Grand Forks herald. [volume] (Grand Forks, N.D.) 1916-1955, 1920-10-22
RETRACTION UNNECESSARY.


The North Dakota Leader. Town
ley's official weekly organ in North
Dakota, recently published a state
ment to the effect that j. F. T. O'Con-
nor. while a member of the legisla-
ture, had asked S. S. Mcdonald.
chairman of the workmen's compen-
sation bureau, to aid him in having
inserted in certain labor bills provis-
ions which would make them uncon-
stitutional, in order that these laws
might later be declared invalid by
the courts. Upon Mr.. McDonald's re-
fusal, according to the Townley organ,
Mr.. O'Connor said in substance that
it made no difference. that men
would be elected to the mex legisla-
ture who would knock out every law
that the farmers had passed. These
statements are attributed by the
Leader to Mr.. Mcdonald.
Mr.. Mcdonald has wired that this
statement is incorrect, that he has de-
manded that retraction be made and
that a true statement of facts be pub
lished, and that this has been promis-
ed by the editor of the Leader.
Mr.. Mcdonald naturally resents
having attributed to him a statement
which he did not make. and very
properly demands retraction and cor
rection. So far as Mr.. O'Connor is
concerned. it makes no difference
what form. this retraction takes or
whether or not any retraction is made.
There are statements so palpably false
that their circulation tends merely to
bring their maker into disrepute. and
this is n Of them.
In the first place, MI. O'Connor
may be presumed to have at least
average intelligence. He had been
elected with full public knowledge
that he was opposed to the entire sys-
tenn of politics represented by Town
ley. He had opposed the domination
OF the legislature by Townley. He was
being hammered by the Townley
press. and he knew that Townley's
agents would overlook no opportunity
to discredit him. MI. Mcdonald had
been appointed to the compensation
board by the state administration con-
trolled by Townley. 1t would have
beer the act of an imbecile for him
to make SUCH overtures to Mr.. NC
Donald as he is represented to have
made; and he is not an imbecile.
Aside from the impossibility of such
an occurrence from the standpoint
Of ordinary intelligence, the thing is
impossible in the light Of Mr.. O'Con-
nor's known attitude and record. Long
before he became a candidate for anv
public office Mr.. O'Connor was a close
and sympathetic student of labor prob
lens and an earnest advocate of leg
islation which would assure to the
wage worker proper compensation for
his labor, proper conditions under
which to work, and the opportunity
to enjoy to the full the privileges of
American citizenship. His interest in
these subjects was we'll known to the
wage and the public general
~ OF his home city, and on numerous
occasions he was chosen by the labor
organizations of the city to voice their
desires and aspirations from the pub
lie platform.
AS a member Of the legislature he
had opportunity to record formally
and officially the sentiments which
he had long entertained and expressed
as a private citizen. And he made
this record full and complete by
working theoretically and effectively
for every useful piece Of labor legis-
lation proposed, and by voting for it
when the time came to vote. Regard.
ed solely from the standpoint of the
wage worker, there is no man who
Ia seen service in the North Dakota
legislature whose record is more con.
sistent and satisfactory than is that
OF j. F. T. O'Connor.
If the Leader had sought to iniure
Mr.. O'Connor by telling a moderate
lie, one with some color or semblance
OF probability, it might have achieved
a possible success. Such an ATTEMPT
as that which has been made. howev.
er, defeats its w purpose, and those
engaged in it stand convicted of false.
hood by their own utterances.