Grand Forks herald. [volume] (Grand Forks, N.D.) 1916-1955, 1920-11-05

visited every county, In h state but
one, and addressed nearly 200 aud.
ences. 1t is estimated, that he has
spoken to over $4,000 people. He has
his campaign with force
fulness. dignity and courtesy which
have made friends for him every
where, M the excellent showing
which the Independents have made in
this campaign has been due in n.
small measure to the spirit which he
has injected into It,.
At the outset the independents fac
cd a task which was regarded by
most people familiar with political
work as impossible. The administra-
ton forces were in control of the
principal offices Of the state and of
the machinery of the Republican par
ty. 1t was a presidential year, a year
in which national party slogans are
sounded loudly, and in. which many
voters find difficulty in separating
state from national issues.
The Townley faction had an organ
ization which had been in continuous
existence for more than four years.
which had been actively at work 365
days in each year. 1t was abundant
ly supplied with money, for in addi-
ton to the regular dues of members
it had access to immense sums de-
rived from many sources, among them
the sums paid by farmers for parti-
cipatiop in one or more of the nu-
merous Townley Commercial" enter
prises. And it had an army of paid
workers trained for hat special pur-
pose, and who had a vital interest in
the result. for in most cases they were
men without other occupation who
depend for their bread and butter on
the success of the ToWnley campaign.
Against this there was at first no
organization whatever. and when or
%ganization was undertaken there was
the difficult task of bringing togeth-
or in one working body Of separate
party elements. and Of conducting a
campaign chiefly by the volunteer
work of citizens who could i'll spare
the time from their own occupations,
who received no compensation, and
who looked for no reward save the
satisfaction Of having served the state.
With a campaign so undertaken.
and hampered by innumerable diff
,culties, the Independents have been
able to reduce almost to the vanish
ing point the former huge majoritses
of their opponents.
. But the gubernatorial situation ie
yet been compiled on the vote on
other state offices. There is at this
writing practically nothing on which
an intelligent estimate could be bas-
ed except in one instance. A cursory
inspection of returns from scattered
precincts indicates that Miss Nelson
has been running ahead Of her ticket
quite ~appreciably. and there Is every
reason to believe that she has been
reelected state superintendent by a
handsome majority. ..t
While Townley retains his hold on
the position of governor, it seems
certain that he has lost his grip on
the Legislature. 1t B certain that his
faction has sustained severe losses in
the Legislative contests for both house
and senate. At this time it appears
probable that the Independents will
be able to control both houses by
small majorities. Past experience
indicates that with approximately an
even break in either house the inter-
ests Of the state are likely. to be well
cared for so far as the assembly is
concerned.
Another feature which will have an
important influence is the fate of the
five initiated laws. Only a little in
formation on this is available at this
time, but some figures have been, as
sembled on the bill regulating the de-
post Of public funds. Information
at this time is that this bill has re-
ceived stronger support than was
given, the individual independent
candidates, and there is a reasonable
probability hat all five of these law
have been passed. If that is the case
safeguards have been thrown around
some of the states most important
interests.