The Wahpeton times. [volume] (Wahpeton, Richland County, Dakota [N.D.]) 1879-1919, 1916-02-24

0WO&00EW NAV LOSE HIS
FIGHT ~ NORTH DAKOTA
Confronted by combination of
democratic leaders who are re-
preventative of practically every
element opposed to him when he
was made national committeeman
four years ago, John Bruegger, of
Williston, has the fight of his life
on his hands.
Concentrating their strength on
H. H. Perry of Glendale, chair
man Of the state democratic GEN.
trail committee, the anti-Brueg-
ger men are satisfied they will
poll a majority of the vote cast
March 2l-on which date the com
mitteeman for the next four years
will be named.
Won First rIme BY Minority Vote
The anti-Bruegger men base
their hope for success on the cleo
ton of for years ago. At that time
Bruegger. with a total vote in the
state of only about 1900, was
made committeeman, although
there were about $4,000 democra-
tic votes cast.
Bruegger's success was made
possible then through combina-
ton of his forces with those Of
the former national committee
man, William Collins. against a
field of candidates that included
George E. Duis of Grand Forks
Frank Wilson of Bathgate, Fred
Mclean of Fargo, H. H. Perry of
Glendale and Ben Whitehead of
Williston.
Now the Duis. Mclean, Wilson.
Whitehead and Perry forces are
apparently united i'm their support
of Perry. At least, the leaders
of these five democratic independ-
ence are united. and they can see
no reason why they should not be
able to poll a vote nearly as great
as the total polled by the five can
didates i'm 1919. If they do this,
Bruegger is beaten.
State Committee Calls Turn
An issue present to the Cemo-
cratic voters in the coming cleo
ton is that of the local commit
tees right to the distribution of
federal patronage. 1t was on this
that the state central committee
did a historic thing at Grand
Forks recently when it unani-
mously voted for the maintenance
of the county committees author
ity to recommend postotfice can
Cjdates, as opposed to the right Of
the national committeeman to
dictate the appointments.
This issue came before the
state committee as result of the
attempt of National Committee
man Bruegger to override the
recommendations Of the Ward
county committee in the matter
of naming a postmaster at Ken
mare. Ole Toffner, the nominee of
the county committee. was not &C
cepted by Bruegger, who made
three other recommendations to
the postoffice department. Each
was, in its turn, rejected. and
Totfner's appointment several
days ago makes the victory Of the
county committee over Bruegger
quite complete.
Macarthur vs.. Morrison
Development in the appoint
ment of the collector Of customs
! for the North and South Dakota
district are not conducive to good
feeling among democrats. On
Saturday press dispatches from
Washington carried the announce
ment that d. H. Macarthur had
been recommended for the posi-
tion of collector. Monday after
noon, the press reports brought
announcement of the appointment
of Alexander Morrison of Bath
gate.
Between Saturday night and
Monday morning there had been
, some tall work on the part of the
North Dakota democracy. The
treasury department at Washing
ton was flooded with kilograms
demonstrating at the Macarthur
appointment. The anti-McArthur
forces took the fight to the ma
ional democratic committee Off
GERS, urging them to interpose in
opposition to Macarthur, and it is
understood the national commit
tee officials did take handi
Perry Forces Score
AS sequel to the overnight
campaign. President Wilson did
not send the name of Macarthur to
the United States senate. Mr.. Nor
rison's name was submitted in
stead. Morrison was the unani-
nous choice of the Ward county
democratic committee: he was in
dorsed by the Perry Forces within
the party, and was compelled to
overcome the opposition of Com
mitteeman Bruegger of North Da-
kota, and that of Fred Lynch, ma
tional committeeman of Mime
sofa, who had. in measure, COM