The Fargo forum and daily republican. [volume] (Fargo, N.D.) 1894-1957, 1917-07-05
Dickinson GiUes Version of
Wdhbeton Political Meeting

~. M. Baer, no stated that 1t
was not necessary to tell US that he
was not an orator. He told us that
he was a good American citizen;
that his forefathers had come to
this country some two hundred years
ago; that he was born on a farm
and had farmed; that he and his
wife had raised hogs-some big ones
and some little ones-that they had
forgotten to separate the little ones
from the big ones and that the
little ones had been crowded out by
| the big ones and all died, and that
his wife had told him that she own
ed the big ones, so personally he
Rad lost out in the hog deal. He
then drew a few pictures for us and
closed his address. AS soon as he
had finished and thanked the audi
ence for their kind attention / arose
| from my chair and addressed Mr..
Baer stating to him that desired to
ask him a question. told him /
would have to preface my question
with a few remarks in explanation,
and he said Every Welt" l then
said. "Mr: Baer, you heard the ad-
dress of your colleague, Mr.. Coates,
how he lauded the government, Mr..
Hoover, the food bill, the amend
ment which Mr. Gronna had tackled
on to the food bill, and also how he
had lauded Mr.. Gronna himself"
Mr.. Baer did not even seem to want
to say that he had heard Mr.. Coates
statement and said Mr.. Coates would
have to answer that himself. Mr..
Coates arose and came at me in a
gruff voice and wanted to know
what my business was, and told
him / was working for an elevator
company. fThis, of course, caused
some amusement for the uniformed
farmer and some one said that ac-
counts for his question:" or words
to that effect, and some two dozen
in the house applauded.) l then
told him would simplify my ques-
ton and asked Mr.. Baer If he would,
in the event of his election to con-
gress, take the same stand in the
house of representatives that A. j.
Gronna has taken in the United
States senate for the past six
months, and he refused to answer.
Mr.. Coates butted in claiming that /
1t was trick or catch question and |
that they would refuse to answer,
and then accused me of trying to |
break up their meeting.
This was not my intention in the |
least. After hearing Mr. Coates |
lauding Mr.. Gronna, calling him a |
big man and man OF sound judg-
ment, etc., and knowing as did |
the stand that Mr.. Gronna has taken /
in our senate for the past few
knowing, or having been
told, that Mr.. Coates was the
brains" of Mr.. Baer's campaign,
that he was going over the district
with him and assisting him in ev-
cry way, I felt that If Mr.. Gronna
was such big man in the eyes of
Mr.. Coates he would no doubt be in |
the eyes Of Mr.. Baer.
believe, and I so stated to Mr..
Baer that I, as one of the voters of
this state for the past 81 years,
asked nothing but a reasonable ques-
ton and / have been refused an an
swer. AS any person whose heart
Is with this government knows we
have one representative in our con-
gress from this state who has be-
trayed his trust as an American citi-
zen, and God help me from assisting
another to get in there at this time.
I note your article says am a Re-
publican. Yes, l have voted the Re
publican ticket and I have also voted |
the Democratic ticket, but / am here
to say that politics cut no figure
with me. make my living by work
ing for an elevator company and
farming, and am still waiting for
Mr.. Baer's answer to my question.
Very respectfully,
A. B. DICKINSON.