Grand Forks herald. [volume] (Grand Forks, N.D.) 1916-1955, 1921-11-14
TO
RAISE FUNDS
OPENING MOVE
Telegrams Sent Out Ask In
dividual Donations Of
500 Each.
TWO ATTORNEYS
APPEAR INVOLVED
Sinkler and Ellsworth Have
Been Checking Over
Petitions.
(Hcrald Special Service J


Bismarck, N. D., Nov. 14.-An
effort to prevent Independent
candidates elected in the recent
recall election from taking office
will apparently be made by a
group of Nonpardsan league
members.
A telegraphic appeal sent out
from Bismarck over the signature
of George T. Baird requests con-
tributions Of 500 from individual
leaguers for a contest fund. The
appeals have been sent to many
leaguers according to reports.
The telegram reads:
Prominent attorneys have in
vestgated the recall petitions and
find gross frauds. Will you send
$100? We must have an answer
within "a hours if we would have
the election set aside
The prominent attorneys"
mentioned are apparently E. r.
Sinkler Of Minot, who conducted
.ths:sen4te whitewash ;pf5ceed-
ings last winter, and ole S. F.
Ellsworth Of Jamestown. These
two were in Bismarck Saturday
and were checking over. the re-
call petitions in the office of the
secretary of state.
+ Hall Not Worried.
Secretary of State Thomas Hall this
afternoon said he did not 'believc
they can get very far with that kind
of stuff sa5a7a
Mr.. Hall declared "the attorney
general had a force of men down in
my office checking the recall petit
tons long before the election and as
soon as they were filed. That is why
the law prescribes that the petitions
shall be filed forty days in advance
of an election. so that any irreguIari-
ties might be located. If there had
been any frauds Lemke would have
filed action prior to the election. Fur
thermore. there is no fraud per
petrated when a man signs a petition
counted one.
"A slgner might lave his name on
a dozen petitions but it would only
be counted once and the COMPARE
lively small number of Implications
on the recall petitions were counted
but once. The forty days time when
legal action might have been taken
have long since passed. The lcaguers
passed it up themselves and the law
is very plain
Leaders Camouflaxins.
Although State Chairman A. r.
Liederbach has publicly opposed a
contest, there is a quite evident desire
among the Nonpartisans to retain
power in North Dakota If it can be
done. The view expressed by some
Nonparusans that an election contest
would be a political mistake upon tho
part Of the league is not generally ac-
cepted as rejecting the utmost desires
of the leaders generally. The recall
election result is a terrific blow to the
league: many Nonpartisans profess to
believe that the blow is fatal one.
If there is any chance of retaining
power through a court contest 1t is
generally believed that the league will
start a contest.
S. E. Ellsworth OF jamestown.
member of the state bar board and
dLlOIHcS WIZ lids EcpESSSnlSO Tic du-
ministration in some matters. has
made a cursory examination Of the
recall petitions in the state capitol.
Mr.. Ellsworth would not deny that he
was investigating the possibility Of a
court contest. and indicated that he
would have some statement to make
in the coming week.
The report of the investigation OF
recall petitions. which was made by
employees of the state licensing de-
partment under Attorney General
Lemke. is now at the league head
quarters in Fargo, according to Mr..
!; Ellsworth. Further investigation Is to
! be undertaken in the leagues state
Offices it Is understood.
Grounds Doubtful.
Tho proposal to contest the election
has been discussed frequently by
Nonpartisans. II u contest is started
lit is expected TO be on the basis Of
allegations Of fraudulent recall petit
| tions. The league organization. how
| ever. did not ask a review of the sec
retary OF states decision on the suf-
| ficiency OF the petitions. which were
on file 40 days before the election. The
| law providing for the recall gives the
right to challenge petitions and also
gives the petitioners time In which to
make corrections. The independent
organization had on file in its Fargo
Office, it announced. several thousand
A names which could have been filed
4 had il been n9snecessar ry. 1t y Ii con-s
Lsidered doubtful IL the league has
4 grounds upon which to institute 7,
! contest involving the petitions
1 FOCH GUEST or BOSTON
Boston. Nov. i --Marshai Eoch
/ was the guest OF Greater Boston ter