The Hope pioneer., 1922-10-26
principles Of constitutional government

principles Of constitutional government
for the very principles for which the
founder Of the Republican party laid
down his life, and I have to choose
between the two, I do not hesitate to
say that shall cast my vote and my
influence for that other man. In this
instance, he happens to be Democrat
running On the Democratic ticket with
his nams in the Democratic column.
He also happens to be citizen de-
vsted to the essential and fundamental
principles of constitutional government
that needs champions today, not only
in tho state, but in the National
Forum as well. Mr.. O'Connor can be
depended on to champion these prin-
ciples in Washington fearlessly and
well. In the great fights that we have
gene through, he has stood for law and
the constitution at all times and has
supported candidates, whether they
were nominally Republicans OF nomin-
ally Democrats, who stsod for these
principles. It is time We look through
sham and lay hold Of the substance of
things.
NOT NEW PRECEDENT
In taking this position in suppor,
Of Mr.. O'Csnnor in the Democratic
column, I am not setting new preee-
deat. I have not forgotten that u
Democratic president, Woodrow Will
sen, urged the support Of Republican
for United States Senator in the State
Of Minnesota in 1918. I have not for
gstten that Democrat and a United
States Senator in the State Of Mon
tans, Mr.. Myers, in 1920, with his pen
AID with his tongue urged the election
Of the Republican nominee from the
State Of Montana because the other
nominee represented fundamental prin-
ciples Of government that he believed
were antagenistic to eur constitution
and Republican form of government.
I have not forgotten that President
Wilson, himself Democrat, tele-
graphed congratulations to Calvin
Coolidge when he won the election as
Governor Of Massachusetts, over a
Democrat, saying that "his victory
was victory for law and order" It
is sign that augurs we'll for the per-
manence Of our constitution that men
are able and willing to look through
sham, to tear off labels and to plant
their feet squarely upon the principles
Of the Constitution, regardless Of party
names, when such great issues are in
volved. Even the great founder of the
Republican party, Abraham Lincoln,
supported a Democrat for United
States Senator in Judge Trumbull, and
history has never censored him for it.
He supported him because he believed
great and fundamental principles were
at stake and that party labels were
less important than principles.
The people Of the State Of North
Dakota are put to tho test his fall.
They have before them the great issues
that divide the country into ewo camps
and that are fast rising above the is.
sues that have been dividing lines be-
tween Republicans and Democrats. The
people Of the state will be called upon
to decide whether they will vote for
the men who represent the sound prin-
ciples of government for which the
founders Of this Republic laid down
their lives, regardless of the party
label that they carry, or whether they
will support men regardless of what
they stand for because they carry a
certain party label. For my part, I
trust that in the interest of my state
and my country all the Independent
candidates endorsed by the joint COM
mittee will receive the support of the
people of the state regardless of party.
The people Of our state have demon.
strated that to them principles are
more important than labels and names.
+ am cnnf3doyot $1,o+ A1,o:. -..s,. 80.