The Bismarck tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, N.D.) 1916-current, 1918-11-26
K0FFEL MAKES
REPLY TO TALK
0FlNSURGENCY
Secretary of Independent Voters
Association Sees No New
Organization
GRIGGs COUNTY MOvEMEN

Theodore koffel, secretary of the
Independent Voters association, to.
day furnished The Tribune with the
following statement in reply to hints
from T. J. Nelson, advertising man.
ager of the association, to the effect
that Mr.. Koffel was organizing an as,
sociation of his own and without the
approval of, fellow directors in the l.
V. A.
November rs, 1918.
Editor, Bismarck Tribune,
Bismarck, N. D.
Dear Sir:
In your issue of the 22nd instant. |
titled insurgency in Independently
noticed with surprise an article en-
titled insurgency in Independents
Ranks Already. would not ask you
for space for reply were it not that it
contains so many untruths and mis-.
statements placing the independent
Voters association in false posi-.
tion. ~
A reading of the article discloses
the fact that your heading is not justi.
fled by the contents of the article. If
the article discloses any new associa
ton or movement. 1t certainly is not
attempted by myself. The only charge
made against me is the fact that
am still loyal to the Independent Vot-
ers' association. This l admit to be
the fact; but deny specifically that
have received any letters from any Of
the directors or others connected with
the association to "hOld Off" If there
is any new movement 1t must be what
you term the Griggs County move.
ment, which according to Mr.. Nelson
has sprung from the common, every
day citizenship of the state"
TO explain this movement it may be
necessary to give a short history of
the Independent Voters association
leading up to this ID. Griggs county
common, everyday citizenship" Prior
to the public convention at Mfnot. on
May I, these appeared to be four dis
tinct and separate organizations in tho
state opposed to the Socialists. Like
many other citizens of the state
was interested in these movements,
went to the Minot meeting and there
successfully worked for a consolida-
tion Of these various organizations, as
it was apparent that it was necessary
to work in harmony in order to obtain
the best results. The Independent
Voters association was the result Of
this work. And I personally worked
for Mr. Nelson as one of the members
of the executive committee, and had
the i'll luck of being elected secretary,
committee. At a later meeting in
Jamestown of the executive commit
tee, l was elected manager and execu-
tive officer andqas such employed Mr..
Nelson as 'publ4eisy manageriif0r the.
priniafy cannpaigh. He alad obtained
tKe same position from the joint cam,
paign committee for the fall election.
And while so employed, he made vari-
Gus attempts to establish neWspa-
per, but failed in doing so, among 9TH
er obstacles meeting the government
regulation prohibiting the starting OF
new newspapers; in the meantime ne
had commenced soliciting subscrip-
tions to the proposed paper and this
Griggs county movement, as near as
I can learn, is an attempt by Mr.. Mel
son to convert that subscription lis:
into a political reform association.
conceived by Mr. Nelson while paid
for his entire time and efforts as ad-
vertising manager of the joint cam
paign committee. and PANIED it "The
Plain Citizens Political Reform Asso'
ciation;" circulars. letters. etc., were
sent over the state at the expense OF
the Joint Campaign committee. I have
also been informed that the subscrlp-
tions made was for the benefit of the
joint campaign committee but have
not been informed that Mr.. Nelson has
Continued on Page FOur.)