The Fargo forum and daily republican. [volume] (Fargo, N.D.) 1894-1957, 1917-12-03
REGENTS TANGLE
CLIMAX LIKELY
In SESSION AT
FORKS TUESDAY
Two Presidents Likely To
Claim Honor of Presid-
ing Over Board
WORK POLITICS
INTO INSURANCE
Affairs of Bankers Com
pany Used by Nonpar-
tisans

Developments In the board Of
regents situation viii come to head
when the board meets at Grand
Forks Tuesday morning, and it is
considered likely that Robert Muir,
OF Sarles, elected chairman of the
board by the three Nonpartisan
members, and whose claim to the
seat is challenged by L. +. Crawford,
elected president of the board last
July. and whose claim to the honor
ts proclaimed illegal by William
LANCER. attorney general, viii seek to
preside over the session.
Mr.. Muir, in an interview given to
the official daily newspaper OF the
Nonpartisan league, declared that the
attorney general was all wrong in his
contention that Mr.. Crawford is still
the chairman OF the board, and Mr..
Muir's position is upheld by George
A. Totten, another member or the
board.
The Nonpartisan control of the
board of regents was established
recently when Governor Frazier APP
pointed Messrs George Totten and
Robert Muir, after having previously
filled the Frank White vacancy by
naming Rev. c. e. Vermilya.
When the regents met in Bismarck
several weeks ago, Mr.. Muir was
elected president OF the board by the
three Nonpartisan members. Mr..
Crawford protested at the time that
his term as president doesn't expire
until next July, and that no new
president could be picked at this
time. His protests had no effect, OF
course, and the three Nonpartisan
members voted to put Mr.. Muir in
the chair. Then the meeting adjourn
ed. after the Nonpartisans had noti-
fed Charles Brewer, secretary OF the
board Of regents, that his services
would not be required after the
December meeting.
Since the attempted election of Mr..
Muir, the various state institutions
that are directed by the regents have
found themselves in q quandary as to
whom to recognize, ]. w. Wiikerson'
secretary OF the university. then ask
ed the attorney general for an opin-
ion as to just who is chairman or
the regent board, and Mr.. LANCER
responded by holding that Mr.. CraW-
ford stilI held the post. lie took the
poattion that under the rules Of the
board OF regents. Mr.. Crawford's
election last July for q period OF a
year was not revoked by the subse-
quent election Of Mr.. Muir, as the
board rules have not been changed
in the meantime.
Both Mr.. Muir and Mr.. Totten, in
the interviews they gave the Nom
partisan organ. declared that the at
torney general had overlooked one
point-both insisted tie board OF
regents had no rules of which they
were aware, and that none had been
produced by Charles Brewer, secre-
tary OF the board. when they asked
for II em.
Just what will develop at Grand
Forks tomorrow is uncertain. There
Is a bare possibility that Messrs.
Muir, Totten and Vermilya viii IN
slst that their organization rules, and
II may result In a split OF the board.
Eventually, the courts will be called
upon to disentangle the affair.
The election Of a president or the
university Is an important matter
OF business for the early considera-
ton of the board Of regents, and that
fact lends no little Importance to the
present disruption.
1t was inevitable, of course, that
the affairs OF the Bankers Insurance.
company OF Helena, Mont, should be-
come political factors, and they are
already being used by the Nom
partisans. The company in question
wrote extensive drought insurance IN
the western part of the state after
being licensed by 8. "A. Olsness, the
present insurance Commissioners, and
when the whole crop practically fail-
ed, the company found itself unable
the order that the state bank
examiner, J. R. Waters, recently is
sued 10 North Dakota state banks,
instructing them not to pay certit1-
Gates OF deposit issued to the COM
pany. and which order was subse-
0uentIv revoked by the examiner. has
been used to q considerable extent
bv the Nonpartisans in their propa-
ganda work.
Mn waters order, when issued,
was taken up by the bankers VITA
their consulting attorney, Il. q. Enge-
rud. OF Fargo, and he gave them an
opinion to the effect that there was
no defense against payment. In
other words, he held that the bank
ing departments order must be dis
regarded If the banks wished to
avoid legal entanglements.
Garnishment proceedings were
started when the state order was is
sued, and the reserves OF rs banks
tied up.
At this stage. the Nonpartisans be-
gan the use Of the Waters order for
political purposes. pointing to It as
step to aid the farmers.
Since Mr.. Waters has been COM
pelled to recall his order, the leagues
official newspaper has not deemed It
worth while TO inform its readers OF
the fact that the banking department
was compelled TO accept as binding
upon it the points made in opinion
OF the Bankers association attor-
III appears that the banking de-
partment's two orders were based on
opinions furnished by the attorney
general. William LANCER, who first
held that the payment OF the certifi-
Gates should be denied and subse-
uuently held that the banking de-
partment had oyerstepped its powers
ia attempting to head off payment.
The trial OF Thomas Hail. secre-
tary OF state, for the embezzlement
of funds of the automobile registra-
tton department, Is scheduled for the
*nfsn ne fhe psfpIafrI4 eoHnty district