The Bismarck tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, N.D.) 1916-current, 1920-02-10
T0TTEN MAKING
WA!IR0N H!AGAN;; |!
LEAGUE SPLITS
Head of Board of Administra-
tiOn and Member Break
Over Macdonald
WORKER BUREAU IN ROW
Lawyer Commissioner Said to
Be Running Things to
Suit Himself
WORKER BUREAU IN ROW

There is said to be considerable
lack Of harmony among some of Gov
ernor Frazier's boards and commits
sions at the state house. It is com.
mon gossip in league circles at the
state house that growing feud be-
tween Commissioner Of Agriculture
John N. Hagan and Rev. George A.
Totten, chairman Of the state board
Of administration, has developed into
an open breach, as a result Of which
Iotten has formally declared war on
"a man who ranks ut least second, to,
II not on a par with Governor Frazier
III Importance in the Nonpartisan sys-
tenn. A similar state of affairs is said
to exist in the workmen's compensa-
ton commission, where there is alleg-
ed to be growing resentment on the
part Of Commissioner s. s. Mcdonald
and Mr.. Hagan over an apparent dis
position Of Laurens J. Wehe, the law
yer member Of I, the board, to carry
matters with a high hand 1t was
this situation, it is said, which result
ed recently in the resignation Of John
=. Brown, who had been secretary.
In Browns disagreement with Wehe,
the former is said to have had the
support of Commissioner Hagan.
Strength would appear to be given
this contention by the fact that Mr..
Hagan Immediately secured a place
for Brown as business manager of the
Grand Forks American, Of which Ha-
gan is president. 49,, e.
MACDONALD CAUSE OF SCRAP
Neil G. Macdonld, whose resignation
was reported last week by the board
of administration, is said to be the
bone Of contention between Totten
and Hagan. Totten insisted that Mac
donald remain, while Hagan, said to
hold Macdonald in personal disfavor as
we'll as regarding him as political
incubus, demanded that the board
cease to shoulder this burden on the
league. Hagan appears to have Won
his point In this instance, and, follow
ing stormy meeting, Totten is said
to have stormed into his Office and to
have dictated a fiery declaration of
war, war, which he Immediately served on
Townley is believed to support Ha-
gan's side Of this controversy. 1t
was reported during the last state
campaign that Townley regarded Mac
donald as liability and that he would
gladly have dropped him. It was upon
this question that Frazier is said to
have displayed one of his rare streaks
Of independence. He insisted, it was
reported, that if Macdonald was not
taken care of, he, Frazier, would kick
up an unholy row beside which the
insurrection of LANCER, Hall and Ko-
sticky would be very tame, affair.
Townley appears to have taken, this
alleged threat seriously, as Senate
Bill 1874, penalizihg Miss Minnie J.
Nielsbn.s who had humhled Macdonald,
and making place for the latter, was
forced through the sixteenth assembly
year ago, in spite Of the fact that
Townlcy and all Of his advisers real
lied that this measure was mighty
poor piece of politics.
s. X. 134 PROVES BONElt
The effects Of Senate Bill 134, Gre
atins state board Of administra tion
and depriving the state superintend-
ent of public instruction Of most Of
her powers, have been all that was
predicted and more. This measure
and the persecution Of Miss Nelson
at the hands of the board of admins
tration are credited with the defeat
Of the league candidate in the sena-
torial contest in Towner county last
November and with the loss of Non
partisan prestige in other parts Of the
state. The decapitation Of Macdonald
at this late date is regarded as a con-
fession upon the part Of the league
tht its attitude toward Miss Nelson
is untcnable, and it is believed to be
the beginning Of change in front up
on the part of the Townleyites SO far
as the state superintendent Of public
instruction is concerned. 1t has even
been suggested in the LEAGUE press that
the Nonpartisan state convention
should endorse Miss Nelson for re-
election and refuse to nominate any
candidate in opposition to her.
The state generally is less interested
in the workmcn's compensation bureau
squabblc, altho one result of this
fracas iSscs".';:ss.. to be delay in the hand
ling of claims. G.. A. Mari. acting
secretary for the board. advised the
attorney for a claimant a few days
ago that his case. altho this man was
injured the first week in last Scptem-
Der. could not be heard before the
middle of March, so great, it was
stated, was the accumulation Of busi-
ness.
ARE BACKING HAGAN
Those on the inside are backing
Commissioner Hagan to win, He has
an unusual amount Of strength with
the bonafide farmer membership OF
the league. He has not appeared to
he so radical in his views as some Of
the men who Townley picked for pub
lie office, but he has been very devoted
to the league programme" and he has
made, it is contended, an unusually
able commissioner Of agriculture
Next to Frazier he is regarded as
easily the strongest man politically in
the league organization.