The Fargo forum and daily republican., 1917-07-09
Tuesdays Special Election
in First District Closes
Unique Campaign
CITIES SHOW BUT
LITTLE INTEREST
Two Candidates Speak in
Fargo Tonight-League
Takes No Chances

al ulSITlCI LOr the post or repreSen-
tative in congress to succeed the late
H. T. Helgesen ends today, and Tues.
day the voters of the district will
go to the polls. "
In many respects, the campaign
has been decidedly interesting
though, so far as the city of Fargo Is
concerned, there has been but little
Interest in the election.
Lack of personal acquaintance with
the candidates has been a factor in
robbing the campaign of considerable
interest, while the business of war
has also served to divert some OF
the attention it might have attracted
in normal times.
| Because there is only the one Of
fee to be voted for, the result should
be made known comparatively early,
unless the race is close. Polls close
at 5 o'clock. In all counties of the
district, facilities for gathering cleo
tion returns are quite good, and there
should be but little delay in getting
the reports.
Two Speak Tonight.
The campaign, So far as the city
of Fargo is concerned, closes this
evening when o. B. Burtness and j.
M. Baer will make talks in the city.
The Democratic candidate, Geo. A.
Bangs, Grand Forks, closed the cam
paign in Fargo Saturday evening,
speaking at Stones hall.
In the election tomorrow, the Nom
partisans have the advantage of fac
ing divided opposition, and politi-
cal observers generally are unwilling
to predict the leagues defeat be-
cause of that fact.
Opportunities for observing rural
interest in the election have not been
afforded to many city folks, but in
dications are that the farmers gen.
orally will turn out and vote.
Thirteen Counties In District.
There are thirteen counties in the
First district, being Richland, Ran
som, Sargent, Cass, Steel, Trail,
Walsh, Cavalier Pembina, Towner.
League Makes Hard Fight.
So far as actual campaign work is
leaders have spent their time and
money with lavish hand. There has
been no stintingy of expense in it's
prosecution. i.
The league leaders are fully aware
Of the fact that tomorrows election
is of tremendous import to them.
Should the vote for Mr.. Baer show
material falling off as compared
with the vote received by Gov. Lynn
Frazier in the November election
Of 1916, it would serve to indicate
more clearly the actual strength of
the league in the district. In the
1915 election, a large number of Re-
publicans voted for Mr.. Frazier be-
cause he was the Republican nomi-
nee, and not because they supported
the Nonpartisan league program.
Use Biggest Guns.
In the prosecution Of the cam
paign, the Nonpartisans have used
their biggest guns. They recalled
D. C. Coates, who is generally
credited with being the brains of
the league, in some quarters. Mr..
Coates is admittedly a keen and far
sighted politician, with thorough ex-
perience that stands the league well
in hand at this stage. Shortly after
the last session of the legislature,
Mr.. Coates went to the Pacific coast,
returning to North Dakota to man
age Mr. Baers campaign several
weeks ago. .-.. >.......
Scores of picnics throughout the
district have been held. President
A. C. Townley, of the league, ad-
dressed several meetings. AT Grand
Forks, where he challenged the Rev.
Jonathan Watson, rector of the st.
Paul Episcopal church, with the
declaration, who the hell do you
represent, when the reverend gen.
tleman asked a question of Mr..
TownIey as he was speaking, and at
Hillsboro and Mayville, where somo1
of his statements were challenged
by members of the audience, the
league president found himself con-
AA5 Irr
pathetic audiences.
Just how important the league
leaders regard the election is further
illustrated by the fact that "a special
edition of the leagues newspaper
organ was issued, and that its other
has been devoting from
two to five and six columns daily to
the question.
Several issues injected into the
campaign include President A. G.
proposal to make peace
with the I. w. W., at a time when
the whole nation is engaged in an
to rid the country of that
organizations work; the agricultural
college affair, and others.
Democrats Are Divided.
In Fargo, the Democrats are more
or less divided.
One faction OF the Democrats In
Fargo is working for the Nonparti-
san league, including D. H. Near |
thur, E. E. Cole, M. A. Hildreth, |
Melvin Hildreth. jr., and several
others.
Mr.. Macarthur isn't willing to give |
his support to any proposition that |
is backed by the Democratic state |
central committee, hence his antag-
onism to Geo. A. Bangs
Melvin Hildreth, jr.. who went be-
fore the Democratic state committee |
to obtain the Democratic nomination !
at Grand Forks, but was beaten by |
Geo. "A. Bangs, has swung his sup
port to Mr.. Baer.
Mr.. Cole lined up with the Nom
partisans in the last session of the /
was invited into the /
league convention that nominated /
the congressional candidate, and is |
still in the same camp.
Republicans Also Split.
Within the ranks of the Republi-
cans, division also Is found. The /
state committee chairman, William
,enake placed there by Nonpartfsan 1