The Bottineau courant. (Bottineau, Bottineau County, N.D.) 1895-1929, 1918-06-06
THE MINOT

LIE N1llNOl TLAlFOHM.
It is now a full month since the "Lincoln"
Republican league met at Minot and declared
that it's self-appointed delegates deemed it
their duty, in view OF the deplorable political
and economic conditions in the state and nation,
to appeal to the people of North Dakota to be-
come committed to a so-called political and
economic program"
Political" that Minot program is without
question:. Politics was it's purpose, as politics
gave 1t birth. 1t was framed by politicians to
meet what they considered their own political
necessity.
When that necessity is expressed in a total
lack of connection with political place or DOW
er, when politicians must stand by and see those
who know nothing Of politics conduct the affairs
OF a great state with satisfaction to everyone
but politicians and the interests who make poll
tics part of their equipment, it is indeed a dire
necessity and a dreadful occasion-a time to
try the soul Of any politician, however colloused.
In it's economic" phases the Minot program
is an intended d~elusion, a palpable snare. At
best it is but a weak attempt to supply "some-
thing just as good" to a state whose people are
already satisfied with what they have. 1t is
designed to put the politicians back in the Of
fees.
Thus the economic portion of the Minot
program is really part of the political" pro-
gram. 0-I
In proof of the contention that the Minot
program is mere sounding brass, signifying
nothing except the sincere desire of political
harpies to return to the feast from which they
were chased two years ago, ponder the names
of the defeated and disgruntled politicians who
framed it.
Certain nimble helots of the North Dakota
kept press" who are able to defend the Hog
Island profiteers, admire the Standard Oil oil
garchy or keep silent about the Beet Trust dis
closures with equal ease and grace, have pro-
fessed to behold certain splendors of statesman
shin in tho nroo1.orn oHOnfnd hv tho 1T inDo1nV
Republican league-nowt the independent Vot-
ers' association"
Every bad cause has it's advocates. Every
poor case has it's defenders. Every wrong has
its unholders. Hence the Minot program finds
certain newspapers that are ready and willing:
to advocate, defend and uphold it with a lack
Of conscience that may easily pass for SINGER
ity with the unthinking.-Courier-N News.
If it were permitted good old DR.. Johnson to
be made aware of what is transpiring here be-
low it would no doubt be highly gratifying TO-
him to know that his assertion, made some hun
dred and fifty years ago, to the effect that p
triotism is the last refuge of the scoundrel"" still
stands the test of time; especially so if he be
enabled to view the antics of the old gang poll
ticians in their frantic endeayor to recover their
old-time place at the public patronage trough:
Their heartrending cries Of patriotism and
loyalty" does not ring true, also it fails to-
square with their long-continued acts of extor-
ton and robbery which they fagrantly and
shamefully practiced upon the helpless-be-
cause unorganized-hoi polloi of North Dako-y
to without let or hindrance until the advent Of
the present Farmers administration. These
eleventh hour "patrioteers," whose sole end and
aim, as they would have one believe, is to save
the farmers from themselves, have been most
aptly depicted by the Lincoln Nebraska) Her.
aid as follows:
"Patrioteer'' is the new word coinage and
it is a good one. The patrioteer is a full
\ brother to the p%rofteer. In fact, in many ::
cases they are one. But there are many
patrioteers, yellow newspapers and peanut 4
politicians, who are hired puppets of the
profteers. They make the loudest noise
of all and they are almost the most hypo-
critical and contemplate. Their principal
duties are to prejudice the public mind
against independent, thinking men and to
make believe that the present political
gangs should hold their offices during the
war; at least to further misrule the dear !.
people. But the dear people do not bite at
their game so easily. In truth, the dear
people are coming to see through these
fakirs, hence the new coinage, "patrio~
teers," is so apropos.
Although, as the kept press would have us
believe, the Nonpartisan cause is hopelessly
lost, it's leaders thoroughly discredited and it's
rank and file slowly but surely going over to