The Fargo forum and daily republican. [volume] (Fargo, N.D.) 1894-1957, 1917-04-21
MLEAN TO
STAY With
THE BOYS
Just Likely That Dem Chair
man Will Not Give Up
His Position.
NO FORMAL RESIGNATION
Bangs, Burke and Hildreth,
Now Talked-Carmody
Sees Use Of Petitions.

The mere fact that Fred Mclean,
chairman of the Democratic state Gen.
trail committee of North Dakota, has
departed from this state to make his
home in st. Paul, where he is registrar
and attorney for the federal farm loan
bank, does not, disqualify him from
continuing as chairman of. the commit
tee-and that Mr.. Mclean himself is
of that same opinion is evidenced by
the fact that he has not resigned.
Contrary to generally credited news
paper accounts and opinion Of mem
bers of the state committee, there is, as
yet, no vacancy in the Craftsmanship,
and unless Mr.. McLean's friends feel
quite confident Of their ability to elect
a successor who would follow out his
policy in the administration of the
committee affairs, there may be no va
cancy. s... IT, .-
That fact developed at the meeting
held in Fargo early this week. when
the executive committee gathered to
lay plans for a meeting Of the state
committee at which the election Of q
new chairman was to be the most im~
portant business.
The question Of whether or not a
nonresident may hold the chairman
ship Of a state central committee was
decided, Democrats say, in favor OF
the proposition, when the supreme
court held in the Macarthur Mclean
case that the committee was the sole
power in determining who 1t wanted
for its officers. =. ..
Burke and Bangs.
|, Democrats continue to concern
themselves with the congressional pos
sibilities in the First district. where
a successor to the late Cong. H. T.
Helgesen liz to be elected ...
Some talk has been heard of John
Burke. former governor, and present
treasurer Of the United States, He
maintains his voting residence at Dew
lis Lake. Mr.. Burke's name was dis
cussed with more or less interest at
the executive committee meeting.
AS to the Grand Forks situation,
where Fred Bartholomew and George
A. Bangs are regarded as candidates,
things appear to be developing in favor
of Mr.. Bangs entry into the race.
Also, there continues more or less
comment on the possibility that Mel
vim Hildreth, jr., Fargo, may become
a candidate. &c.,.
Says IL Is Petition Route.
John Carmody assistant United
States district attorney, is out with
an opinion to the effect that the petit
ton route will be required to nominate
Judge Carmody says:
Section Sol of the 1899 code. is
therefore the only method provided by
law for nominations. There is a Curl
Gus history connected with this section.
1t appears in the code Of 1895 and in
the code Of 1899, but 1t disappears
from the code Of 1908 and does not re-
appear in the compiled laws Of 1918.
It's validity and the fact that 1t was
not repealed was established in a de-
cision OF the state supreme court, and
it was by this decision that attention
was drawn to its existence. Under its
provisions nominations are made for
names which go under the independ-
emit column Of the general election
ballot. It requires that petitions con-
tain the names OF 10 per cent. of
the number OF votes cast at the last
general election for representative in
congress, but in no instance more than
800 signatures, must be filed with the
secretary Of state. The total number
OF votes cast for congressman in the
First district in 1915 was 34,567. Ten
per cent would be 345, but candidate
can have his name placed on the ball
lot with 300 valid signatures on the
petition"