The evening times. [volume] (Grand Forks, N.D.) 1906-1914, 1912-12-06
D|M|T ASKS CHAIR
As PROGRESSIVE
He Believes Progressiveism,
However, Should be Had
in Republican Party.
MAKES STATEMENT
OF HIS POSITION
'Wahpeton Man Who Wants
Speakership Favors Gener-
al Policy of Progress.

A G .Divit Of Wahpeton, re-repre-
sentative-elect who attended the river
navigation hearing in Grand Forks
yesterday, is q candidate for the
.speakership Of the house Of represent
tatives, and he is making the fight as
a progressive republican.
In IN interview with The Times be-
fore his departure from the city last
evening. Mr.. Divit made known his
views of the general political situa-
ton. Mr. Divit has also addressed
house, giving them a statement OF his
position on the several questions of
particular Importance.
Progress in the Party.
II am a republican who believes
that he party Is still the dominant
party in the state. That the result
Of the late election does not show
that the party has lost favor, but does
show an intention to rebuke men and
management o fparty affairs. The
election Of our state officers by ma
j%orities far below what they should
have received demonstrates that the
vote. on the national ticket did not
measure the party strength but meas
ured the resentment, within the party.
O fthe conduct Of its national affairs.
This resentment acted by indirection
upon state candidates in proportion
as the belief was entertained (justly
or uniustly makes no difference now
that they were parties to, or approved
of, the things that the people con-
demned.
81 stand with the progressive wing
of the party-a progressive within the
party. 1 believe the party is truly
progressive by a very large majority
and that the coming legislature must
be organized along progressive lines.
1 do not mean that all the contentious
and demands made in the name. of
progressivism are vel ladvised or to
be taken up and adopted. We have
me namong us who are too head
strong and wilfully blind to the good
intentions and the good ideas of those
who differ from them. If the errors
Of the past are to be avoided, the
the reasonable upheld, the unreason-
able cast out. and common sense and
justice made to prevail against inn
pulse n selfishness.
II stand for political progress
progressiveness in its large sense
the inalienable right of the people
to conduct public affairs in their own
large interest: the substitution of par
ty organization, truly representative
of party. foro party, machines mas
querading under the cloak of party
plishment of things destructive Of par
ty and therefore Of real republican,
ism.
II believe in the right Of the peo-
pie to arise in their might and rebuke
wrong doing In political affairs, even
though to do so is to change. for the
time, the political complexion of the
state.
"True progressivism within the re-
publican party c~ontemplates funda-
mental justice and equity in govern
nent: the denial of special favors to
classes or interests. In short. the
suit the people themselves and in their
interests as a whole.
Strengthen Prohibition Law.
II am In favor of the prohibition
law and Of its being strengthened and
increased in effectiveness, but refuse
to endorse or condemn in advance.
any particular detail or proposed leg
islation as best intended to serve the
purpose.
II believe in the general principle
of a recall Of officers as in accord with
public affairs. I am of the opinion
that II the remedy existed it would
prove such a curb to public servants
that it would only be invoked In rare
instances. / do not. however. favor
its application to judicial officers un-
til 1t has een sufficiently tried out.
as applied to administrative n ex-
ecutive officers. to demonstrate its
wisdom.
while I see no crying need for wo-
mems suffrage. I believe the people
are demanding it m that the qucs-
ton Is for them. ! do not oppose it,.
With or without my support 1t will
surely come l nthe next few years but
I do not consider it Of vital impor-
lance.
Under reasonable regulations pre-
venting a multiplicity Of questions en-
numbering the ballot. I favor the in
.itiative and referendum. 1t Is both
a curb and a spur to legislatures and
works we'll and without serious draw
backs where in force.
"If my views in the main meet the
approval Of people and Legislators I,
would appreciate the honor of being
speaker and would serve the whole
state to the best Of my ability. but I
cannot sacrifice my principles or bar
ter my views upon public questions
in return for support from friends of
prospective clerks. stenographers or
janitors. I will either he speaker as
the result of a dignified request of
II, 40 sylIN I~ -H aS& Ni.~n