten.