The Fargo forum and daily republican. [volume] (Fargo, N.D.) 1894-1957, 1918-02-12
In The Open Forum
A Column Devoted 10 the Task of
Keeping Up With North Da-
kota Editors.
The Parshau Leader has tn

The Parshau Leader has thi
editorial comment:
The Case Of Mr.. Quigley" in
volved a sO-ealled prominent
North Dakotan, the esttmable
Mr.. Bacon, and the Minnesotans
were also prominents, yet the
anti-league papers let out not a
peep aOout the circumstance.
Why not? When the 2x4 mayor
of Podunk prohibits a meeting
OF Minnesota farmers the twin
city press, our estimable dailies
and all their little echoes chtrp
this formidable showing of the
NOnpartisan league farmers dis
loyalty. Yet, when the disclos-
ure of a vile plot to ruin the
league is indlsputably shown,
they are all dead as dOornails.
We have never used the term
kept press in abiding to the
papers who oppose the league,
for we know the term is not ap-
plCable any more than il would
be to ourself, but we must say
that in refraining from any
comment over the Quigley cir
Cumstance they show trim
ming" and cowaTdice as repre-
hensible as it was unexpected.
There is a reason why The
Grand Forks Herald and Fargo
Forum should play turtle, Bacon
being financially interested in
both, but why the silence Of the
rest?
Now wait a minute, Dave. First
Of all, thanks for not referring to us
as the kept press" That proves
haVyn nnnnph RI
with.
Secondly, Mr.. Bacon has no more
interest, direct or indirect, in The
Fargo Forum than you have.
Thirdly, The Forum didn't print
THE Case of Mr.. Quigley' because
it wasn't considered a matter of suf-
ficient news value to be carried by
the Associated Press, on which The
Forum relies for its twin city news.
The Forum has never been afraid
to print the news of the QUigley
case, or any other news that is fit
to print, and is not afraid to do so
now. 1t is chiefly a matter between
Mr.. Bacon and Mr.. Quigley and his
The case of the latter
seems to have been well taken care
of by the league organs, and Mr..
Bacon is eminently able to fight his
own battles If he feels there is any
occasion to defend himself. The
Forum doesn't know anything more
about the Quigley case than it has
seen in print, in the league organs,
and in it's capacity as newspaper
it doesn't care to waste any time In
vestigating it. 1t struck us as large
ly a bit of political camoufage.
Fourthly The Forum does not be-
Iieve in the policy Of suppressing
league meetings. 1t is both short
sighted and unfair. We print news
Of suppressed meetings for what It
is worth, and no more, and we print
news of meetings that are held.
Fifty, thanks for calling us an
"estimable daily
The Page Record calls attention
to a new move I'm North Dakota
politics, as follows:
In their efforts to maintain
control in the state, the Nom
partisans are resorting to the
old convention system that was
condemned by all reformers
years ago. Tt is the fayorite plan
of the political boss.
The Tower City Topics has this
on a really and truly
farmers store:
Fingal farmers organized last
week for a farmers store, but
they showed their wisdom by
going it independent Of the
Townley grab-all idea. They
have organized along the CO.
operative idea and the store will
be under the direction Of the To-
cal farmers. They will buy out
the G. A. Pollock store.
The Valley City Courier comments
as follows on government owner
ship of railroads.:
Government operation of rail-
roads has not been under way
very long but fully long enough