The Bismarck tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, N.D.) 1916-current, 1920-10-02
PLEDGE TAKEN
BY CANDIDATE
FROM BURLEIGH
Agrees to Act on Rule of Ma
jority of Nonpartisan League
Members
LAST DAY FOR FILING
Many Democratic Candidates
Withdraw in Favor of Re-
publican Nominees

Nonpartisan candidates for
the legislature are bound to the
secret caucus by a pledge.
A copy of the pledge signed
by L. D. Bailey, going on the
ticket for legislature in Burleigh
county, where the Nonpartisans
were defeated in the June prim-
ary, became public today.
The pledge to the secret eau
Gus is slightly disguised with
high-sounding phrases. T h e
pledge appears in the last SEN
tence. 1t reads:
n agree further that during
the session Of the legislature |
will at all times vote and work
for those measures and legislative
acts that are APPROVED BY A
MAJORITY OF THE MEMBERS
OF THE LEGISLATURE ELECT
ED BY THE NONPARTISAN
LEAGUE AND ORGANIZED La
BOR."
The pledge means nothing, except
the portion binding the candidate to
the caucus rule Of the league dictators
if elected, It is merely a club to hold
over his head. The oath OF office OF
legislator binds him to act in the
best interests of all the people and to
work for just laws. The only purpose
for which the pledge could be exacted
is to prolong the star chamber method
of legislation in North Dakota, sitting
free expression Of opinion and in
creasing the dictatorial powers OF
William Lemke and A. G. Townley.
Rush Of Petitions y
Today was the last day for filing pc
titions for candidates for state and
legislative offices. Petitions for the
Nonpartisan league candidates to run
against independent republicans NOM
mated at the June primary were filed.
Petitions also were filed for SO inde-
pendent candidates for the house and
IL for the senate.
1t is understood that every legisla-
tive candidate signed the agreement
binding himself to the secret caucus
The league did not file candidates
for legislative Offices from the dis
tricts of the city Of Fargo and Grand
Forks. Whether these were to be filed
yet today was not made plain when
Joseph Coghan, local Lacquer, dump
ed a bunch of petitions in the office
of the secretary of state.
Women Candidates
Three women candidates for the
legislature were entered by the Nom
partisan league from the 29th district,
Ward county. They are Mrs. D. F.
Seed, Bessie L. Edwards and Metka
Lakowski. Mrs. Seed, who is under
stood to be a relative OF F. w. CathrO,
director general of the Bank of North
Dakota, presented petition which In
cluded the names Of her husband. Her
husband had failed to complete his
citizenship, but it is understood he had
accomplished that so that no obstacle
stands in the way of his Wife's candl-
dacy.
Mrs. Mary Olson entered the legisla-
tive lists as candidate for the legls-
lature from Rolette county as an anti
Townley candidate.
ad 1879 Nelson Quits 5dJ d.C7
Among the withdrawals filed with
the secretary of state were those OF
Nick Nelson, Democratic candidate for
Congress in the First district. This
leaves the field between O. B. Burt
ness and John Baer. Frank Sanford,
Democratic candidate for commission
or of agriculture and labor also with
drew. The democratic legislative
candidates in Burleigh county also
withdrew.
A large number of Withdrawals from
Democratic candidates for Legislative
offices in counties where the Repub-
licans nominated candidates over the
league men in the primary were to De
filed today This action clears the at
mosphere for the fusion ticket making
the fight in November straight fight
between Townley and anti-Townley
candidates.