The evening times. [volume] (Grand Forks, N.D.) 1906-1914, 1912-11-01
HAxxA's REFUSAL TO MuDsD1xG

The people of this state will com
mend the action of l.. B. Hanna, the
republican candidate for governor. in
refusing to become a party to the
proposed mudslinging method Of de-
batting with him the public acts and
private character Of his democratic
opponent from the same platform. The
people Of North Dakota are too INTEL
ligent to be swayed by any such meth
Ids as that proposed by the chairman
Of the democratic state central com
mittee. Their sense Of political de-
cency is too sound to be biased by that
means.
Mr.. Hanna has presented his case
to the people in a fair and frank
manner. He does not believe in nor
practice personal vituperation and
abuse. He presents his claims to the
voters in the same manner he would
discuss with them the buying or SELL
ing of a farm or the transaction of
any other business matter. If the
voter can not agree will. him. he has
no dirty comeback but accepts the de-
cision as that of an honest ma who
sees a matter differently from him
self. This is the political conduct Of
a gentleman. and it will be found that
both political friends and foes approve
Of it. The people will not be fooled
by the failure of the democratic
state chairman to draw Mr.. Hanna
from the dignifed and manly posi-
ton he has maintained throughout
this campaign into the slime and
<~->I -a,-oo;-- vowo>~oI IL
bate.
The democratic candidate objects,
through his chairman. unauthorized
1t must be said to the candidates
credit. to a public discussion of his
conduct as warden Of the state peni-
Tertiary. The public records Of any
candidate are legitimate matters for
discussion and consideration by the
voters. If instead of seeking a per-
sonal abuse method. the chairman
had devoted as much eenrgy and ef-
fort to setting the public right. II it
were wrong, he would have better
served the purpose of the campaign.
It has been said that Mr.. Hellstrom
failed to conduct the Irvine plant in
the p~enitentiary in a business like
manner. and that the farmers Of the
state suffered financially az a result.
man would pretend that such BUSH
ness incapacity would be disastrous
to the state IL he were elected gov.
ernor. The voters have a right to
know the facts, and certainly have
the right to hear them from some
one besides the n who would be
personally interested in nnisrepresent-
ing them. That's the province Of a
campaign.
Again it has beer said that inmates
Of the pen have urged their friends
outside to aid in the election Of the
warden as governor in order that the
chances of liberty OF the convict
might be enhanced. II that be true
or untrue the voters should know it.
Pardons and paroles from the peni-
Tertiary are matters of either justice
or humanitarianisrn. Both are legiti-
mate grounds for permanent. or con-
aitional freedom. but the state de.
mands that either shall be exercised
because Of a higher and nobler obli-
cation on its part than the election of
a Particular man as governor.
1t has been said, not in the heat Of
the campaign. but outside Of 1t. that
the large number of escapes from the
p%enitentiary Is traceable to the meth.
DDS Of government and control en-
ployed in the institution. No has
ever intimated that gross negligence
existed. If there were a greater num-
Der Of escapes 1t was probabl; due to
the 'tneficiency Of the warden. But
inexperience in public affairs is an as
set against a candidate who aspires
to a position carrying as great respon-
sibilities as the governorship Of North
Dakota, and the voters are entitled
to a full knowledge Of that inexperi.
ace
A discussion Of these things in the
public prints or elsewhere is no
grounds for demanding that the can