The Bottineau courant. (Bottineau, Bottineau County, N.D.) 1895-1929, 1914-10-02

In the person of the Wahpeton
statesman is offered to the voters of
North Dakota a nan who is keenly
alive to the needs and requirements of
Its people, q close student of national
Affairs and one who by virtue of his
political Affiliations and personal &C.
would perhaps be able to secure
for his state at this time when his par.
ty Is in power.
1t was at the general upheaval of the
Ballinger land scandals in Alaska that
Senator Purcell made his advent into
national affairs. Though a member Of
the minority side Of the house. the new
North Dakota senator made his pres.
ence so keenly felt in the upper house
of Congress within a few days after
he took his seat that he was appointed
to an important post on the joint con-
gressional commission which investi.
gated the charges against Sec. of Inter-
Tor Ballinger Of the Taft cabinet.
The readers of Harper's Weekly are
already familiar with Norman Hap.
goods editorial on Senator Purcell's
work on that now famous investigating
commission. Mr.. Hapgood says:
The downfall of Paynter through
proof Of his borrowing from the Lori.
mel bank recalls another episode in
his career. When the Pinchot-B alling.
er case was beginning to attract atten-
ton, it was quietly agreed by the con.
s%ressional junta then in absolute
control. to have a nice withdrawing
Investigation, and the members Of the
investigating committee were virtually
appointed before the resolution reQuir.
Ing the investigation was adopted, and
Paynter was one of the minority mem
bers from the Senate. But the House
Unexpectedly rebelled and won it's first
victory over the Cannon regime by
agreeing that the majority and minor.
ity in caucus should elect their own
representatives on the investigating
committee. The Democrats chose a.
one Of their representatives Ollie James
whereat there o an unavailihS
howl of protest. James was Senator
Paynter's rival for the senatorial nom-
nation in Kentucky.
"Paynter sat with the committee sew.
eral times. found himself incapable OF
carrying out his part of the program
and resigned. The same day Senator
Purcell of North Dakota took his seat
by appointment of the governor, and
al asked to take the place Paynter
had given up. Purcell proved himself
a master in cross examination, and II
was largely due to him and Ollie James
and Representative Graham of the
House that the facts were brought out
which eventually caused Secretary
Ballinger's resignation and started the
movement which resulted in President
Taft's securing eight electoral votea
in the following presidential contest In
1912. Now Ollie James sits in Payn'
ter's seat in the United States Senate
md Purcell is a candidate for the
b. s. Senate from North Dakota.
So 1t is in q very large measure due
| to a North Dakota man that the wide
sweeping change in the political com.
plexion Of the country was brought
about. And thus it will be seen thai
Senator Purcell Of North Dakota wal
largely responsible for the inaugura
lion Of progressive principles through
out the nation and at Washington.
When it became known that mem
Ders Of the Ballinger investigating com
mission were not going to agree, inter
vt became tense. Senator Root o.
New York, Colonel Roossvelt's secre
larry Of state, was considered a power
hui influence favoring Mr.. Ballingert
generation. Just what would be thu
attitude Of the new North Dakota sen
Ator was unknown. Consequently hi
masterful speech in the Senate OF
Jan. II, 1911, in which he announced
he uncompromising position Of pro
tecting the peoples interests, mad
him . national figure.
Mr.. Purcell was . delegate from thi
state to the now famous Democrat
Convention 1t Baltimore In 1912 whtol
no0inated Woo11ow Wilson, VII
Vho0 no has ben DegSnnelly aeauoi0a
q Ter mees than y 4nsA