The Ward County independent. [volume] (Minot, Ward County, N.D.) 1902-1965, 1920-11-04
THE ELECTION.

independents nave carried the mouse
and probably the senate, so that nei-
Their one side nor the other will be in
full control of the state government
The initiated laws proposed by the
independents are running ahead OF
O'Connor, and whether they have been
carried or defeated probably will not
be known for at least another week.
Neither will the fate of the balance of
the state ticket, though it is probable
that most of the League candidates
have been elected. In Ward county,
which has been carried by O'Connor,
by majority of about two hundred,
the independents have carried all or
nearly all of their local ticket
We do not pretend to be satisfied
with the result Of the election. AS
good Americans, however, we accept it
as the will of the people, as we said
before election we should accept such
a result, and we promise the peoples
choice our full cooperation in main
tanning and serving the interests Of
North Dakota.
The returns seem to indicate def
nitely that this paper has been chosen
as the official paper for Ward county
for the next two years. We thank the
voters for their expression of friend
ship and confidence, and shall seek to
merit it by conducting in the future, as
we have tried to do in the past, fair,
newsy, progressive sheet with the
single aim of serving everybody.
Someone has said that there are al
ways three sides to every question
your side, my side and the right side.
The mixed results of the election are
in favor of that view. Personally, we
are always willing to be convinced,
and, when you come right down to it,
after election is better time than be-
fore to do the convincing. Mems
minds are no longer bent upon the task
of saving the country in their own
fashion, and are therefore more open
to argument. In some respects it is
better that neither side is in posi-
tion to have it's own way. The coop
complish things, and that puts it
squarely up to both sides-Are you
looking for your own interests and adj
vancement or for the good Of the state
of North Dakota?
When we see clearly that we have
got to cooperate to do anything, the
way is cleared for cooperation. Let's
make it get-together meeting. You
remember the story Of the fellow who
said he hated lot Of people he had
never met, but he couldn't hate a man
he knew. If we really get acquainted,
the chances are we shall find we arc
nCfr IF co11
If the Independents refuse to pass
sound, progressive laws, while they
control all of the legislature, they will
deserve the sweeping condemnation
of the people at the next election. If
Governor Frazier refuses to approve
sound, progressive legislation sent to
him by an independent legislature, be-
cause he is unwilling his opponents
should have part of the credit, he will
deserve like sweeping condemnation
b ythe people at the next election This
condemnation would also be visited on
the Nonpartisan League if it approved
such course. Both sides, if they are
honest, patriotic citizens and not hide
bound politicians, will make the nee
essary compromises on methods in or
der to get together for real accom-
plishment
There is great deal of work to be
done. The Farmers Program" clear (
~ a0proved by the people before now,
is still far from being carried into eff
feet. It is time to turn back. What
ever the personal opinion of officials
as to that program, they owe it the
obedience that any official must owe
t, mandate from the people If |
there was ever any chance that this .
program would be abandoned or be-
traved by the Independents -which we
do not beieve-that chance is past,
because the independents have not the .
power to do it except by placing Stun
bling blocks in the way. They owe
the people the duty of supporting that
program in good faith. and we believe
they will do it. If they do not, we
shall be the first to condemn them.
On the other hand, now that the
smoke of battle is clearing away, and |
the issues are rot in politics in the
same sense that they were a week ago,
let the League admit frankly that
there is no sound objection to such
laws as enforce business methods and
a business management in the state
industries. Let it be granted that
publicity never injured any honest
business. Whether or not the Bank Of !.
North Dakota is being fairly and cap
ably managed, whether or not the in
itiated laws in regard to it have car
ried, let us all admit, when the legis-
fature asks for public examination
of the bank, as it presumably will,
that the people of the state have the
right to this full accounting from their
servants.
This is only beginning of the
things we have to say on these sub
jects. We purpose from time to time,
and especially before the meeting Of
the legislature, to make suggestions
in our columns as to constructive work
that needs to be done. We hope our
readers will favor us by commenting
on our suggestions and by suggestions
Of their own. We want to be the pa
per of the people The day for charges
and countercharges, if there ever was
such day, is past. The day for pro-
gross, cooperation ami constructive
work has come. Let's all put our