The Bismarck tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, N.D.) 1916-current, 1920-03-24
JOHNSON'S MEN
FEAR REACTION
IN CONVENTION
Declare Effort to Repudiate Cal.
ifornia Progressive Would
Injure G. 0. P.
ASK DELEGATES PLEDGE
State Manager Declares Repre-
sentatives Picked Should
Go on Record Now

to the republican national convention
elected last Tuesday may spill the
beans by declining to stay put on the
endorsement of Senator Hiram w.
johnson, the only presidential candi.-
date who accepted formal nomina
tion in North Dakota. Is resulting III
concerted action upon the part OF
North Dakota johnson men and re-
publicans generally to prevent what
they insist would prove contre temps
that might fatally effect the state prt-
maries to be held in North Dakota
the latter part Of June
The primary election, these gentle
men pOint out. disclosed an over
whelming sentiment among North Da
kota republicans Of every complexion
in favor Of Senator Johnson. John
son. by a tremendous majority over
Wood. Iowden and other candidates
who did not openly seek nomination
in. this state, hut whose names were
written in on the ballots on election
day, was declared the presidential
choice Of North Dakota, declare his
friends. Should any considerable
number of the delegates FOLLOW the
course announced by Senator Henry
MCLEAN Of Cavalier county In ad.
vance Of the election and refuse To
lie hound at the national convention
in Chicago on June by the prefer
ence expressed by North, Dakota re-
p,tblicans, in balloting on presidential
candidates, the result would be
disastrous So far as an independent
republican victory in the North Da-
kota state primaries. two weeks later.
is concerned. insist the Johnson men
l$ GOOD LEAGUE AMMUNITION
':Any action Of this kind would fur
nish the league with the kbest kind
of campaign ammunition said r. s..
Wilcox. state manager for Johnson. to-
day. "Tha Wood machine in Mime
sofa has already almost positively as
sured league Victory In that STAGE
by the use OF similar tactics In the
recent so.calletl republican victory. u, i,
sincerely .trust, nor as, ;rsucl, for Mfr.
3Johnso,l's sake for s,iYh an action
would only serve to strengthen him
with the progressive independent re.
pub1icans--butf in the interest of a
real republican victory IN our state
primaries the latter. .part Of June that
no faction will be blind enough to NJ
tempt to balk the will Of the majority
in this state.
"I have no positive proof that any
thing of the kind is contemplated: ::
said Mr.. Wilcox. II know that some
Of the &most stalwart Of the oldtime
republicans realize what mistake It
would be to undertake at Chicago to-
throw Johnson. who has heen prefer
red by such a great majority Of his
party in this state. But there have
been rumors. emanating. ] believe.
from sources inspired by Townley AMI
the only way can see of convincing
North Dakota that It is to have .
square deal at the Chicago convention
is for every delegate elected Tuesday.
March 18, to sign a pledge that he
will be bound by the will Of his or her
constituents as expressed in the ma
jority republican vote at the state
primaries. @sg
WOULD BE SUICIDAL
"To repudiate North Dakota's ell
dorsement of johnson would he sui
cidal for the regular republican organ
ization in this state. 1t would be play
ing directly into the hands Of Town
ley and his colleagues and furnishing
them with material that~none know
better how to use effectively. 1t must
he remembered that johnson was EN-.
dOrsed not merely. by league repub.
licans, but by majority Of the men,.
hers Of this party of every faction.
To insult them by ignoring their clear
ly expressed will would he to alien
ate thousands of c.eanminded pro-
gressives whose support we must have
in the June primaries