The Oakes times. [volume] (Oakes, N.D.) 1906-current, 1919-03-27
BIG Chief IS
REAL AUToCRAT
GETTING TOO STRONG FOR INDIE,
PENDENT STATE OFFICIALS
Three Of the Most Trusted Men Kick.
inp Holes in Fence on Vicious
Measures

A. c. Townley is having the time
of his political life in holding his
official circle in line for all the acts
of his controlled legislature
Secretary of State Hall has been
of the reservation for some time. and
it is doubtful If he ever gets on again
with both feet. Attorney General
LANCER, who has been the right hand
man of Governor Frazier, is kicking
big holes in the official enclosure, as
is State Auditor Kositzly, whom the
Townley steam roller hit in more
places than one in the late unpleas-
antness. These three men are out in
the open against the domineering
ways of Gear Townley ami some of
the vicious measures slipped through
in the closing days Of the legislature,
State Treasurer Olson and Commits
sioner of Insurance Olsness were
quoted as against the educational
and printing bills, but are not quite
sure they want to break with the
machine, and have denied in public
some statements given in privateA
Hall, LANCER and Kositzky are the
big trio of the administration. They
are fearless and independent. Not of
the same stamp at all as Rubber
Stamp Frazier, who holds down the
governors chair. The three former
will take the stump in the campaign
that we are about to enter, not to
attack the original program of the
League, as they stand where they
stood before on this, but to defeat
the vicious measures such as the
educational bill, the printing bill, the
industrial commission bill, the immi-
grafton bill and the judgeship bill.
Townley put out very bitter letter
in last weeks North Dakota Leader,
the official mouthpiece. attacking
these men and threatening them with
political destruction, as ~eaR as
bringing down on their heads all the
anathemas to which real angry man
can give vent. The big boss was sore
all over; and he showed it openly.
The open threats did not appear to
have had much effect on Hall, LANCER
and Kositzky, only to spur them on
to more vigorous action. Hall and
LANCER had meeting of the banking
board, without the aid or consent of
the governor, the other member, and
passed some strong resolutions
against the sale Of any more stock in
the United Consumers Stores until a
full report is made and the blue sky
laws of the state complied with. This
antagonizes the Townley-Brinton
bunch all the more. Another thing
happened yesterday when "the
organization" through the Courier
News, charged a corruption fund Of
$4,000 made up by Twin City whole
salers and others to get the line of
Consumers stores. Our attorney gen:
eral called the bluff and put up
$1,000 in the Farmers Equity Bank at
Mandan for proof of the charges.
State Auditor Kositzky has taken
the stump. and in an address at Kill
deer. the county seat Of Dunn county.
400 farmers in the aaiiience cheered
his words to the echo. In part he
said:
II believe the educational institu-
tions of this state during the last
twenty-five years have graduated
hundreds upon hundreds of women
and men who were equally capable
Of drafting these bills. And we have
at the capitol an efficient attorney
general with a capable star of assist
ants who surely made it unnecessary
during the last session to import any
ong.haired gentlemen from Utah.
Washington and Minnesota to make
our laws. for us.
II was in the house chamber when
the printing bill was railroaded
through. l. saw member after mem
ber callei into the lobby by league
leaders and given his instructions.
When l learned later that these men
had been threatened with political
ruin if they did not vote for this bill,
1t made my blood boil. When any
man or set Of men become so drunk
with power that they think they can
come in and dictate to our lawmakers
and control their every act. it is time
that power was taken from them and
restored to the people.
II feel there has been undue dom
ination exercised by . few leaders
who have threatened us with political
ruin unless we did their bidding.
This 10 contrary to the principles Of