The Ward County independent. [volume] (Minot, Ward County, N.D.) 1902-1965, 1918-06-06
Congressman Norton, Geo. p. Homes
John Steen and M. p. Johnson
Spoke at Riverside Park
Tuesday

Quite heavy rain fell at the time
that the speaking was about half over,
and this prevented several from speak
ing.
The Musicians Union Band furnish
ed music for the occasion.
The chairman of the meeting was
E. D. Skinner, the old time Sawyer
| farmer and he was happy selection
indeed. Mr.. Skinner gave few
we'll chosen patriotic remarks.
The first speaker introduced was
John Steen, present state treasurer
and candidate for governor. Mr..
Steen spoke but briefly and said: '1'm
not an orator but farmer. l have
spent most of my life doing things on
the farm. If elected Governor, the
only pledge l sign is my oath to sup
port the government of the state of
North Dakota and that Of the United
States. With the help of God, I'll
keep that pledge"
Mr.. Steen was greeted with much
applause over his simple, direct patri-
otto statement.
Congressman P. D. Norton from the
Third Congressional District gave a
very interesting patriotic address. He
reviewed at some length the cause of
the great war and said that America
would continue to fight until Germany
would disregard the idea that the right
to rule was divine. The young men
who are fighting in France will be
considered just as great heroes in the
years to come as the soldiers who
fought in the war of the Revolution
,,J -, +bo Civil Wor
Referring to the struggle, he said
that the prospects were not very
bright in France and Belgium just
now, but said that it is always darkest
just before dawn. No great principle
is settled until it is settled right.
AS soon as the United States went
into the war, just that soon was the
doom Of Germany sealed for we are
in it with all of our resources, includ-
ing every able bodied man. The
Congress of the United States to q
man is with your great Commander
in-chief, the president, than whom
there is no greater figure today in
the political life of the world. He
feels intensely the cause of the people
is worth not only the 100000 men
| beyond the sea, but the sacrifice of
, 10000 men if necessary. If it takes
every dollars worth Of property that
these free states have accumulated,
we will stay with the war.
81 am surprised to find in the coun-
try today, anyone unappreciative OF
the efforts we are making to win the
war. We have few people here
who are dissatisfied with everything,
who do not realize that this form Of
| government was brot into being by
patriots of a most exalted character,
| who fail to realize that this form of
government is the best ever devised
by man. Some few people have ideas
of a government where men may do
as they please, men who organize
under the l. w. WIS, the Socialists
of the country. The I. w. WIS to-
: cay are sending out men to break
down the government by sabotage.
! find men cutting braces on airplanes
/ and driving spikes in airplane lumber
| They are impeding the building Of
/ ships necessary to win the war. We
! should not tolerate now in this coun-
try this class of people. They say
they haven't the freedom they ought
to have. When our boys come back
from over there, these men will be
given little consideration.
''I'm proud of North Dakota and
no soap box artist can 60 about the
state and tell us that we are not q
progressive happy people. We will
continue to improve, but we will not
so continue by following the fanciful
teachings of Bolsheviki".
"I'm proud of our loyal people and
the way they have contributed to the
various war funds and Liberty loans.
I am not so enthused that few men
have so talked in the state and abroad
that their actions have led the people
of other states to think that North
Dakota endorsed their actions and ut
terances. I'm convinced that those
men will be so repudiated in the fu-
ture that the country will know the
real feeling of 80 per cent of our
people"
Mr.. Norton said that he had worked
in the interests Of the people in North
Dakota and that he had not haha
complaint. He said that If there was
, any act of commission or omission on
his part, he'd be pleased to know it.
# Geo. P. Homnes of Crosby, candi-
date for Attorney General, gave a
rcusing address. Referring to the
present political situation in North
Dakota he said:
] eve have witnessed political revo-
luton that has swept our state like
prairie fire, resulting in state Of
affairs not conducive to g9od economic
principles" he said. 'sYou all re-
member Halley's comet few years
ago, how we watched it night after
night and specialized on what would
happen to the earth in case the two
bodies came together. Some thot
we would be cremated-others that
we'd be gassed and still others that
we'd be sucked into it's orbit, but the
comet passed safely and nothing hap,
pened. Today we are passing thru
the tail of political comet. The
head has already reached St. Paul. We
have been gassed and subjected t.
considara hla auction hu the sudden de.