The Fargo forum and daily republican. [volume] (Fargo, N.D.) 1894-1957, 1917-05-07
CONVENTION TO
PICK CANDIDATE
FOR CONGRESS
Republicans Will Employ
Causus, County and Dis
trict Meeting System.
Committeeman
TO FIX DATES
Action Determined Upon at
Conference Sunday-Op-
pose Unit Rule.

Republicans will nominate by con-
vention their candidate for congress
to succeed the late HI. T. Helgesen,
such action being determined upon at
a conference of state committeeman,
county chairmen and prominent party
members, at the call OF National Com
mitteeman Gunder Olson, held in Far
go Sunday.
Friday of this week, the state CEN
trail committee members representing
the legislative districts comprising
the First congressional district, will
meet in Fargo with National Commit
teeman Gunder Olson for the purpose
of determining upon the apportion-
ment of delegates to the convention;
the date for the caucus, county con-
ventions and the date for the district
convention.
That the convention system is the
mode prescribed by the laws of the
state in the selection of party candi-
dates for a congressional vacancy, was
the view unanimously expressed by
prominent attorneys who participated
Waldorf hotel in Fargo Sunday. The
proposal that the petition system was
governing, met with no sanction.
Thirteen Of the twenty state COM
mitteemen in the district attended the
conference. Four county chairmen
were present in person or by proxy.
Want No Bound Delegates.
A striking resolution adopted by the
conference contains the suggestion
that the committeeman, when they
make their call, advise the county
conventions to refrain from binding
their delegates to any particular cam
didate; that they eschew the unit rule
in voting, and that the delegates be
permitted to come to the state con-
vention entirely free to act as they
may deem for the best interests of the
state and nation-for the selection of
a candidate for congress at this time
is a matter Of vital Importance in view
OF the great war crisis that confronts
the nation.
Election OF Republican Important.
'"The election of a Republican Is
vital to the nation and the world said
Judge BurIeigh F. Spalding, in ad-
can, in the minority party In the house
of representatives is in position to do
effective work that Is not permitted
n member of the majority. When
was ii congress, a. member OF the con-
trolling party, j had to handle ap-
pointments to 700 postofices. and 1t
required two-thirds OF my time. That
is q duty that doesn't fall to a MEM
Der OF the minority, and he is given an
opportunity to devote his whole at
tention to the vital issues that con-
front congress at this tine."
Adoption OF the suggestion laid
down by the conference, which was
proposed by. A. w. Fowler, Cass coufl-
ty, will serve to establish confidence
in the Republican party, and give the
party's nominee. greater chance OF
success.
The call for the meeting Of the state
central committeeman to be held here
Friday was issued today. They will
confer with Gunder Olson, the nation
al committeeman, in fixing the caucus,
county and state convention dates.
There was some discussion of taking
final action at the conference yester-
day, but that step was opposed on the
contention that the meeting was called
for conference purposes only, and that
it would be more advisable to delay
the final action until a formally called
session of the proper party ofacials
could be held
Among the men present at the con-
ference were Ray Craig, Ransom
county; r. j. Hughes, Richland coun-
ty; x. J.. Nomland, Traill county;
Treadwell Twichell and l.. l.. Twt-
chell. Cass county; A. w. Fowler, Cass
county; o. B. Burtness and j. d. Ba-
con, Grand Forks county; G. W. Plain, |
Cavalier county; ole A. Rod, Walsh
county; Buckniller, Sargent county;
A. Leslie, Sargent county; 9. ]. Mus
tad. Steele county; 'G. Ross, Richland
r. 4. Cuthbert, Ramsey county; A. |
Holte, Cass county; Geo. White, |
TrailI county; !. J. Nelson, Walsh |
county; r. A. Westacott, Grand Forks |
county: Burleigh F. Spalding, Cass
county.