The Fargo forum and daily republican. [volume] (Fargo, N.D.) 1894-1957, 1918-06-25
l'OW'bILEY DRIV E
FALLS FLAT In.
STATE, 10y ATTY.
TICKET ON TOP.
Reports From AL Sections
Indicate Steen Ticket
Is Leading
FEvERTsH WORK
TN CLOSING HOURS
Intense Campaign Energy
On Both Sides Being
Expended Today

On the eve of the North Dakota
primary election, in which the, 10y
atty forces Of the state asNrepresent"
ed by the John Steen ticket will con-
test with the Townley- Frazier ticket
for the Republican party nom1na-
tions, confidence is expressed by
leaders of both factions as to the out
come.
Feverish activity marks this. the
closing day of the campaign, the
forces of both sides holding the stage
in many sections Of the state, carry
ing their word to the voters in the
hope OF strengthening their cause.
Polls open at s o'clock Wednesday
morning throughout the state, and
close at o'clock in the afternoon.
Returns will begin coming In by
o'clock Wednesday evening from the
extreme eastern counties of the state,
while 1t probably will be 10 or II
o'clock before anything is heard from
the Missouri slope district.
BuPnquist Trip Enthusiastic.
A significant feature in connection
with the closing hours Of the cam
paign is the tremendous enthusiasm
of the crowds that have greeted the
governor of MinneEota, j, A. A. Burn
quist, who entered North Dakota
Monday, ard is concluding his tour
today. He spoke to fully 5000. people
Monday, and this morning opened his
second days trip with a talk to a.
Fargo audience estimated at from
1900 to 1900.
This Is in marked contrast to the
reception accorded Governor Frazier
of North Dakota, who spoke at MinotI
to a few hundred people Monday,
where a Frazier and LanEer meeting
was staged at a rival attraction to O.
celebration given for departing draft
soldiers.
At Grand Forks. too. where A. b.
Bowen, a Socialist agitator, and a
Legislative candidate in Grand Forks
county, were speakers. only a small
crowd greeted them. most Of the peo-
pie Of the city sA1d county giving
their attention to the draft soldiers,
nearly 100 Of whom left the city Mon.
day evening.
Townley Injuries Cause.
Reports from all sections Of the
state where A. @. Townley has talked
are agreed on the point that Townley
has materially damaged the cause of
the Townley- Frazier ticket.
AT WiIliston, where he referred to
business men as 'bed bugs; at Hills
boro. where he preached the gospel
OF class hatred; at Grafton, where he
declared for the distribution OF land,
and at various other points, Townley
has caused heavy defiections from the
strength originally held by the
Frazier ticket,
The league president, following the
Minnesota rout, seemingly has been
in bad humor. When he told a crowd
at Towner that he was going to leave
the state. and wouldn't return till
he was sent for" he was cheered to
the echo. 1t was somewhat similar
to a reception accorded him some
months ago in Fargo when like
expression was loudly cheered.
Looking for Trouble.
The league leadership has been In
dustriously seeking to stir up trou-
ble for itself the last few days, and
to this end has used its newspapers
and other means.
When the city commission of
Devils Lake advised the Nonpartisan
league that it wouldn't be well to
bring Townley, Lindbergh, Mills or
any other Socialist to that city to
1ill campaign date today, the league
called for the council Of defense
Secretary Box Immediately went to
Devils Lake to swear in so deputies
to protect the speakers. A petition
filed by the women Of Devils Lake,
mothers Of soldiers, was the basis
ton for enforced peace.
Att Williston, where ToWnley's
abuse Of business men and town
people generally became so pro-
mounced that people called for Usher
Burdick and the league organs again
attempted to create the impression of
riot
A street gathering in Fargo Mon
gay evening, interrupted by noise
making younsters, called forth at
least a column and a half of com
n1ent this morning, ali seeking to
show that people OF Fargo Were at
tempting riot. 1t Is in line with
the general policy OF taking the
martyr role.
AT Prosper, where picnsc was
staged yesterday, Steen banners
were torn from automobiles, but SO
Tar as known, the Steen supporters
haven't thought it necessary to an
peal to the council of defense,
In connection with the Devils
Lake meeting scheduled today. an
other attempt to stir up trouble was
unearthed, when 1t was found that
the league had billed it's meeting at
the Chautauqua grounds. They had
not asked for the privilege, and ii
was announced by the board that no
meeting OF a political nature would
be tolerated there.
Steen Forces Active.
In marked contrast with the eIec-
fion OF two years ago. the Steen
forces are intensely active and viii
vote every man on their side.
On the ToWnley side, there isn't
the enthusiasm that was SO pro-
nouneed tWos years ago, and while