The Bottineau courant. (Bottineau, Bottineau County, N.D.) 1895-1929, 1920-04-15
STEEN bALKS At
,LANCER'S BOOM
THINKS LANCER STANDS FOR
INDUSTRIAL PROGRAM AND
WITHHOLDS SUPPORT

ers and their candidates must work
hard for their money these days. They
are hard pressed to find candidate
for governor who will be satisfactory
to their masters and draw unto him.
self sufficient votes to defeat the
champion of the farmers and city
workers. There is an impossible
chasm between those who favor modi-
fled industrial program as a bait to
tempt votes from farmers and those
who want out and out opposition to
all "socialistic" enterprises. The Lam
gerites are convinced that without such
an Industrial program to mislead the
gullible victory for Big Business is
impossible. The group for which John
Steen is spokesman refuses to pretend
to stand for a program with which it
is entirely out Of sympathy. Midway
between LANCER and Steen is r. A.
Nestos who according to his friends
favors many of the League measures
"if amended" (the nature of the
amendnents Mr.. Nestos does not re-
veal.) Only three names appear in the
l. V. A. political articles but runor
has it that the real I. V. A. candidates
are still in the background. When dark
horses are discussed by Paddy Norton,
former congressman for the third dis
trict, and Wesley C. Mcdowell are fa-
vored by those who claim to know the
mind of Big Business. Occasionally a
candle is lighted for one or another
candidate who is claimed to be a white
hope. A Forum reader seriously pro-
poses Miss Nelson and even Sentin-
ell Butte banker, Lewis F. Crawford,
| has been mentioned.
Steen Distrusts LANCER
| The event of the week so far as
the I. V. A. is concerned was the let
ter of John Steen to the Fargo For
um which had embraced the candidacy
of LANCER. Steen complains that the
Forum was too hasty in commencing
LANCER and his willingness to with
draw if better man is named by the
I. V. A. Steen contends that LANCER
asks the "'better man" to stand on the
platform outlined some weeks ago
which is, says Steen, "the whole Lea
fgue program" including the seven con-
Institutional amendments to H. B. Al.
Steen holds that "no man who is op-
posed to the Nonpartisan League can
possibly come out on such platform
and retain his self-respect. Person
ally I find it difficult to understand
how any one but a Lacquer, could sup
port Mr.. LANCER" This letter is set
back to the Big Business scheme of
putting up candidate who would try
to split the League vote by pretending
to stand for the Nonpartisan program
but opposing "Townleyisn". Of course
the Forum hastens to assure Mr.. Steen
that LANCER did not mean what he
Isaid. The inference is that LANCER was
talking for the unsophisticated when
he favored the industrial program but
that man of Mr.. Stems experience
ought not to have been so simple as
to take that seriously. The Forum pro-
ceeds to assure Steen that LANCER
will support any anti-Townley ticket
hut Steen is unconvinced.
Bill Asks Nestos To Withdraw
LANCER is improving the shining
hours by boosting his own candidacy.
A carefully filtered report Of his ad-
dress at Mandan was given to the
world thru the I. v. A. press. "Lan-
ger for Governor clubs" are announced
in Burleigh county and doubtless the
same 100000 farmers" who pleaded
with him to become a candidate will
form similar clubs over the state.
Meanwhile William is giving an illus
tration of what he means by an "elim-
ination" contest. He thinks that Nest
os and Steen should withdraw so as
to leave the field to him! Petitions de-
manding that Nestos withdraw "for
the good of the state and the Repub-
lican party, thus providing for a unit
ed effort to defeat Townleyism and
avert another political catastrophe
are being circulated in Bismarck.
Mr.. Nestos is assured that this is
a critical situation. There must be "a
Victory for real Republicans headed
by LANCER, or a three cornered fight
and an inevitable defeat for Bolshe-
vism." Naturally the petitions do not
reveal the fact that they are part
Of Langer's campaign but the Bis
marck Tribune is less discreet and an
nounces "the petition is being circu-
lated by friends Of the Lancer for
Governor Movement" Many Bismarck
residents aver that the petition was
written in Langers office.
Two Bit" Wary of LANCER
The refusal OF. Nestos to withdraw
in favor Of L. B. Hanna in the last
senatorial race does not augur well
for an "elin nation" in favor Of Ian
ger. IN fact there is reason to believe
that 'Two-bit' Nelson does not want
Nestos TO withdraw. Nelson probably
feels tfat II LANCER runs and wins
the /. v. "A. will henceforth belong q
,4ELanger and not to him. "Two-bit" has
Ia fondness for the ]. ". 5A. which may