Grand Forks herald. [volume] (Grand Forks, N.D.) 1916-1955, 1917-05-07
State Central Committee
men Of First District to
Meet Friday, May II.
NATIONAL COMMIT
TEEMAN ISSUED CALL
Eminent Attorneys Find the
Law is very Deficient in
Providing for Emergency

Tho Republicans Of tho First Con-
Rreesional district Of North Dakota
are to return to the caucus ana con-
vention system Of nominating q can
didate for congress TOR the vacancy
created by the death of Henry r. Hell
geoen.
This procedure was decided upon at
q meeting of members Of the state
central committee in the First dis
trict, 1t which thirteen Of the eigh-
teen legislative districts were repre-
sented and several county chatrmen
and others interested in the coming
campaign and the welfare Of the par
ty were present.
This conference was held in the
Gunder Olson Of Grafton. as ma
tional committeeman for North Dako-
Ia, had called the conference for the
purpose Of considering the method to
be pursued in view Of the fact that
the election laws and the statutes OF
the state are absolutely silent on the
procedure in filling a vacancy in the
The result of the conference was
the adoption Of resolutions requesting
National Committeeman Olson to Is
sue q call for meeting of the state
central committeeman from the legis-
lative districts comprising the First
congressional district to meet at the
earliest possible date to complete ar
rangements for holding precinct cau-
cuses, county conventions and the dis
trict convention to nominate q candi-
date.
In pursuance Of this request the
call has been issued by National
Committeeman Olson. as printed
above. signed by thirteen Of the COM
mitteemen Of the district.
The conference in Fargo discussed
the situation at length and on. the
strength Of the advice Of sev6rat at
torneys OF state wids repute. who had
bcer ,~sle lt;to investigate the matter.
came to the conclusion that the only
method to logically pursue in naming
p candidate was th> caucus and cons
ventiun system.
It was found that while the pri-
mary election law provides for the
nomination Of members Of congress by
primary election held ION the last
Wednesday, in June Of every year in
which occurs q general election"
there is no mention of procedure to
other times other than the last sent
ence in the same section quoted (sec-
ton 862, compiled laws, 1919 which
says "For special elections for the Of
ficers enumerated herein the nomina-
tions. shall be made as otherwise
PROVIDED Dy law.
The legal advisers unanimously ex-
pressed the belief that otherwise
provided by law" could only mean the
general election laws not repealed
by the primary laws, and this would
be by the convention system.
Was Legislatures Intent.
Lieutenant Governor Kraabel re-
called very clearly that in the dis
cussions in the legislatures of 1906
and 1907. when the primary laws
were passed, it was generally under
stood that it was the intent Of the
law to leave the matter of filling va
in force. which provide for nomina.
tions by conventions. He called up.
on certain prominent Republicans
present, including ]. d. Bacon and
Treadwell Twitchell who were mem.
bers Of those legislatures. to confirm
his statement.
Tho sentiment Of every sneaker wa,
that the delegates to the district con.
vention should go without instruc.
tions, and a motion to that effect
was unanimously carried after being
Endorsed by certain prospective can.
dtdates who were present. including
o. B. Burtness Of Grand Forks, Fred
ant Governor Kraabel Of Clifford: Sen.
ator John =. Paulson Of Hillsboro and
Ray Craig of Ramsey.
The notion that 1t was the sense o1
the conference that the nomination b(
made by the caucus and convention
system was made by Treadwel
.Twftchell and unanimously carried
as was the motion Of J. d. Bacon thai
tho conference request Nationa
Committeeman Gunder O1soN to cal
mitteemen Of the First district, will
the recommendation that they meet
at the earliest possible date to call the