The Bismarck tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, N.D.) 1916-current, 1920-08-19
HOLD SUFFRAGE
SPELLS DEFEAT /,
OF T0WNLEYISM
Anti-League Leaders Enthusi-
astic Over Action of Ten
nessee Legislature
LEAGUE MEN DUBIOUS
W0men's Vote Considered
Governor Frazier Goes to
Montana to Speak
LEAGUE MEN DUBIOUS

2
advanced several Joints with the
news that the Tennessee legislature
had ratified the woman suffrage
amendment. On the other hand,
there was bearish t!aldency in Nom
partisan league stock when the news
Of the action was 4-ceived in Bis
marck
Anti-Townley leaders believe that
the enfranchisement of 100000 North
Dakota women spells certain defeat
for the league. There are few pol,
itical observers who believe the re-
suit in the fall campsign will not be
materially affected ysy the women's
votes.
Anti-ToWnley leaders point to the
vote for state superintendent of pub
lie instruction in the recent primary
in support of their contentious. Even
discounting the ability and personal
popularity of Miss Minnie j. Nelson,
her victory over Miss Ruth M. OHM
son shows that more women will vote
the antiTownley ticket than will
vote against it, they say.
Democratic Women
Miss Nelson receised 31.471 votes
more than the held of the anti
Townley ticket Will, Miss Johnson
received but 1878 votes more than
the head of the leagne ticket in the
primary. If this ratio is maintained
in the fall the league will be defeated
by a large majority.
Even though the women of the
state should follow the trend of the
men of their families in voting. the
advantage is given to the forces op-
posing the league, the anti-TOwnley
leaders point out. The effect Of
equal suffrage will be to practically
double the Democratic vote. Fl. Fl.
Perry led the Democratic ticket with
S,22S votes.
Adding Mr.. Perry's vote to that CIV
en- William LANCER in the primary,
the league vote, as represented by
Governor Frazier's vote, was about
5000 less than half or the total. With
the addition Of but 5000 Democratic
women voters, the total number OF
votes of the opposition would be
greatly in excess of the league vote
as represented in the primary.
Fusion Ticket Advantage
The probability of defeat Of the
league is greater in the fall than it
ever has been, they hold. For the
first time real fusion ticket will
be in the field opposing the league.
1t took the lesson of few defeats
to teach the anti-socialist voters Of
the>state of the necessity Of complete
union. 1t was more nearly achieved
in the recent primary than ever BE-
fore, when the Republicans OF the
state rallied around one candidate
With a ticket on which Democrats
and Republicans are both represented
opposing the Townley ticket in the
fall, and the line drawn, so far as
the state is concerned, sharply be-
tween Townleyism and the opposi-
tion. the league faces a difficult cam
paign.
Reorganization Work
The effect of the league "reorgan--
ization work." which followed the
disappointment over the primary re-
suit by league leaders, is a debat-
able question. League leaders assert
that many members have come back
into the fold Reports have reach
ed the city of unusual pressure be-
ing brought to bear to bolster up the
league organization. Social boycott
is weapon strongly used agalns!
men of Independent convictions III
many communities. Refusal to CO.
operate with a farmer who will not
support the league, in harvesting and
in other ways, has mulcted SIS out
of many an unwilling farmer, it is
freely asserted.
The effect of such bitter methods
also has stirred enmity against the
league by many farmers who refuse
to bow to the will of men employ
ing coercion to gain votes.
Frazier Campaigns
Governor Frazier is in Montana,
where it is said he will campaign for
the league until the primary on Aug.
a. The governor left yesterday for
that state to spend week, and it
is understood he will make several
speeches. In North Dakota the Nom
partisan league candidates run on the
Republican ticket while in Montana
they are seeking Democratic nomina>
tions.