Bonners Ferry herald. [volume] (Bonners Ferry, Idaho) 1904-current, 1920-11-30

Fargo N Ddh.-- lie most severe
reyerses suffered by the nunpartisan
league at any time since /. became a
nolitical factor in North Dakota wire
those sustained in this years elections
rontrary 70 the report circulated by
the nonpartisan league press through
ont the group of 10 states in which it
has operated. the nonpartisan league
M longer holds complete control of
the North Dakota government. Il has
suffered loss of control Of the house
of representatives, and today it con-
trolls the senate by the margin of a
single vote. One of it's senators has
already declared that he no longer
will consider himself bound by the
secret caucus rule which the nonpar-
tisan league has used in this state to
such excellent advantage during the
last four years. Even the majority of
one in the senate that the league now
enjoys may fail before the contest that
is being instituted ON one of the league
senator's by an Independent candidate
League Loses State Offices.
In this election the independent or
anti-nonpartisan league forces elected
for the first time in four years any
considerable part of the state officers
1t is true that during the last year and
half three state officers have not
been aligned with the league, but it is
also true that these three men, the
attorney general, state auditor and
secretary of state, were elected two
years ago on the league ticket.
This year for the first time since the
league entered the state, the opposi-
ton to the Oh ganiZation has succeeded
in electing justice of the supreme
court of the state, and in contests for
the circuit or district court berths, of
which there are Is in the state, the
Independents succeeded in the election
Of 10 judges Endorsed by them, while
the nonpartis2ns elected the other
five.
Lost Fight for Five Laws.
At no point where the nonpartisan
league was not fortified with the name
of the republican party was it sue
ccssful in the election of a candidate
to office this year. They opposed un-
successfully the passage of five laws,
one at least vital to the industrial
schemes of the leaders of the league
The nonpartisan league made its
bow in state politics four years ago
That year it elected every officer on
the state ticket with the single excep-
ton of the candidate for state treas
urer All of the candidates elected by
the league were on the republican
ticket except their candidate for treas
urer, who was on the democratic
ticket. The anti-league candidate was
elected
Two years ago the anti-nonpartisan
league forces were successful in the
election of only one officer of the en-
tire group, that being the superinten-
dent of public instruction. OBJECTIONS
from the league in the two year inter
val lost for them control of three
more state offices.
In 1915 the league also elected 85
members of the house of representa-
tives. while the independents elected
only %. In 1918 the league elected 81
house members and the independents
elected 80. This year the league has
elected 50 members of the house and
the opposition has elected SO.
Steady Loss in Senate.
lowed almost the same course. In
1916 % state senators were elected
OF this group the nonpartisans elected
Is, and the independents elected seven
Two years ago, when "a state senators
were elected, each for terms of four
years, the nonpartisan league elected
16, and the opposition eight. This
year, with 26 senators elected, the in
dependents elected 16 members and
the league elected 10. One senator
elected was recall, in which an in
dependent uLseated a nonpartisan.
Another election was for the purpose
Of filling a vacancy caused by death,
and in this instance a nonpartisan
was named to succeed the nonpartisan
who died
Some important results may be an
ticipated as an outcome of the change