The weekly times-record. (Valley City, N.D.) 1912-1922, 1922-07-27
THE SENATORIAL SITUATION

he DINA 1ON1tAL Oh VA lO1N
Having been sincere supporter of
Senator McCumber during the pri-
mary campaign, and feeling disap-
pointed at his failure to receive the
nomination to succeed himself, l am
now concerned with the future. My
hopes and fears might be summed up
in the one sentence: ~. F. T. O'Con-
nor must be elected to the Senate this
fall to make the states redemption
complete" I feel, however, that to
drop the matter, there is not suffi-
cient, and that the time has now come
for making the reasons plain.
The people of the state are now
confronted by a condition, and not a
theory. The primary is past, and
the forces of good government have
again prevailed on the paramount
state issues. They lost, however, on
the senatorship, as far as it is affect
ed by the Republican nomination. We
stand before the country at large in
the unique and unenviable attitude of
having recalled Governor for gross
abuse of the powers of government,
and then attempted to promote him
to the United States Senate by vote
of confidence in his probity and integ-
rity. This action of ours has been
misconstrued by the country as re-
intrenchment of the forces Of Social
ism and Communism in power, and as
demonstration that our recall cleo
ton was fluke; and did not truly re-
fleet the attitude and sentiment Of
our people. Throughout the country,
as whole, where one man knows of
the redemption of our state by the
assurance Of a stable state govern
ment, ten men know that very
prominent and influential senator,
standing for conservatism, good gov
eminent and sound finances, has been
supplanted by the head of the politi-
cal wrecking machine, that in the
course of four years destroyed our
finances and our credit, and all but
destroyed our state government.
The influence of this wide spread
misunderstanding cannot but react
harmfully on our state credit and our
ability to get outside money into the
state-an ability that was destroyed
and is just being restored. It must
inevitably be felt likewise in the de-
preciated value of our secondary pub
lie securities, such as warrants and
bonds of school districts, counties and
municipalities.
These were the consequences l had
in mind and urged upon all with
whom I came in contact, as being sure
to follow failure to renominate Sem
ator McCumber. His endorsement
would have made it plain to the
world that both parties stood four
square for the rights of property and
integrity of government, and the
whole country would know that the
state was not threatened with a re-
turn to government under socialistic
and communistic officers.
With Governor Nestos endorsed
and made the standard bearer of the
forces of clean, fair and efficient state
government, and Mr.. McCumber and
Mr.. O'Connor the opposing candidates
for the high office of United States
Senator, the world could not fail to
understand that the redemption of
North Dakota was complete. Under
such circumstances, every voter could
make choice between men, knowing
he was doing his duty to his state.
A condition existed, however, that
could not be eliminated or overcome.
Dislike Of Senator McCunber was
abundant, and positive and bitter hate
was all too common. I must always
believe that those who permitted their