Evening star., 1920-01-04
HARD FIGHT AHEAD
|NNORTH DAKOTA
Republicans Think They See
Chance of 0usting Nom
: Partisan League.

Especially aD-Predictions made on the
floor of the house during the closing
hours of the special session by Repre-
sentative ]. F.. T. OConnor of Grand
Forks, minority leader, that resolu-
tions passed by the majority con-
demning Attorney General William
LANCER and demanding his resigna-
tion would make him the biggest
man in North Dakota" are to be
borne out. declare old-line political
leaders who in the past have not
been partial to the attorney general,
but who now assert that he will be
the next Governor of North Dakota.
The attorney general has always
been a progressive. He was elected
attorney general and re elected on the
Non-Partisan League ticket, and un-
til his break with A. c. Townley a
year ago he was one of the leagues
trump cards.
Many of the old guard who had un-
til now looked on from the side lines
seem to be dispaying a desire to get
into the game on Langers side as a
result of some of the actions taken
by the recent session. which made
no attempt to impeach LANCER and
other insurgent league officials. but
which, the minority contended in de-
bate, condemned them without a
hearing"
Frazier May Run Again.
If LANCER becomes a candidate for
the republican nomination for gov
ernor at the primaries next June. his
principal opponent no doubt will be
Gov. Lynn ]. Frazier who twice has
been elected by the league on the re-
publican ticket. The republican state
central committee is headed by Will
liam Lemke, vice president of the
league, and all Of the republican ma
chinery is in the hands of the nom
partisans.
The fact that Gov. Frazier is gen.
orally conceded to be the leagues
choice for a third term would indicate
that he no longer seriously entertains
presidential aspirations. although the
possible nominee of both the labor
party and the recent liberal organi-
zation formed at ST. Louis. 1t also
leaves question as to what the
league will offer John N. Hagan. COM
missioner of agriculture, and consid-
cred fully as valuable to the organi-
zation as Mr.. Frazier. Earlier. when
it was thought that some other honors
would be found for Frazier. Hagan
was popularly considered in league
circles as partisan gubernatorial
material. Now it seems probable that
a United States senatorship will be
used to appease Mr.. Hagan should
he be unwilling to accept third term
which capacity he is a dominant fig
ure in the leagues industrial pro-
gram
Might Sacrifice GrOnna.
To make Hagan United States sena-
tor it would be necessary first to sac.
rifice AISLE J. Gronna, who is expected
10 be a candidate for reelection TINS
wear. Although Gronna and the league
appear to have parted company. Gron-
ma still has large following among
the farmers. and particularly among
farmers of his own nationality. In
league hint that William Lemke. who
refrained from opposing John M.
Baer. league representative from the
first district. at the last league con-
vention only in the interests OF no
mony, would like to go to Washing
ton. While Mr.. Lemke is vice pres
dent of the league and has been for
more than a year its most acIiNe
manager in North Dakota. ana Wh1ie
h. has way Of getting what ne
wants. should there be clash DC.
tween his ambitions and those CT
John NJ Hagan or the laIters 1Ilends
IL might prove serious for the NON
Partisan League, IN a patae IN "nren ,,er
bnfore need to present a solid front
to the enemy. -
the second North Dakota district, al
though reelected a year ago WIN .ne
endorsement of the league, has neVe.
onenly espoused the league cause, anu
he has differed with the non-partlsan
leaders seriously in his oppositioh ~
the Plumb plan. The league press
of this state has severely crlt,Sies =
Young. and, unless there should oe
. change of heart on one side or the
other. it now seems probaole tnal
Young will have opposition, for the
renubIican nomination at the next pri-
marieS.
OrixfnaIIy q Progressive.
Young originally was progressive
and he and the offshoot of the repup-
the ancestors politically of the present
Non-Partisan League. The league, now
ever. has moved so rapidly that u
has left many of the proSressiVes oA
vesteryear in the shoes OF stand
patters today. There is no mixing as
10 Young's probable opponent IN tne
second congressional district. There
are a number of league legislators IN
this territory who would appreciate
an opportunity to go 10 WasnIns 'oi,
and Sit there with John NJ Baer OF
the first and j. H. Sinclair OF tne
third Who are out-and-out non-part1-
sans. ,, :,
co-oDeration with the insurgent non.
partisans, succeed in nominating az
cor or some one else regarded equally
capable of composing the difficulties OF
the various factions within the ma
jority, it is probable that the demo-
cratic old guard. which is much IN
slider candidate for the governor
shin. Because it is nationa! cam
paign year, however, the organization =
would not be likely to remain out OF
the field with state ticket. aa.o
yether and this fact might complicate
matters for foes of the Townley rae
ton of the league.
Aside from LANCER. who is not an
avowed candidate for governor at 'nIs
time little is heard of possible re-
publican wheel horses. The one con
crete fact seems to be growing sen
timent that LANCER could be governor
If he wanted to be and an incinatloI
on the part of old guard republicans
long antagonstic to the young attor-
new general, to accept him as lnevlla-