The weekly times-record. (Valley City, N.D.) 1912-1922, 1922-09-21
0'C0NN0R SPEAKS
AT HANKlNS0N

Viz o1AlICu CCSICS NCIdCS az 1ACllhll1-
son last night with a speech in which
he expressed his view of national
questions Of Importance to North Da-
kot2 and expressed his admiration for
the independent administration in
state affairs. Mr.. O'Connor urged the
coIo-2lcticn Of the Great Lakes-St.
LoWlence waterway as being one of
tie greatest projects for the better
me!,t Of farm conditions in this state
E,", being considered. He advocated
orderly marketing Of wheat as being
2Acce sta5:liz;ng, stated that he would
advocate federal finance for farmers
on lc2g time paper and declared him.
self strongly in favor of the soldiers
bonus and proper care for the dis
aoled. He also advocated an indus
trial board to arbitrate disputes be-
tween capital ard labor in the pre-
vention Of netion wide strikes.
Mr.. O'Connor reviewed his stand
on state issues while in the legisla-
ture and expressed his confidence in
the present state administration.
Mr.. O'Connor's speech follows:
Under our form Of Government, the
electors are called at certain times
to approve or disapprove formulated
policies and to select officials to car
ry out their desires. On November
7th, the people of North Dakota VII
register their will at the polls and
the results will be announced to the
country. Can we approach these
questions of public policy without pre-
JUDGE, without anger, without malice
as earnest seekers for truth with the
single purpose Of forming a conclu-
sion which will do justice to the great
commonwealth we serve? Can we
hold to the principles of Government
for which we stand above the dust
storm of petty things? Can our ar
guments be announced in the sunlight
and not whispered in the dark? Can
we hold the eternal truth that the
government is greater than any party
and that proposed laws in state or
nation should not be approved or re-
jected because of party name but
should rise or fall on their merits?
Can we be ever mindful that candi-
dates who are successful at the cleo
ton are not the masters of the people
but the servants Of the people? 1 am
firmly convinced we can do these
things and that we shall swing into
the highway of peace and plenty.
There is but one choice in this cam
paign, either the voters must take
their place beside the men and women
on the farms, in the towns and vii
lagos who have builded this great
commonwealth or under the standards
of those who have depleted it's treas
ury, destroyed it's credit, preached
false doctrines Of government, deceiv-
ed our people, and who would destroy
the state itself. There is no middle
ground.
The basic industry in North Dakota
is agriculture. Our coal mines and
manufacturing interests are rapidly
gaining recognition and adding to the
wealth of the state. Our state pro-
duces food and clothing. Producing
the essentials of life we have fixed
place in the economic structure. The
prosperity Of the farm is reflected in
every industry. There is no such
thing as merchants against farmers
Any condition, climatic or statutory
which lessons the prosperity of the
farmer diminishes the profits of the
merchant. The merchant cannot sell
if the farmer cannot buy. There car
be no prosperity in North Dakota un'
less the farmer is prosperous. The
farmer is entitled to return for his
labor which will pay all operating ex
penses of the farm, reasonable rate
of interest on his investment and :
fair wage to himself and wife. There
are three factors which will contrl
butte to this result: production, trans
portation and sale.
Thirty-three years ago, last March
my father purchased an 80O-acre farm
in Grand Forks county, four miles
southeast of Thompson. My fathe
and mother and eight children wen
to that farm. 1t was typical Nortl
Dakota farm about half wild land
half under cultivation and all of i
covered with a mortgage. We hav'
worked that farm ever since, or shall
say that farm has worked US. Be
sides this farm, my brothers own ant
operate about 1000 more acres o
land. Therefore, I speak to you witt
some little experience in farm prob
lens. Anything that will make you
farms more prosperous will brln'
more prosperity and happiness to GU