The Oakes times. [volume] (Oakes, N.D.) 1906-current, 1912-08-22
QUITS AS ELECTOR.
Is Not IN Accord With Republican
Party and Gives Reasons.

The Courier-News of Fargo addressed
letter to H. H. Aaker, one of the
presidential electors nominated on the
republican ticket at the primaries.
Mr.. Aaker waited until after the pro-
gressiYe convention at Chicago, and
then replied as follows:
In answer to your inquiry about,
eff l, as republican presidential
elector, would vote for Taft" l wrote
you that | could probably answer the
question to better advantage the first
part of August, and as that time is
now reached and the progressive party
convention is now over, can see no
just excuse for delaying my answer.
"Under no circumstances would l,
as private citizen nor US presidential
elector, vote for Mr.. Taft. l was
nominated as presidential elector by
the progressive republicans and do
not see that have any right to use
that nomination to further the politi-
cal aspirations of President Taft, who
stands on a platform diametricaIIy op-
posed to the principles Of the progress
sive republicans and also opposed to
the republican party platform of this
state. By looking over the platform
of two years ago of the republican
party in this state and comparing that
with the national republican platform
adopted at Chicago, cannot under
stand but that the republicans of this
state have been invited to get cut of
the party-in fact, they have been
read out of the republican party, and
no republican who honestly believes in
the principles laid Gown IN the state
| platform, can consist entity support
President Taft.
What Bosses Want.
"In answer to submitted question:
If | do not vote for TAFT, vii | vote
for Mr.. Wison?' l cen say that |,
with so many others, was tempted to
go over to the opposltico and vote for
Wilson, in order to repudiate Taft and
his reactionary platforr,, but on sec
ond thought it seems to me that it is
just what the bosses in both parties
want US to do; it woul.s be like jump
ing out of the frying pan into the fire.
Both Of the old parties are boss ridden
and controlled by special privilege, di
vided on artificial lines nade up of in
congruous elements that are fighting
each other within party lines, while
special privilege is robbing the people
and Tightening its grip on the wealth
of the country.
Would Have to Swallow Gang.
II do not see that there can be
much gained by voting for MIR. Wilson,
when by so dong you have to swallow
Tom Taggart, Sullivan, Belmont,
Ryan, Murphy and the Tammany
gang. The past history of the demo-
cratic party holds forth no encourage
ment. 1t is not progressive party.
Its leadership is in the hands of the re-
1.-The progressive movement origin
ated in the republican party and not
in the democratic party. The leaders
in the movement are republicans and
the soil IN which the movement took
deepest root are republican states.
Only a Shrewd Move.
''It is only shrewd move by the
political bosses to side track the third
party movement, that gave the demo-
cratic party a comparatively progress
sive platform, and progressive can
didate for president. The democratic
party should be judged by it's fruits.
In New York it is in absolute control
and the democratic administration is
now in the limeIight, and the demo-
cratic administration does not seem
to show any strong progressive tenden-
cies, nor that it is any success as a re-
form party.
'It is responsible for the corrupt
conditions Of the police department in
New York city. Democratic Tam
many is in control Of New York and
Woodrow Wilson is the candidate of
Tammany. Ryan, Sullivan, Belmont,
Murphy and Hinky Dink just as much
as he is the candidate of Bryan and the
progressives in the democratic party.
Stalwarts Had Control.
cat the Baltimore convention it was
clearly demonstrated that the reac-
tionary element was in absolute con-
troll. Parker received greater ma
iority for temporary chairman than
did Root in the republican convention.
Mr.. Clark, the stalwart candidate, had
more votes alone than did President
Taft, and there were several other
stalwart candidates each commanding
a few reactionary votes, which could
have swung to Clark, but the bosses
wanted to kill the third party move
ment, so they allowed Mr.. Bryan to
make his appeal to the gallery and his
fight for progressive platform and a
progressive candidate.
"By resolution, Mr.. Bryan tried to
eliminate Belmont, Ryan, Sullivan,
Murphy and the Tammany gang; but
he soon found that even if he sue
ceeded in doing so, he and his follow
ers would have left only the minor
| nortion-the sum and substance of the