Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1920-08-08
VOTERS APATHET|C
T0NATI0NAL ISSUES
In North Dakota Next Gov.
ernor More important
Than Next President.
Special Dispatch to The Star.

opeclal DlSpatcn 10 LIE SCdF.
BISMARCK, N. D., August THE
big national campaign in the fall will
be just a sideshow to the people Of
North Dakota.
The main political performance will
be the state election. North Dakotans
are not concerned so much this year
as to who sits in the executive man
who occupies the governors chair in
the capitol here.
The most intense struggle yet ex-
perienced in the battle between the
Non-Partisan League and the indie
pendent political forces of the state
is in the making. For the first time
since the non-partisans seized control
of the state government and embarked
upon the league program of state own
ership: republicans and democrats will
be united on a fusion ticket.
Arthur c. Townley, president of the
Non-PartiSan League, recognizes the
great struggle before him and his as
SociateS. With the advantage of a vic
tory in the republican primary, though
by a reduced majority, the league head
is now touring the state by airplane in
an intensive membership and organiZa-
ton drive. Making two or three towns
day, some of which are isolated from
railroad communication, the league
chief will cover the entire state by air.
plane in a remarkably short time.
The Fusion Ticket.
Independent forces have placed a
fusion ticket before the people,
ticket selected bya committee of seven
democrats, seven republicans and
seven members of the Independent
Voters Association. This ticket is
headed by ]. F. T. O'Connor, Grand
Forks lawyer, who was the unopposed
candidate in the primary for the demo-
cratic nomination for governor. Thorn
as Hall, nominated for secretary of
state by the independents in the repub-
lican primary; John Steen, nomina ted
for state treasurer. and w. H. Suits
man, nominated for railroad commits
sioner, are on the ticket. Another re-
of the American Legion, who was
thought nominated for railroad COM
missioner in the republican primaries
until the official count showed differ
emily, also is on the ticket. Another
republican may be added and the re-
mainder will be democrats.
Gov. Frazier Again Running.
The Non-Partisan League ticket is
headed by Gov. Lynn J. Frazier, twice
elected to the office and nominated
again by the -partisans in the re-
publican primary-the non-partisan
candidates running under republican
colorS.
National issues will be entirely sep
arated from state issues, if, indeed,
they are not almost forgotten. H H,
Perry is the democratic candidate for
United States senator. E. F. Laid,
president of the state agricultural
college, who was nominated in the
republican primaries over Senator A.
J. Gronna, is a non-partisan. Repub-
lican leaders want Gronna to run in
dependently against Ladd in the fall,
as they fear Ladd, if elected, would
be more likely to cast his votes in
the national Congress with the DEM
ocrats than with the republicans.
The Non-Partisan League candi-
dates who swept into office four years
ago on program of state-owned ter
minal elevators and flour mills, pack
ing house, state bank, state home
building association, state hail insur-
ance and insurance of public build
ings, and bonding. of all officials by
returns, in the minority for the first
time since it gained control. The
vote of Gov. Frazier, the leading nom
partisan candidate, was 2,506 votes
less than the combined vote of the
republican and democratic candidates.
The independent forces maintain that
MANY democrats did not vote because
OConnor was unopposed in the pri-
mary, while the -partisanS claim
thousands of democrats voted in the
republican primary.
Industrial Program Started.
The league has just fairly got start
ed on its industrial program. The
Bank of North Dakota is functioning,
the Home Building Association is
building a score of homes, one small
-four mill has been purchased and
$4,000, 900 terminal elevator and flour
mill is being built. The insurance de-
partments are operating.
The sole issue, the league heads de-
clare, is whether the people of the
state wish to go through with the in
dustrial program
The one big issue, the Independents
assert, is Americanism VS.. Socialism.
MANY of the men high in league cir
cIes are registered socialists. The so.
ciaUst party has disappeared since
the league came into control in the
state, Independents declare that un-
less the movement is stopped North
Dakota will become a complete So
cialistic state.
The tide is turning, the independents
believe. Gov. Frazier's majority of
900 of two years ago was cut to
5000 in the republican primary this
wear. and some league candidates and
league referred measures We're de-
feated. WILLIAM 5. NEAL