Jamestown weekly alert. [volume] (Jamestown, Stutsman County, D.T. [N.D.]) 1882-1925, 1912-07-25
n. D. REPUBLICANS
ARE OPTIMISTIC
CONDITIONS IN STATE POINT rO
RETURN OF REPUBLICANS
TO POWER IN N. ID.

Grand Forks, July 22.-Demo-
Gratis of North Dakota are fighting
for their gubernatorial candidate
under somewhat different circum-
stances this year from those which
prevailed in the last three elections,
when they were successful in nam
ing their candidate. The fact is
taken by Republicans to spell defeat
for them, and they are confident
they will be able to regain control
of the executive chair.
When John Burke was first elect
ed governor of the state, he rode
into office on the crest of wave Of
public sentiment that has been Gre
ated out of the jamestown conven-
ton. He was rendered a re-elec-
tion because of the good record he
had established during his two years
in office, and he was elected again
because the Republicans in the Sc
lection of their candidate had picked
the same man whom Burke defeated
two years previously, who, for the
second time, failed to muster the
support of the mass of Progressives
who threw their support to Burke.
F. o. Hellstrom enters the field
as the Democratic candidate for gov
ernor under no such favorable cir
cumstances as did Mr.. Burke. The
Republican party has named its can
dida'te in a primary election after
campaign that lacked many of the
elements of factional bitterness so
apparent in previous years. There
is no great question of factionalism
at stake, and it may be difficult
matter for the Democrats to bring
strength to their candidate on
grounds that might be of great
enough force to drive the Republi-
cans from their own nominee into
the ranks of the opposing forces.
Republicans at Peace.
On the other hand, L. B. Hanna,
as the Republican nominee, has sew
eral advantages not possessed by
Johnson in the last two elections, or
by Sarles in the first election in
which Burke was successful. The
Republicans of the state, so far as
factional differences are concerned,
are more at peace now than they
have been for some time. The pres
idential primary this spring, it is
true, brought out great deal of
feeling, but that has been almost
entirely healed over, and it is doubt
full if there will be any evidence Of
it's existence by the time the Novem-
ber elections roll around.
Mr.. Hellstrom will plead for cleo
ton on the record that he has es-
tablished as warden of the North
Dakota penitentiary. He has been
the head of the penal institution
since soon after Burke's election to
the position of governor and there
is no gainsaying the fact that he has
brought about many reforms for the
benefit of the men in stripes behind
the bars.
The North Dakota penitentiary
has come to be looked upon as one
of the models Of the country. In
administrative ability Mr.. He'll
strom has been successful, and the
penitentiary today is evidence of
that fact.
Paroles Of Convicts Criticised.
There are, on the other hand, ele-
ments in connection with his rec
ord there that will operate against
him. There has been at various
times, opposition to his policy with
reference to the parole of prisoners
and one case in particular has aris-
en- recently which may operate to
divorce many voters from him.
Mr.. Hellstrom In an interview
several days ago admitted that he
foresaw a hard fight for the guber-
material honors, but he expects to
enter the campaign actively within
short time. He does not possess
the oratorical ability Of John Burke
nor has he the campaigning quail
ties possessed by the present execu-
tive, but at that he is quite able to
take care Of himself on the stump,
and doubtless will give good ac-
count of himself.
Vacant Senate Chairmanships.
There will be some splendid state
senate chairmanship plums for dis
| tribution when that body convenes