Courier Democrat. (Langdon, N.D.) 1891-1920, 1915-08-26
FRED McLEANS VIEW POINT

which this paper makes editorial
comment in another column, we give
space to the following letter which
does not endorse the idea. AS one of
the "~undrafted rank and file" among
the standard bearers of democracy in
North Dakota, we believe most sin
cerely that what Hon. F.. w. Mclean,
the secretary of the state democratic
committee has to say will carry a far
greater weight with the real friends
of the party over the state than any
thing which the small coterie that
would perpetuate Gov. Hanna's pre-
sent business administration can
frame up. The letter follows:
Editor North Dakota Democrat,
Dear Sir. I beg to acknowledge re-
ceipt of your letter of the 7th inst,
with enclosures and l assume from
the tone of your letter that l am ex-
pected, with all other humble men,
bers of the rank and file of the Demo-
cratic party, to throw up my hat and
shout ''hurrah' for the illogical hand
pickett Democratic state ticket.
am very sorry that am forced to
disappoint you, and if 1 am at all
familiar with the existing sentiment
among the "%undrafted rank and file,'
you and the rest of the coterie who
met and presumed to "draft'' a state
ticket, are doomed to further and
greater disappointment.
The much greater part of the
Democratic party of North Dakota,
are not now, and never have been,
very familiar with the flesh pots.
They have upheld the banners of
democracy and its principals in this
state for more than a quarter of a
century, and have always given battle
to the enemy for a cause they believed
to be right, no matter how dispropor.
%tionate the odds against them. This,
of course, does not apply to the
skulkers-those who have shown
themselves as opposed to the selection
of a ticket by the people at large.
You will doubtless remember that
last year the party in an open primary
selected its candidate for governor by
a two-thirds vote, but that little fact
did not prevent you and your close
associates from doing what you could
to assist in perpetuating the Hanna
"business administration
You doubtless will urge as an
excuse for your then actions, tina. the
standard bearer thus selected by the
"undrafted rank and file' did not suit
you. 1t may be fairly assumed from
the rancor with which you and your
associates fought, that Mr.. Hellstrom
came a long way from suiting you. In
fact, l do not believe he suited you
any better than he suited the republic
cans. But he evidently suited the
"undrafted rank and file'' because
35, 900 of them went to the polls and
voted for him.
Again, this "undrafted rank and
file" have a nasty habit of wanting to
run their W party affairs, and have
a fashion of sitting down mighty hard
on federal office holders who presume
to dictate to the party as to what
course it shall pursue, or who its can
didates will be. And be sure of this
the democratic party Of North
Dakota, is always against "hand-
picked candidates.
1t has been rumored for some time
that a Democratic Aid Society to the
republican machine was in process of
formation, but l did not expect it
would show its hand so soon. The
present business administration is
perfectly satisfactory to the powers
that be, and it's continuance is some
thing devoutly hoped for, and nothing
will be left undone to preserve it.
But, on the other hand, there is a
strong and growing feeling of unrest
among the ''undrafted rank and file''
of all parties in this state generally
ascribed to the fact that they feel
that they have not been getting a
square deal. and this undrafted ele-
ment in all parties has shown a dis
position to get together and compel a
square deal. The readiest way they
can accomplish their laudable aims is
by selecting the standard bearers OF
both great parties. Then, which eve1
one is selected at the polls next yea,
the "undrafted rank and file" can &c
fishing. On the other hand, if little
coteries, such as the one of which you
claim to be a member, can gel
together and "hand-pick" the stand.
ard bearers of both parties, the
business administration" will con.
tinue, no matter by whom differed,
and the people can go to hell.
No, my dear Mr.. Editor, l think
I will stay where | have always been,
and where I belong, with the "un.