The Bismarck tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, N.D.) 1916-current, 1917-05-07
REPUBLICANS IN
CONVENTION To
NAME FAVOR|TE
Held at Informal Conference in
Fargo That This Is Only
Proper Plan to Follow
FOWLER QUITS RACE AND
NEW NAMES ARE ENTERED
Field of Ten at Least Seems Prob
able for Pow Wow to Select
From Next Friday

AV4A ASVAV E xUoy
Fargo, N. D., May 7.-Republicans
will nominate by convention their
candidate for congress to succeed the
late H. T. Helgesen, such action be-
ing determined upon at a conference
of state committeeman, county chair
men, prominent party members, at
the call of National Committeeman
Gunder Olson, held in Fargo Sunday
Friday evening of this week the
state central committee members
representing the legislative districts
comprising tine First congressional
district, will meet in Fargo with Ma
tional Committeeman Gunder Olson
for the purpose of determining upon
the apportionment of delegates to
the convention; the date for the eau
Gus and the date for the convention.
That the convention system is the
mode prescribed by the laws of the
state in the selection Of party candi-
dates for 2 congressional vacancy
was the view unanimously expressed
by prominent attorneys who partici-
pated in the informal conference lield
at the Waldorf hotel in Fargo on Sun.
day. The proposal that the petition
system was governing met with no
sanction.
. unIueky Number There. =
Thirteen of the twenty state COM
the conference. Four county chair
men were present In person or by
proxy.
A striking resolution .adonted by
the conference contains the sugges
tion THAT the committeeman, when
they make their call, advise the c0un-
ty conventions to refrtain from bind
: ing their delegates to any particular
candidate; that they eschew the unit
rule in voting, and that the delegates
be permitted to come to the state
convention entirely free to act as
they may deem for the best interests
of the state and nation-for the Sc
lection of a candidate for congress
at this time is a matter of vital i'm.
portance in view of the great war
crisis that confronts the nation.
The call for the meeting of this
state central committee men to be
held here Friday evening, was issued
today. They will confer with Gunder
Olson, the national committeeman, in
fixing the caucus, county and state
convention dates.
Among Those Present.
Among the men present at the con-
ference were: Ray Craig, Ransom
county; r. j. Rughes, Richland coun>
ty; X. j., Nomlhnd, Trail county;
Treadwell Twichell and L. L. Twi-
dhell, Cass county; A. w. Fowler,
Cass county; o. B. Burtness and J.
D. Bacon, Grand Forks county; c.
w. Plain, Cavalier county; Ole A.
Pod, Walsh county; Buckmiller, Sar
gent county; A. Leslie, Sargent coun
ty; G. J. Mustad, Steele county; G.
Ross, Richland county: D. A. Cross,
Sargent county; F. T. Cuthbert, Ram
sey county; A. Holte, Cass county;
Geo. White, Trail county; l. ]. Nell
son, Walsh county; r. A. Westacott,
Grand Forks county; Burleigh F.
Spalding, Cass county.
Fowler Pulls Out.
Yesterdays informal Republican
conference reduced the previously
recognized field of candidates for the
congressional job by one-A. w. Fow-
ler, Cass county, declared he wasn't
a candidate for the place.
On the other hand, there were sew
eral additions to the list. Prominent
among the new names are those of
c. w. Plain. Wilton, former state SEN
ator; H. H. Aaker Grand Forks, for
mer Republican candidate for COVER
nor: Judge Burleigh F. Spalding, Far
go, former congressman.
Previously mentioned prospective
candidates now in the foreground are
O. B. Burtness, Grand Forks: John
f. Paulson, Trail county; K J. Nom
land, Buxton; F. T. Cllthbert, Devils
Lake; Ray Craig, Lisbon; A. T.
Kraabel. Clifford; G. Henry, G. Vik,
Cavalier.
Lemke Not In.
For some time there was more or
less discussion as to the possibility
that William Lemke might become
candidate. Within the last few days
if has been authoritatively stated
that he has abandoned any notion of
entering the race.
The fact tHat the Nonpartisan
league leaders are, so far, shyine
clear of the congressional situation,
is responsible for the fact that Mr..
Iemke will not be in the race.