The Bismarck tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, N.D.) 1916-current, 1920-09-22
.LEMKE'S FIGHT
FOR POW Err IS
CAUSING SPLIT
Nonpartisan League Seething
With Fight for Leadership
Under Surface, Report
''MINOT GROUP" IS ACTIVE
Controlling Socialist Vote, They
Are Demanding Balance of
Power in League

Bill Lemke is fighting for his po.
litical life. e.
This statement was made by man
still prominent in league coY,cils 1t
follows rumors that have been float
ing around the state capitol for many
weeks. H. -.
1t Is taken as an answer to the
question:: "Why is Lemke trying to
make himself such a hero in his own
newspaper"
And the situation is both compli-
ment to Lemke's political prowess and
an indication of his reported unlimit.
ed personal ambition.
Lemke, the story goes, would face j
fight for reelection as a Nonpartisan
league national committeeman next
winter. He feared the fight and took
a long chance. Disregarding the old
pledge that no Nonpartisan league
boss would Seek office, he threw him
self into the ring for Attorney-Gen-
eral If he wins, he is to be candi-
date for United States senator to sue
ceed Senator McCumber. If he is
whipped he is to be beaten for ma
tional committeeman of the league
and consigned to oblivion.
After the Power.
The grab in power of Lemke is said
to be the controlling influence of the
fight against him. On the other hand
it is regarded as the old fight between
the "Minot group" of socialists and
the radicals headed by Lemke.
Arthur LeSeuer, former league at
torney, A. E. Bowen and others Of the
Minot group are said to be the op-
posing influences, LIE Seuer has told
friends from North Dakota who visit
ed him in Minneapolis that he is
against the efforts of certain men in
the league to gain personal benefit
from it.
John Hagan, commissioner of agri'
culture and labor, is said to be the
man groomed to beat Lemke as leader
Of the league in North Dakota. Town
ley, it is said, long ago realized thai
Lemke had .ousted hin, from, .contro
in North Dakota by grabbing contrO
of the newspapers and the consumers
stores. g.
LIE Seuer's enmity toward Lemks
runs back to the time of the first at
tack made on Townley for sedition, !,
is said. LeSeuer wanted to defen5
Townley, 1t is declared, but Lemke OBJ
jected. LeSeuer stayed in his office
for a day and then went on to the
hearing. Lemke, then, it is said, kept
LeSeuer from defending Townley at
his Jackson, Mimi, trial. And LIE
Seuer, it is said, was ousted from the
legal department of the league by
Lemke.
Turning Inside Out.
Among other interesting features OF
the seething league "inner workings
is the story being told by man who
ought to know that it was John Ha.
gan, who first cOncocted the plan OF
ousting President Kane from the state
university. After it proved to be al
unpopular attempt, Hagan is said .o
have "ducked," and came out fol
Kane. He received the support OF
many university graduates in the prl'
mary because of this.
Another story is of the deal giVer
Axel Strom, former state manager OF
the league. He was, ousted and Ray
Craig put in his place and left in tn
lurch with a family. Then the mi
not group is said to have been busy
and Strom finally was given the league
organization job in the northwest part
of the state, after he had plans laid
for running a socialist ticket again IL!
the state.
The "Minot group is said to hold as
a club over the league the socialist
backing. Unless the league bows &c
them, they will put a socialist ticker
in the field and with 5000 socialist
votes could defeat the league.
And while the league seethes with
rumors and reports of plots and coun-
ter-plots a desperate effort is being
made among the bosses to prevent a
split until after election, at least.