The Fargo forum and daily republican. [volume] (Fargo, N.D.) 1894-1957, 1912-02-24
CHRISTIANSON
CAN'T ACCEPT
MAN WILL BE DELE
GATE BUT NOT CANDIDATE
FOR COMMITTEEMAN.

Towner, N. D., Feb, 24,-Hon. A. NJ.
Christensen Of this city, who was
nominated for national committeeman
at the Grand Forks Roosevelt mass
meeting, finds he cannot accept.
After careful elaboration, / am
still compelled to adhere to my orig
inal position so far as the candidacy
for national committeeman is con-
cerned," he says, Il arr fully consci-
Gus of the great honor conferred upon
me by the endorsement given by the
Roosevelt mass meeting-because, all
malicious reports to the contrary, not
wi~thstanding, / believe that it was the
most remarkable, the most unselfish,
and most truly democratic political
assembly even gathered in the state
and, If / felt that the success of the
Roosevelt movement could in n
be injured by my failure to
become candidate, on that any other
condition exists which makes it my
duty, | would accept the endorsement
n make the fight regardless of my
personal ~'inclinations. But / am I'M
able to see any condition making it an
imperative duty for me to accept.
THE meeting was called primarily
to launch the campaign for Theodore
Roosevelt in North Dakota, and as an
incident thereto, to endorse suitable
candidates for delegates to the ma
tional convention, and presidential
electors. The call. as l understood it
at least, did not refer to the selection
of a candidate for national committee
man, and while doubtless it was en-
tirely proper for the mass meeting to
express it's preference, still l do not
believe that any injury can result.
or my n be misled, by my declina-
tlon--especially in view of the fact
that ] refused to accept at the time
the endorsement was rendered. And
for reasons fully stated at that time.
l must still decline to be a candidate
for the position.
Il am not, and do not aspire to be.
a politician, and my only desire is ar
opportunity to serve in the ranks, and
there / intend to continue to serve
Cfor the present, at least) and adyo-
cate such measures and support such
men, regardless of label, as in NV
judgment will best promote the in
terests of my state and country, and
procure for the people, to the fulIesl
extent, their sovereign right to gov
ern themselves, without the interfer-
ence of bosses or self constituted die
~tators, whether they be denominated
w or progressives, or designat-
ed by any other label. And in the ad-
vocacy of men and measures. my
opinions n activities are not for
sale or barter. 1t was in this spirit
that / attended the Roosevelt mass
meeting, and the same spirit seemed
to animate every other participant in
that meeting. .
In my opinion, the greatest cues
ton now confronting the republican
party as a whole, and particularly in
North Dakota, is the selection of its
presidential candidate for the coming
election. I firmly believe that the
best interests of the party and the
country demand the denomination
and reelection of the man, who at
the end of seven years Of service as
the nations chief executive had set
a standard so high that the criticism
of his successor has been based al
HhSSt SlItlLSly upon Wtl6IHeT or not he
has adhered to and carried out the
policies then inaugurated. And I
firmly believe that | can be of greater
service in this cause, and best per-
form my duty, as I see it, by not be-
coming a candidate for national COM
mitteeman.
1T is true" he concluded. 81 was
also endorsed as a candidate for dele
gate to the national convention. but
as a delegate chosen under our presi-
Dental preference primary law is a
mere instrument to record the win OF
the people as expressed at the prim-
aries, ] accept this endorsement, and il
chosen, will vote for and use every
honest effort to procure the nomfna-
ton of the presidential candidate who
shall receive the endorsement Of the
people. regardless of whether such
candidate Is my personal preference
or not. In this capacity, / am Willing
to serve, but / cannot and will not be
a candidate for national committee
nan My decision on this point is
inal.''