The Fargo forum and daily republican. [volume] (Fargo, N.D.) 1894-1957, 1912-02-15
THURSDAY. FEB. is, 1912.
The ROOSEVELT MEETING.


some Of rne LaFoIlette boosters are
eriticizing the call issued for a mass
meeting at Grand Forks. Feb, 20. for
the purpose of interesting the people
OF North Dakota in the candidacy Of
Colonel Roosevelt for the presidency.
Among the charges are that the
hackers of this plan are stalwarts and
that they are seeking to capture the
North Dakota delegation for Taft
merely using Roosevelt as a cloak.
Another is that the movement for
Roosevelt is merely to split the insur-
gents in North Dakota and weaken La
Follette's chances. Still a third is
that the mass meeting is a violation of
the presidential preference primary.
There are other objections OF a minor
character,
No effort is being made to capture
North Dakota's delegation to the ma
tional convention for Taft. While
Taft has shown he was a very poor
pelitieian--he has made, in many re-
spscts, a. good president. His prose-
cution of the trusts proved he was not
a tool Of Wall street-and on numer-
u occasions ne has amply demon
strated he had a long, thick and wide
backhone-instead of being a tellyhsh.
But Taft lost out with North Dako-
ta~ns-stalwart and insurgent-when
he endeavored to put through the reci-
procity measure. From a national
viewpoint-reciprocity may not have
been a bad idea. 1t. contained many
things that appeal. That it was I'M
fair and unjust to the agricultural Sec
tions OF the country is beyond contra
vention. Hence the silence-instead
of ~cheers-when Tafts name is men
toned in North Dakota.
The claim that Roosevelt's candi-
dacy is used to split the insurgents
and weaken LaFollette's candidacy is
preposterous. That LaFollette-as a
factor in the coming campaign-has
been entirely eliminated, is quite clear
to all thinking people. There may be
many voters who will continue to adj
vocate his candidacy through senti-
mental reasons. Their loyalty may be
praised, however much their judg-
ment is deplored. No effort can be
made to split the insurgents by the at
tempt to secure the delegates for
Roosevelt. Insurgents as we'll as stall
warts are boosting for the rough rid
er. As stalwarts feel ~indisposed to
shout for Taft-so the insurgents see
the folly of trying to boost LaFollette.
Both regard Roosevelt as the logical
candidate.
Another criticism of the meeting is
that it will be in violation OF the pri-
mary law. The ~insurgers who attend
ed the recent Fargo meeting-endorsed
LaFollette- selected delegates from
each district-and did other things in
the interests c. the pompadoured bad
ger-certainly are in no position to
criticise the Grand Forks meeting in
the interest of Roosevelt. They set
the example.
AS a matter Of fact the presidential
preference primary is a crudity. The
aims of the measure cannot be carried
out If the voters endeavor to strictly
adhere to its provisions. 1t is neces-
sa~ry-because of the many weaknesses
OF the primary - that somebody in
augurate the movement for candidates
and delegates. A mass meeting of all
the citizens Of the state may not be. in
the ruest sense. representative, but it
is certainly as much as a star chamber
session in the interets OF LaFollette.
As The Forum understands 1.-THE
Grand Forks meeting is for the pur-
o S Of giving republicans - of what
ever factional belief - an opportunity
for making an expression in favor of
Roosevelt. It VIII also give them an
opportunity to suggest the name of
representative men as delegates to the
national republican convention-and
for presidential electors.
b Every republican in the state is
asked to attend. There will be no star
chamber sessions. The doors are to
be thrown open as widely as possible
land everything will be fair and above
board. Only men of unquestionable
personal intesrity-avowed supporters
Of Rooseyelt-and free from factional
partisanship are to be urged for elec-
toral candidates.
There are several ways in which the
delegates car be selected. There are
three congressional districts. Those
from each can name a fair share Of
the Observation-Disclosures of whether
each district has the same representa-
tion at the Grand Forks meeting.
There is no doubt but that Roosevelt
Is the first choice of 4 great many re-
publican voters in North Dakota. Tne
| Grand Forks meeting is for the pur-
J pose Of giving these men an oppor-
tunity to go on record-boost for their
fayorite candidate-and express their
presidential preference
AAs Forum anticipates there wifi be