The Oakes times., 1917-01-04
MANY new FACES APPEAR
Nonpsrtisan League Claims to Be In
Control Of Both Branches Of
the Assembly.

sVAy' AAO AA6& lu1uS IuaL SLT1K0S the
old timer as different" about the
present gathering is the host of new
faces. This is due to the remarkable
shifting of political chessmen result.
ing from the activities of the Nom
partisan league. There are, however,
several familiar faces among the sena-
tors, there being twenty-four hold.
overs, and not few members of the
lower house returned.
i. + j.
The Nonpartisan league, which has
undoubted control of the lower house
and claims control of the upper house,
through its officials several days ago
reserved the entire Northwestern no.
tel, where, it is understood, most of
the league members elect will be
housed during the session. A. G..
Townley, president of the league, ar
rived the middle of the week accom-
panied by other league officials and
prominent members elect. The first
caucus was staged for Thursday, but
snow storms in the western part of
the state delayed traffic so that only
a few had arrived at that time. By
Friday they came pouring in, how
ever, and caucusing has been a daily
affair. Very little, If any, definite in
formation regarding action at these
meetings is disclosed. When asked
as to plans, however. every member
admits that the league program will
be carried out to the letter without a
hitch.
The thing that looms largest on the
political horizon at this time, per.
haps, is the possibility of constitu-
tional convention. This has been
hinted before, but was given big
shove upon the arrival of Mr.. Town
ley in the Capital City the middle Of
the week. eff the league is to carry
out its program, don't see how a
constitutional convention is to be
avoided" said Mr.. Townley. He
added that the league intends to carry
out its program, which is equal to say.
ing there will be constitutional con-
vention. So far as ascertainable at
this time this possibility meets with
the approval of the league members
Of the legislature. When questioned
on that point prominent member re-
piled that "the farmers wanted the
program enacted into law or they
would not have elected us on it and
there is nothing left for us to do but
carry out the will of the people,"
i. j. j.
There is an absence Of wirepulling
and tuttonholing on the matter of the
speakership. which leads to the con-
clusion that the fight over that honor
will be a mild affair. Rumor has it
that those in the race up to this writ
ing are E. A. Bowman, Kuhn; Walter
Maddox, Plaza, and Howard Wood.
Deering. It is believed that Wood has
the inside track and will probably be
handed the gavel. Mr. Wood is a son
of F.. B. Wood, who is director of
the Equity Exchange, manager of the
live stock department Of that institu-
tion and is prominent in the American
Society of Equity and vice president
of the Nonpartisan league. Messrs.
Wood and Bowman were both men,
bers of the farmers lobby which
worker for he passage OF the farm
ers' terminal elevator bill which was
defeated at the last session of the
legislature.
It is presumably settled that A. E.
Bowen, prominent league organizer
and lecturer, will be chief clerk of the
house. Aside from this little is
known as to how things will stand
when the Fifteenth assembly is or.
ganized and ready for business.
j. !. +
Governor Elect Lynn ]. Frazier has
moved his family into the executive
mansion, vacated the first of the week
by retiring Governor L. B. Hanna.
Lieutenant Governor Kraabel of Cliff
ford arrived the last of the week to
prepare for the organization of the
senate.
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John N. Hagan of Deering, new
commissioner of agriculture and Ia
Dor, announces that he has not fully
decided upon all the appointments to
his department. It is settled, how
ever, that the deputyship will go to
Lloyd RAIDER of Dickinson. Mr.. Ra-