Grand Forks herald. [volume] (Grand Forks, N.D.) 1916-1955, 1918-07-06
MANDANEDlTOR
REFUSED BE
MTlMDATED
E. A. Tostevin Says Only
One Construction to Be
Placed on German Vote.

Lie attempt OIL INC SLAIe COuHClA VI
defense Of putting the fear Of God into
the opposition press failed completely
when they hauled Editor e. A. Toste-
win of the Mandan Pioneer before the
tribunal" to answer to charges he had
made in his paper hat Governor
Frazier obtained his large majority by
the aid Of pro-German votes.
The following is reprinted from the
Mandan Pioneer and is a true version
of the proceeding as it took place at
the now famous meeting:
e. A. Tostevin, president Of the
Pioneer Publishing company, who was
before the state council Of defense
Tuesday afternoon, was asked by that
body to explain the statement made in
the editorial columns Of the Daily
Pioneer on June %, that Governor
Frazier "a elected by pro-German
votes.
The publisher stated that while he
did not write the article himself, he
stood by the statement and assumed
the responsibility. A session which
board present followed.
Governor Frazier asked Mr.. Toste-
vim If he meant to imply that he, the
governor, vas disloyal, and If the Co.
900 votes which he had received were
disloyal votes.
The Pro-German Vote.
In reply to tho governor, Mr.. Toste-
win stated that the governor had not
been accused OF disloyalty, by the
Pioneer. and with respect to the votes
that by no al did the Pioneer
believe that the $4,000 votes were dis
loyal, but that because of the nature
Of the campaign waged by the leaders,
Townley, Lindbergh and others, who
were speaking in behalf Of Governor
frazier n the non-partisan league
candidates, and the hostility Of these
leaders to h government n its war
program, that Governor Frazier and
the league ticket generally received
the vote of the pro-German element
in the state, and that in the opinion Of
the Pioneer there were enough of such
votes to swing the election for the
league candidates.
Protest Americas Stand.
The witness was asked If he did not
know that North Dakota had gone
over Che top in Liberty Loan and Red
Cross subscripttons and that these So
called pro-German communities went
owe the top. In reply he stated that
1t was his belief, Notwithstanding the
money investment hat the pro-Ger-
mans Of the state, when they went
into the booth and voted in secret,
voted the way they felt as they did in
Wisconsin and New Ulm and that they
wished to show their disapproval of
this country's attitude in the a and
that the espousal of the candidacy Of
Lindbergh in Minnesota by the league
was accepted by the pro-German ele-
ment as the attitude of the league to-
ward the government and the war.
Only One Construction.
A great many matters were gone
owe as to the grounds for the belief
of the witness that these votes were
because Of s%o-called pro-Germanism
rather than because they were attract
ed by the league candidates or the
league program, to which the witness
stated that in communities in which
he had personal knowledge the peo-
pie of German descent were not APP
the league. and that their vote for the
league candidates could be construed
only as pro-German votes. @
Members of the council suggested
and asked the publisher Of the Pioneer
If he would not drop the 8 Of the
word, "pro-German," and the publish
er declined to do SO, Saying hat this
word fit the case, and no other would
express the meaning.
Must Combat Condition.
Asked as to whether he thought
good would be accomplished by en-
phasizing the so-called pro-German-
ism Of communities, and If he did not
think it was detrimental to the state
to have this go out into the nation,
the publisher said that this condition
existed and that not only in this state,
but elsewhere in the nation it was a
factor that had to be dealt with, and
he thought that the state council of
defense would be doing a>great serv-
ice to the state and nation If it would
use its offices to combat pro-German-
ism rather than to attempt to prove
that 1t did not exist.
h publisher, was even asked a
question similar in purport to this:
IT in the opinion Of the council of
defense, it vas deemed advisable to re-
quest vol to discontinue the publica-
ton of the Pioneer, would you be will
ing to do SO? The reply was mo-"
because such a request would imply
that the council was actuated by poll
teal motives.
After nearly an hours time occu-
pied in the hearing, matters Of a po-
litical nature, being largely and neces-
sarily brought into the discussion, the
council dismissed the witness.
The Fourfh If INV A.