The Hope pioneer., 1922-11-23
A LETTER FROM
j. F. T. O'CONNOR

The Independents have won the
greatest victory since the fight COM
mnced against the Non-Partisan
Leagu" in Nolgh Dakota. Tie over
whelming endorsement of Governor
Nestos, the election of an Independ-
ent Industrial Commission control
of the Senate and the House should
make every good citizen rejoice. Our
state is again on firm foundation;
the assault upon constitutional Gov
ernment has been repulsed. Our
credit in the Nation Is re-estab-
lished.
The returns indicate that 1 will
be defeated for the SenatorshiD. 1t
was far more important to save the
state than to win seat in the Sen
ate. If one considers private gain
'.,t: personal comfort, this defeat
ii.oN d .e welcomed as blessing. It
was no; my wish to engage in this
contest as l preferred the practice OF
.hc law but l yielded to the earnest
appeal of my friends and believed
q we could ktep the Independent
forces together and present aunited
front against. the administration
Of the League. Two factors turned
he scales in favor of ex-Govern
Dr. Frazier the influence of Sen
ator Porter j. McCumber and the in
tense religious fight. There should
be no hard feeling against Senator
McCumber who directed his appoiii-
tees in North Dakota to give what
assistance they could do the Non-par-
Tisan League. Senator McCumber has
been out of touch with the affairs in
North Dakota, matters have been
misrepresented to him and With his
eyes watching the setting sun of life,
the bitterness in his heart overcame
his better judgment. -
1t was discoUraging to return to
my city after spending seven weeks
lighting for sound Constitutional
Government for the protection of the
homes and property rights of our
people to find that religious issue
had been injected into the campaign
which was considered more import
ant than Constitutional Government
Or the prosperity and happiness of
: he people of the State of North Da-
kota.
The people of the state should not
misunderstood the situation in Grand
Forks city. "aAmong my most loyal
Importers were the leading men and
women of Grand Forks representing
I'll races and creeds. Even knowing
he plot against me, they refused to
retaliate by voting against the In
dependent ticket as the result con-
lusively establishes. Had these
people done otherwise Governor Mes
os would not have carried the city
If Grand Forks. The ward contain
'ng the largest number Of people of
ny faith gave my opponent the larg-
'st majority. They were lead to be-
'ieve that my opponent could better
'erve their economic interest and he
received their support. Those of nv
talth refuse to permit religious con-
s1deration to influence their voting
while others insisted that this issue
was paramount.
have no regrets but a heart
bursting with gratitude for the good
men and women who have made so
many sacrifices during the past six
years in the great fight for Consti-
tutfonal Government. am not dis
:ouraged. My services are at the
disposal of the people of my state;
and l would start again and contri-
butte my mite to the cause Of good
Government and for the happiness Of
all the people irrespective of race or
creed.
With unbroken faith in the God
OF all creeds and in Christ who
tnought love and not hatred forget
ting the defeat of yesterday, remem-
bering the obligations to the noble
men and women with whom l have
fought for six years and with deem
gratitude to the powerful assistance
OF the Independent Press, the execu-
1--WE OF our state and the other Re-
publican leaders, I turn to the tasks
OF today with the hope that I'shall
nold the respect and confidence Of
the more than 10000 people who be-
leved in the principles of Govern
ment I represent.