The Washburn leader. [volume] (Washburn, McLean County, N.D.) 1890-1986, 1919-10-31
BRINT0N URGES SUSPENSION or
THREE NORTH DAKOTA OFFICERS
WOULD HAVE HOUSE PASS
IMPEACHMENTS RESOLUTIONS
AND ADJOURN FOR A'YEAR


AND ADJOURN FOR AYEAR
The inner circles of the Nonpartisan
league has been definitely blocked in
its attempt to bring about the i'm
peachment Of three state officials.
The league leaders have Abandoned
all hope of prevailing upon the senate
to convict in the event that the house
should pass resolutions OF impeach-
ment, operatives who were sent into
the field by the inner circle to deter
mine the views of senators having re-
ported that there is little prospect of
being able to do so.
AS an alternative to conviction OF
the officers by the state senate, the in
ner circle is giving serious considera-
ton to the scheme of action proposed
in conference by J. w. Brinton, who
urged upon his fellow workers the
scheme of bringing about the passage
by the house OF impeachment resolu-
tions, which would automatically sus-
pend the officers, and then adjourn the
legislature for year.
This plan, Brinton urged, would ef-
feet the same purpose as conviction,
as the officers would be thrown out,
and the Governor would have the pow
er of putting into Office men of their
choice.
Fear of defeat in the 1920 elections
now is entertained by the leaders OF
the league, and their attention is being
devoted to the construction Of their
fences in such maner as to endeavor
to continue themselves in power be-
yond 1920 in the event that they are
defeated.
The scheme of the inner circle has
not been finally determined; 1t will be
fixed, however, very soon, some time
in advance of the special session OF the
state legislature, which Governor Fra
zier Is redy to convene at any time he
get the signal.
Report Of that conference, disclose
clearly that the leaders of the league
the men who really determine it's poll
cies and who are supporting Townley
and his crowd-have become fearful
lest 1920 will see them swept out of
power, and they are now bending their
energies to stem the tide as best they
anaand 50 sbnil ID the state political
machine as to permit them to assert
their power even after the people of
the state repudiate. their leadership,
which they fear will be in the elections
of next year.
5, The curtailing Of the powers held
by the three state officers against
whom they are centering their activ-
tiles is another of the schemes consid-
cred at the conference.
Senate Majority Needed
The program for carrying into ef'
feet Brinton's scheme would be In
the hands of a. majority Of the mem
bers of the state senate. While 1t
would require two-thirds Of the SEN
ators to convict, majority OF the
body could fix the rules Of procedure.
Thus when the house passed I'M
peachment resolutions, the matter
would be certified to the senate for
trial. The senate then would fix the
date of the. trial, and >thy using the
,BriHtnn. splan, the data sef the trial
NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS. year, ,,saaaaet
i 4he,of wus}d hare to:be triad
q @sseparatefy; .sUs .taf,rt the period of trial
would extend over many months. and
bring the issue to no conclusion by the
time the terms of the officers expire:
Thus. for q tho entire balance Of the
terms to which the officers have been
elected, men appointed by Governor
Frazier would hold the offices, while
the regularly elected officers would be
under suspension.
1920 LOOKS omiNoUs
Throughout the conference, into
which was called only those closest to
and most loyal In their support Of the
fhn ting
sentiment, apart from the desire to
bring about the custer of three state
officials whom they assert have cross
ed them and must be punished was
that 1920 would witness their defeat
Bismarck, N. D. Oct. %, 1919-An
ambition upon the part OF the Town
ley administration to secure complete
control, even for few weeks, OF the
state government is said to be the real
motive behind the proposed inpeach-
ment D. proce edings, in which State
Treasurer Obert Olson, Attorney Gen
eral William LANCER, Secretary Of
State Han, and State Auditor Carl X.
Kasitzky, are to be convicted. The
league has no real hope of holding In
line the 33 senators whose votes
would be necessary 10 Cne cOnVlClloH
of these state officials, all of whom
are leaguers who have erred only in
their insurgency to Boss Townley, but
by initiating impeachment proceedings
however hopeless or .unrounded they
may, be, the. Townley administration
will at once secure to Governor Fraz- \
>ier the privilege of appointing tempor-
ary successors to the state, officials at
tackled. ,.'1- ~ p.
The statutes provide that during the
tendency Of impeachment. proc eedings:
the 6ff1ce attacked shall be'held vacant
and that this vacancy shall be flled by
the chief executive This would mean,
that for few weeks Boss Town1ey
could install at the capitol his own per-
sonal Attorney General, his own pri-
svate state treasurer, who would draw
warrants on the state funds as ddrect--
ed: his own conf dentials state- i. andAor,
continued On page 9 ..