The Wahpeton times. [volume] (Wahpeton, Richland County, Dakota [N.D.]) 1879-1919, 1914-10-01

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North Dakota man who is keenly
alive to the needs and requirements of
Its people, close student of national
affairs and one who by virtue of his
political affiliations and personal &C
uuaintance with President Wilson,
would perhaps be able to secure more
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 few days after
he took his seat that he was appointed
tosan 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
mer bank recalls another episode In
his career. When the Pinchot- Balling
er case was beginning to attract atten-
tipn. it was quietly agreed by the con.
OCCASIONAL junta then In absolute
control, to have nice whitewashing
investigation, and the members of the
Investigating committee were virtually
q nnnfntnA hnPnra ha
Ing the investigation was adopted, and
Paynter was one Of the minority mem
bers from the Senate. But the House
Unexpectedly rebelled and won its 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 as
one oftheir representatives Ollie James
whereat there arose an unayRiling
howl Of protest. James was Senator
Paypter's rival for the senatorial nom-
ination 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
was asked to take the place Paynter
had given up. Purcell proved himself
master in cross examination, and it
was largely due to him and Ollie James
and Representative Graham of the
House that the facts were brought out
which eventually caused Secretary
Rallinger's resignation and started the
movement which resulted in President
Taft's securing eight electoral votes
In the following presidential contest in
1912. Now. Ollie James SITS in Payn.
ter's seat in the United States Senate,
and Purcell is a candidate for the
y. s. Senate from North Dakota.
SO it Is in 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 1t will be seen that
Senator Purcell Of North Dakota was
largely responsible for the Inaugural
lion Of progressive principles through.
out the nation and at Washington.
When it became known that mem.
,ers Of the Ballinger investigating com.
mission were not going to agree, inter.
est became tense. Senator Root Of
New York, Colonel Roosevelt's secre-
tary Of state, was considered power
.ul influence favoring Mr.. Ballinger's
exoneration. Just what would be the
attitude Of the new North Dakota sen
ltor was unknown. Consequently his
masterful speech In the Senate on
Ian. II, 1911. in which he announced
aiO mcompromieinE position OF pfo.
.ecttns the peoples interests. made
aim . national Agura
Mr.. Purcell mas . aelesate tHom this
,tate 10 the nov famous pAmoceefto
eoexentlon ct Baltimore IN 1911 which
lnlnila&eA Woodrow Wilson, viii
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= lar innss than 3 1aaaA