The Bismarck tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, N.D.) 1916-current, 1920-04-06

Contributions to the episto'ary
stage OF the Republican gubernatorial
were enriched Monday by
j ohm Steen OF Rugby, tentative tan-
didate for governor, in a let
ter to the Fargo Forum explaining in
d degree at least his attitude to the
campaign. We ! quote, in full Nj.
Steens letter and the Forums edi :ol.
ial "come-back" II
9 Nj. steeh's Letter
III have noted the editorial His
Cards on the Table" in your issue Of
March q, 1920, and because \ have
been mentioned as a possible calldi-
date for governor, and because YOU
seem to educe a reply take the hD-
erty of writing you.
You commend Mr.. LANCER for his
honesty and prOmptnesH IN
Offering to withdraw provided that
the people Of the state believe an
other. man better head for the state
ticket. 1t seems to me that you are
too hasty in your cQmmendation.
If, you scan his statement a bit
more closely you will note that he
says that such man must be stand
ing for the planks contained in my
published platform. The field would
therefore narrow down to such men
as would he willing to stand on that
platform. Those who should find
themselves unable to agree with the
principles and policies contained in
that platform would be shut out.
I His Platform =
The question then becomes: What
does his. platform contain? Mr.. Lnn.
ger says: II stand today as a candi.
date, for governor, advocating the
same things did three years ago anu
one year ago. Among them etc.
That ms thav that he fayors q gig
now as he did the last two campaigns
the whole league program as enunciat
ed in the league platform OF those twt
campaigns, including the seven Ion
stitutiOnal amendments forming the
ba,is of the whole league structure C1
state industries and emb0dying ths
spirit Of House Bill No. A, which had
alst, met with Mr. iLanger's approval
No man who is opposed to the Non
partisan league, or who joined with
the 43,COO voters expressing disap
proval Of the league legislation last
June, can possibly come out on such q
platform and retain his self-respect
Any man who was and Is a Lacquer
and who merely desires to replace
the big league boss with bigger one
will find no difficulty in adapting him:
self to this platform. It is a league
platform! .at. @
Oppose to League
| have been opposed to the leagu:
in the past and am still opposed tc
1t. l feel that no candidate should be
indorsed this year by the anti-league
forces, who is himself Lacquer. The
platform Of the antileague candidate
should as far as possible be {. plat
form embodying the combined views
of those who are to join in-the battle
against the league.
The platform adopted at Grand
Forks is such an expression and il
seems to me that any person seeking
the Endorsement Of the independen!
voters of the state should be expected
to indorse such platform
Personally I find it difficult to un
derstand how anyone but Lacquer
could possibly support Mr.. LANCER
There is nothing in his record thai
would warrant anyone opposed tc
Socialism and Townleyism in think
ing that Mr.. LANCER either would o'
could give the state the kind OF ad
ministration now needed by the state
He supported all of their plans anu
schemes for three years; he furnishe;
legal opinion favorable tD House
Bill No. "A, one of the most iniquitiou'
measures ever proposed 10y the
league. He also furnished an Opin
ion holding the seven cons .itutiona
amendments legally carried. He wa;
the snecial pet of the administration
and the league legislature 'outdid it
self in complying with Lis ever,
wish. Then he broke with Townle,
but not with the league and he still
claims to be Lacquer and stands or
the original platform. E
What right has Mr.. Lang er or an,
other man to expect that anyone whit
fought against the spirit of the league
three years ago and one year ago
should now support such men, wnt
proudly profess their devO' ion to tn,
same old Socialistic principles?
The Forum commenting editorial!
says:4
+ Too Much fol, Granted
'Mr. Steen believes The Forum ha!
taken too much for granted in MI
Langer's statement. We believe Mr.
Steen has taken too little.
"Nr. Steen evidently believes tina
Mr.. Langer's withdrawal and his sup
port of another candidate are boti
contingent on the approval of Mr.
Langer's platform.
, without going into detailed dis
cussion of Mr.. Langer's platform a
this time. The Forum believes tina
Mr.. Steen has misunderstood Mr.
Langer's statement. The attorne.
general agreed to withdraw provide,
the people of the state found more
suitable man to head the anti-Town
ley ticket. AS The Forum under
stands it, that was the only condition
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