The Fargo forum and daily republican. [volume] (Fargo, N.D.) 1894-1957, 1918-03-27

to the convention hall shortly after
midnight. and he was nominated
shortly thereafter.
The fight that developed on Hall
was the result Of the action brought
against him last fan by Attorney
General LANCER, involving the hand
ling Of the automobile registration
fund.
HaIl-Mess Combination.
The real fact, however. with respect
to the failure OF Norton to- obtain the
leagues support probably is TO be
found In the attitude taken by Hal
ana Senator Pendray.
Hall sought to wreak vengeance on
Dan ". Brennan. assistant attorney
general, who prosecuted the case
against him. Brennan is a brother
in-law OF Congressman Norton, and
always has been his active supporter.
When Hall came to the convention
with Pendray's backing. 1t was a very
easy matter for the Mees crowd and
the Penoray crowd in the convention
70 come 70 an understanding mutual
~ beneficial.
The result is Halls endorsement
and the rejection Of Norton.
Pendray Makes Threat.
scenes in the convention attendant
upon the endorsement or Hall were
especially exciting and furnished the
delegates with one OF the most thrill
ing fights of the night long session.
Pendray, who came to Fargo with
Hall early Tuesday morning, came
with fight in his eyes. At league
HEADQUARTERS yesterday he made open
threats to wreck the league in Suits
man county If Hall was not tax
en- care or and, resorting to slang,
he got away with it,.
Insisted On Vindication,
Senator Pendray insisted upon the
nomination OF Hall as q vindication
for the secretary Of state. He went
before the convention on that ground,
and battled to a finish.
Pendray pleaded that the conven-
ton call Hall in, and his plea was
needed, Hall being the only candidate
to appear before the body.
Hall, himself, made a strong plea
for nomination, demanding vindica-
ton at the hands Of delegates.
Townlsy Takes Hand.
When the ballot was taken, Aug
ust Bergman, clerk of court Of Rich |
land county for eight years, was a |
He received a goodly |
Of votes.
At that stage, President Townley |
took hand in the proceedings and
made a most significant declaration
that ended Bergman's chance of '
when he told the con-
Vention that "a Democrat had no
chance Of election, citing the leagues
experience with p. M. Casey two
years ago as proof Of the pudding
On the next ballot, heedful or
President Townley's declaration,
Bergman lost practically all the sup
port he had mustered earlier in the
battle.
WouIdn't Support LANCER.
During the course of his remarks,
Hall declared he would support the
entire Nonpartisan ticket IL nominal
I'd, with the exception that he could
not and would not support LANCER
Tor attorney general.
Hall explained, however, that he
would not oppose LANCER in any way.
Lsmks Proposes Resignation.
Yesterday morning William |
[,emke. political adviser Of the
eaRue. and vice president OF the or
held a conference with
Hall. 1t is understood that Pendray
Was present.
During the conference Lemke pro-
posed to Hall that the league con-
gention endorse him, and that Hall
resign from the ticket.
Lemks advanced the argument that
The nomination would be a SUFFICIENT
Lemlxe failed to pin Hall down to
IN agreement Of this kind, and as
the convention preliminaries proceed
ID during the afternoon, the Han and
crowd seemingly became
convinced that they were not in need
9f the headquarters support by rea-
son OF the community OF interest be-
tween them and the Mees anti-Nor-
on crowd.
Hot Fight In Third.
When the convention declined to
support P. d. Norton for congress in
he Third district 1t laid the founda-
ion for what win develop into one
# the hottest contests Of the forth
coming primary election in June.
J. II. Sinclair, the man chosen by
he league for the fight, has been
lctively identified with various of the
enterprises, and was a
member Of the first organization team
hat went into the field TO advance
he Consumers United Stores COM
any plan at Kenmare. He, Presi-
ent Townley, A. f. Bowen and ]. w.
srinton, were members Of the first
crew that placed the
tore issue before farmers in the
district, according to Presi-