Jamestown weekly alert. [volume] (Jamestown, Stutsman County, D.T. [N.D.]) 1882-1925, 1920-09-23
LEAGUE LEADERS
SPLIT into TWO
OPPOSING CAMPS
Bitter Struggle Between Fac
tons Given as Reason For
Bill Lemke Trying to Make
Himself Such a Hero in His
Own Newspaper.

Bismarck, N. D., Sept. 2l.-Blll
Lemke is fighting for his political
life.
This statement was made by
man still prominent in league coun-
cils 1t follows rumors that have
been floating around the state cap
ital for many weeks.
1t is taken as an answer to the
question: Why is Lemke trying
to make himself such hero in his
own newspaper"
And the situation is both a COM
pliment to sLemkes political pow
ers and an indication of his report
ed unlimited personal ambition.
Lemke, the story goes, faced a
fight for reelection as Nonpartisan
league national committeeman next
winter. He feared the fight, and
took a long chance. Disregarding
the old pledge that no Nonpartisan
league boss would seek office, he
threw himself into the ring for At
torney-General. If he wins, he is
to be candidate for United States
senator to succeed Senator Nc
Cwmber. If he is whipped he is
to be beaten for national commit
teeman of the league and consigned
to oblivion.
The grab in power of Lemke is
said to be the controlling influence
of the fight against him On the
other hand it is regarded as the
old fight between the 'Minot
group Of socialists and the radi-
cals headed by Lemke. -.
Arthur LIE Seur, former league
attorney, A. E. Bowen and others
of the lMinot group are said to be
the opposing influences. La Seur
has told friends from North Dako-
ia who visited him in Minneapolis
that he is against the efforts of Ger
tain men in the league to gain per-
sonal benefit from it.
John Hagan, commissioner Of
agriculture. and labor, Is said to be
the man groomed to beat Lemke
as leader of the league in North
Dakota. Townley, 1t is said, long
ago. realized that Lemke had GUST
ed him from control in North Da-
kota by grabbing control of the
newspapers and the consumers
stores.
La seur's enmity toward Lemke
runs back to the time Of the first
attack made on Townley for sedi-
tion, it. is said, La Seur wanted to-
defend Townley, it is declared, but
Lemke objected. La Seur stayed
in his Office for a day and then
went on to the hearing. Lemke,
then, it is said, kept La Seur from
defending Townley at his Jackson,
MINI. trial. And; La Seur, it is
said, was ousted from the legal de-
partment OF the league by Lemke.
Among the other interesting fea-
lures of the seething league Gin
ner workings" is the story being
told by mantswho ought to know
that it was John Hagan, who first
concocted the plan of ousting Pres
ident Kane from the state univer-
sity.. After it proved to be an un-
popular attempt, 1Hagan is said to
have 'ducked'' and come out for
Kane. He received the support Of
many university graduates in the
primary because Of this. pe
Another story is of the deal CIV
en- Axel Strom, former state man
ager of the league. He was ousted
and Ray Craig put in his place and
left in the lurch. Then the "Mfnot
group" is said to have gotten busy,
and Strom finally was given the
league Organization job in the
northwest part Of the state, after
he had plans, laid for running So
cialist ticket again in the state.
The iMinot group" is said 10
hold as q club over the league the
socialist backing. Unless the league
bows to them, they will put So
cialist ticket lin the field and with
5000 socialist votes could defeat
the league.
And while the league seethes
with rumors and reports of plots
and counter-plots a desperate effort
is being made among the bosses to
prevent Q split until after election,
at least.
Rev. w. C. Hodgson of Duluth
will succeed Rev H. H. Frost as
R-kH