The Bismarck tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, N.D.) 1916-current, 1918-04-19

right CttiZGH.: But he's never takel
any interest in politics, and he hu!
given no intimatiOn that he intends t
do so nOWtses .. st..
w. IT,. Suits an of Mandan, former
chairman or the railway commission
is another possibility Just now his
friends aras booming Stutsman fol
member 0f the supreme court, to OPP
pose ~. A. Bronson OF Grand Forks
Stutsman*N 4 lawyer who has prec
liCcd for many years in landau, anG
he is also Il veteran newspaper man
It has been suggested that he might
at the last moment, be induced tC
change his 'mind about the supreme
,iudgshipif he ever has had any mind
about it, himself-and accept the nom
nation for governor
Z Former Chief Justice G. J. Fisk OF
Minot is a Democrat, but in these
days of unpartisanship that would
make little difference with republi
cans, and might gain him strength
with his own party. He is a man OF
a vast personal popularity; he eorig
inally practiced law and served on
the district bench in Grand Forks; as
member of the supreme court he lived
for many years in Bismarck, and Mi
not now is proud to claim him. He
would have the advantage of a very
general acquaintanceship, and there
are thousands of friends who would
vote and work for him. 1t has been
more or less definitely stated by his
friends. however, that Fisk is not look.
ing for anything He was for a time
regarded as a probable candidate for
the supreme bench. but g Mlnot man
states that he has it in positive auth.
GRITTY that Judge Fisk isn't seeking to
come back.
Among the younger generation of
possibilities there is Francis j. Muir,
ply Of MinOt, former assistant attOr-
ney general and a man who has been
one OF the leagues most ardent enc
mics; and there is J. Il. 7. O'Connor
OF Grand Forks, famous as the orator
Of the dast house. and whose friends
consider him a statesman of great
promise.
OF the several possibilities men
toned, the great majority are lawyers,
and all but two of the Others have
been identified for years with poll.
ties. 10 make a showing against
Frazier, the independent organiza
lions which are working more or less
in harmony realize they must haXe
a man of the Frazier type-an actual
farmer, a man who has had little do
with politics.; a, man who really has
the interests Of the farmers at heart.
There are many such in the
state, men who have been identi-
fled with farmers movements, and
men who are not now in sympathy
with the league. or at least with Me
present trend Of the league movement
But they are not coming forward.
Former leaguers in many sections
Of the" state profess to be willing to
follow. an honest, independent leader.
Therefs nofquestiOn that in many sec
tons the league has lost strength. 1t
is stated on What appears to be good
authority that in any number of pre-
cinct ,caucuses and in recent county
conventions not ten per cent of the
alleged strength of the league was
represented. These insurrectiOnists,
however, if there is any great number
of them, are hanging back, waiting for
someone else to take the initiative,
and they have not to date advanced
from their own ranks any leader who
offers great prospects of success
At least three fairly well organized
movements in opposition to the league
are now forming Two of these seevs
to come entirely from the farming dis
tricts,e and to be made up principally
Of former 1eaguers and Of independent
farmers who never were affiliated
with.the hague. 1t must be remem'
bered sthatfthis independent class al
ways has held the balance. OF power as
between the league and its open ad
versaries Townley never has claim
ed to- have organized in this state
more than 10000 farmers. This would
mean that fully as many more farmers
are unorganized, and that these, with
the 10000 votes distributed among the
OLD parties, antagonistic to the league,
could control the situatiOn-prOvided
there was placed in the field ticket
upon which all of these factions could
unite.
Meetings which have been held al
various points in the state have been
attended by representative farmers
many of whom were once leaguers
and it is probable that a majority OF
the delegates to the Minot convention
will be farmers. Much of the popu
larity of the league is due to the
fact that ToYnley has convinced. its
members that it is farmer organic
alton, giving a farmer state faramel
administration. II the anti movement
succeeds, it will be as farmer insur
rection, astute statesmen contend anG
no matter how clean their records
may be- the old time politicians are
sllowipE q disposition to keep out Of
the fight land let the new insurgents
solve the problem.
EWOOLENS TO BE SCARCE
AlNB.HIGH, DEALERS SAY
Following advices from Washington
that alfa MpSfen mills In the countr!
| have beensdfrected by the war depart
ment to hold their looms at the ser