The Bismarck tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, N.D.) 1916-current, 1920-11-01
Exciting State Campaign Indi-
Gates Majority Under 10000
for Independent Candidate, in
Spite of Terrific League Or
ganizatiOn Drive.

ganizatiOn Drive.
RECORD VOTE EXPECTED
The close of an exciting po-
litical campaign in North Dakota
finds the anti-Townley forces
confident that J. F. T. O'Connor
and the entire fusion ticket will
be elected by comfortable ma
jorities, if the anti-Townley
workers continue their efforts
until the ballots are counted,
guarding against fraud and get
ting out the vote.
From every part of the state
come reports that Townleyism
has continued the slide which
began two years ago. Many
communities show the situation
unchanged, but in most the re-
ports are made that Townley-
ism will receive a few less voters
than in the primary. If this
condition obtains generally it
should give O'Connor the cleo
tion by from 5000 to 10000
votes. ."
Governor Frazier received 2,5O6 less
than half the votes in the primary.
Since that time women have been
given full franchise. Granting that
the men vote may not change mater
tally, it appears that the women or the
vote will have it in their power to de-
eide the issue.
Indications are for a record Vote
perhaps approaching 100000. The
vote in the primary was about III ,Oo0
and registration is heavier this fall in
nearly every section. 1t is believed
that fully $4,000 women will exercise
their right to equal suffrage with men,
Fair Weather Predicted
The weather prediction is "fair and
warmer, for the entire state. This
morning it was predicted that the air
would clear and election day would
be mild throughout the state. Con-
siderable snow fell Saturday after
noon and night in Montana, from
Butte east to the North Dakota line,
but the snow in North Dakota was
light with fair day it is certain that
the vote will approach record. A
blizzard was reported in South Dakota
today, with inches of snow at Huron.
A. c. Townley and his followers, on
the eve of election, stand with their
backs to the wall. The big boss OF
! the Nonpartisan league, who virtually
abandoned the Minnesota fight to
spend his time in North Dakota be-
cause the situation was desperate and
Minnesota said to be rather hopeless,
has told his workers that they are de-
! feated unless they make a wonderful
organization finish. This is the big
hope of the league, that their paid Or
ganizers throughout the state will get
out every league vote, while many
anti-Townley voters, especially wo-
men, will not get to the polls.
Tactics Used
| The tactics resorted to by the league
in the last days of the campaign are
taken as indication Of their despera-
ton. The anonymous circulars dis
tributed throughout the state, especial
ly in Fargo and Bismarck, and their
raising of the religious issues, are
! tactics more bitter and vicious than
ever before adopted. .....
! SO vile was the attack upon cam
paign heads of the antiTownley for
ces-not candidates-that DR.. E. d.
Ladd who answered that he couldn't
approve of the method. syifIo rRprr,
| The independent campaign in Far
20 reached it's height Saturday night
when two of the largest halls were
too small to accommodate the crowd
when O'Connor, McGrann and Burt
ness were greeted. A torch light pa
rade was held, and thousands OF peo-
ple in the parade carried individual
banners which in various ways gave
| forth the message that Fargo wants
none of Townleyism.
Big Fargo Meeting
! r Five thousand people cheered speak
ers at the Auditorium and over 1000
we're turned away from an overflow
convention. Cass county's majority
against Townleyism is predicted at
! 1000
Mr.. O'Connor ends his campaign in
Grand Forks tonight when home folks
will give him a great torch light pa
rade before he speaks at the Audi
| torium.
| Fargo newspaper reports indicate
that O'Connor will carry the first con-
eressional district by 10000 votes, the
second district will run probably even
and O'Connor's admitted gains in the
| west ought to hold Frazier to a 4,5OO
majority in the Third district These
! figures would indicate probable ma
iority for O'COnnor of $500 votes.
There are many elements in the
campaign which give to Mr.. O'Connor
a. better than even chance for election.
LANCER was handicapped in his prl-
mary campaign by his prosecutions IN
Morton county while states attorney
there. which engendered bitterness,
! bv similar situation in Minot and
some other places in the state. and
the league forces raised the cry of
! traitor against him. O'Connor stands
as foe of Townleyism from the
state, but as friend Of the farmer
and laborer in his record in the legis-
lature.
Continued on Page Three)