Bonners Ferry herald. [volume] (Bonners Ferry, Idaho) 1904-current, 1920-11-30
RECENT ELECTIONS SHOW POWER
OF TOWNLEYISM IS WANING

IN control of the house of representa-
tiyes. That body has the privilege of
making investigations of any kind II
may determine upon, irrespective of
what the senate may do, and il is gem
orally anticipated that one of the first
actIons OF the house will be to order a
1ull investigation of the affairs of the
Bank of North Dakota and of the vari-
GUS industrial enterprises founded nv
the administration. Since these enter
prises were put under way, a policy
or secrecy has been maintained with
respect to their operation.
The Bank of North Dakota for in
stance mas been examined only by the
pahk examiner of the state, who is an
appolntee Of the governor, and his ex-
amlnatlons have been almost entirely
merely repetition of the reports made
oy the director general of the bank
Inc opposition has contended that the
Bank OF North Dakota should be lust
as open as any other public institution
and this viewpoint has been strongly
opposed by the nonpartisan league
leaders.
Three Officers to Probe.
One of the group of initiated laws
passed this year provides for an ex-
animation Of the bank and all other in
dustrial institutions by the state board
OF auditors, comprised of three elect
i've officials. This law is in effect on
December 2, and it will afford an op-
portunity to the attorney general
William LANCER; the secretary of
state, Thomas Hall, and the state au-
ditor, Carl Kositzky to make the in
vestigation before their terms of Of
flee expire January 1. Thereafter the
membership of the board of auditors
is made up of one independent officer
and two nonpartisan league state Of
ficerS.
Slump in Frazier's Margin.
This year Lynn J. Frazier was re-
elected governor by a majority of
1912, the vote for Frazier being 116.-
9S4, and for O'Connor, the indepen-
dent candidate, 112,292 With vote
more than twice as large as in the
primary, Frazier's majority is about
500 less than it was then Two years
ago Frazier was elected governor by a
majority of more than 1900, while
four years ago he had majority of
$4,000 The reason for Frazier's cleo
ton this year is found in the fact that
Warren G. Harding, the republican
candidate for president, carried the
state by majority of 121 ,9O9. More
than $4,000 republicans who voted for
Harding went over to the democratic
column and voted for O'Connor.
The nonpartisan leagues candidate
for justice of the supreme court was
beaten by a majority of 7476, while
the leagues candidate for superinten-
dent of instruction was beaten by
majority of 1851. The group of mi
tiated laws. which the league so
strongly upholds, passed by majorities
of from S173 to 1882 each. Two
years ago the Independent forces had
majorities in only eight counties of
the state. This year they carried "a
counties, the league carrying 20.
Wrecks Newspaper Trust
The socialist vote was a big factor
in controlling the republican primary
which gave the league its start. There
were about 5000 votes cast for Debs in
the state, and all of the socialists par
ticipated in the republican primary
in support of the nonpartisan league.
The group of initiated laws that
were passed included one which vir-
tually wrecks the nonpartisan's news
paper trust. while another one modi-
flies materially the educational law
passed by the league two years ago,
and which was intended to give the
league leaders control of the public
school system