The Bismarck tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, N.D.) 1916-current, 1920-01-28
Senator McCumber Expected to
Point Way in keynote Ad-
dress This Afternoon-Shea
Hurls Defiance in Teeth of
Critics of National Committee.
man OlsOn-NO Endorsement
for Presidential Candidate Ex-
pected.

pected.
"Nothing could be wilder, wider Of
the mark" Indignantly declared Sen
atOr Porter ]. McCumDer when. Ques-
toned this morning as to the charges
that the republican state convention
which convened at 2 o'clock this af-
| terno0n contemplated some sort of q
deal with a. G. Townley.
II never to my knowledge have seen
the man; 1 certainly never have met
him. My twenty years record in the
any charge of radicalism which has
been brought against me. I never
have been a radical, aud don't In
tend to begin now.
"I intend to answer these charges
this afternoon. | do not believe my
address will leave any room for doubts
as to where 1 stand. The rumors are
ridiculous on their face
Senator McCumber reached Bis
marck late last night He is expected
TO do the "key-noting" for the state
convention which opened at 2 this af-
ternoon in the municipal auditorium.
Friends had predicted that Mr.. Nc
Cumbcr would answer those who have
criticised his attitude toward the
peace treaty The senator this morn
ing stated that he would touch only
lightly en- the peace treaty, and
briefly upon proposed reservations. but
that his address would deal principally
with the problem of a national govern
ment which republicanism must solve.
DISTRICT MEETINGS
Convention representatives, number
ing 800 or more, were meeting by judi
cial districts this morning to pick Of
fetal delegates to this afternoons con-
vcntion. "We are fixing qualifications
for republicans up to which standard
all delegates must measure" said
James F. Shea Of Ayah,seton.' Repre-.
sentative from each EGf the six judicial
districts organized thisf'ni0f and
got their delegate conventions under
I|way early. 1t is expected that when
No. 3 discharges it's cargo more than
800 republican Representatives will.
h.ss. ]. q asseplle.l Asss foga tAei bis Rset. .
. ! ~ -
With interest paramount in the ad.
dress to be delivered by Senator Por-
ter J. McCumber, in which his friends
predicted lie would "vindicate' the
stand which he, had taken In favor
of the ratification, without reserva-
tions, of the peace treaty, the first
republican state convention North Da-
kota has witnessed in four years open
ed at 2 o'clock this afternoon. In
the absence Of National COmmittce-
man Gundcr Olson, by whom the con-
vention was called, and who is i'll
in hospital at Grafton. James Shea
of Wahpcton, former deputy United
States marshal, holding Mr.. Olson's
proxy, called the meeting to order.
The convention was reminiscent Of
state gatherings of the clans in the
old days when insurgency first began
TO appear in North Dakota. Altho
II majority of the original insurgent
leaders are now standpatters in league
parluncc, they are still insurging in
sofar as the party organization head
ctl by Gunder Olson and Senator POr-
ter j. McCumber is concerned, and not
one Of these Old-time Bull MOosers'
and LafOllcttc men is even In the
city today, 50 far as can be discover
ed. fnt
SHEA MAKES STATEMENT
In advance of the convention j. +.
Shea, who has personally represented
National Comittceman Olson III con
nection with the state meeting and
who hold OlsOn's proxy at the re
cent meeting Of the naSiOnal COM
mittee in Chicago, issued a statement
in which he pays his respects to
those who charge deal between o.
son and A. c. Townley.
"Referring to the articles that have
recently appeared in certain news
papers, l will state that there is no
truth in these Statements said Mr..
Shea. "The men accused are just as
much opposed to TOwnleyisln as any
citizen of the state of North Dakota
who has the best interests Of the
state at heart, and who understands
what socialism means to the moral
and financial interests Of the state.
"Mr. Spaulding. who is behind
these articles. is the same man who
organized the insurgent movement for
an appointment from him in 1907 as
judge of the supreme court. @
"This same sclf-appointed guardian
Of the republican party and the peo-
pie has been trying to get in touch
with Chairman Hays without auth
ority from the national committee
man. Mr.. Olson. whom the people
elected to the national committee.
T will give these gentlemen
chance to prove their statements II.
court If their story is true, the
people should have the EVIDENCE. If
it is not true. they should not con-
vict any person on unsupported news
paper statements"
TO ADOPT PLATFORM
The most important business Of the
day aside from the nominational OF
national committeeman. presidenti-
al electors and delegates and alter
mates to the national convention. will
be the adoption of a platform. Party
leaders this morning predicted. that
this platform would be reaftirma ton
(Contiuued on Page Three)