The Oakes times. [volume] (Oakes, N.D.) 1906-current, 1921-04-07
CONVENTION
IMPRESSIONS
The Way Political Manipulation Looks
to Greenhorn the First Time
He Sees It
DELEGATES ARE MERE PUPPETS
Impossible to Win Over Strongly Or.
ganized Opposition

SanlZeQ OpPOSltlOn
In looking back over the things that
happened at the Devils Lake conven-
tion, the writer is conscious Of feel
ing of confusion There are SO many
angles from which the proposition
might be viewed that one is at loss
to know where to begin. It is mani
festly impossible to give more than a
partial account Of the many events
which transpired during the two day
meeting, 80 we will confine ourselves
in this article to giving the reader our
personal impressions, realizing that
many Of these impressions may have
false foundation and will be Of little
or no value historically.
Dickey county was entitled to elev-
en- delegates to this convention, which
was called for the purpose Of deciding
whether or not recall election was
necessary and, if it was, when it
should be held. Four Of those chosen
to represent this county found it inn
possible to attend, and as a conse-
quence only seven delegates, Mes
danes Bush Of Cakes, Caldwell of
Monango and Strand Of Glendale, to-
gether with Messrs. Schulstad Of Ell
lendale, Kelsh Of Fullerton, Knox and
Bast Of Oakes, made the trip.
Upon arriving at Devils Lake Tues
day evening we Immediately repaired
to the Great Northern hotel, q mag
nificent structure containing some 300
rooms, and found great difficulty in
obtaining quarters because of the
enormous crowd of delegates. All
other hotels in the city, and there are
several large ones, reported, more
guests than they could accommodate,
and several Of the visitors were oblig-
ed to put in the night holding down
chairs. Some idea Of the congestion
may be realized when it is stated that
there were about 500 delegates in at
tendance, besides a large number Of
people who made the trip unofficially.
The lobby Of the Great Northern
hotel was seething, surging mass
of humanity for several hours
after the last train arrived, the po.
litical situation being the sole and
only subject under discussion. Little
groups could be seen here and there
talking over the recall proposition
among themselves, individuals ever
and anon hurTying fnom ONE srsaln ID
another in order to learn tie con,
sensus Of opinion. = ~ I
The matter OF choosing chairman
to preside over the sessions caused q
young commotion Wednesday morn
ing, but the powers that be-namely
the Twichell faction-withdrew their
candidate and consented to the selec-
tion of ex-senator Davis. This was
all done prior to the opening of the
first meeting. Judge Spaulding called
the convention to order Wednesday
afternoon and in brief talk explain
ed the reasons for which it had beer
called. Mr.. Davis was then unani-
mously chosen temporary chairman
which selection was later made per.
manent.
Soon after the Dickey county dele.
cation arrived in Devils Lake it be.
came apparent that the vast majority
of those present were decidedly
against the recall. A great many had
been instructed to vote against it
and many more who came uninstruct.
ed felt that such an election would
do more harm than good and did moi
intend to support it.
Early Wednesday morning it trans.
pired that an amazing change in sen.
timent had taken place since the pre-.
ceding evening, which was undoubted.
1y due to the untiring efforts of those
in favor Of the recall. While on Tues.
day everybody, apparently, was alb.
solutely against the proposition, Wed.
nesday it developed that the "No re.
call" slogan had been replaced by
"Not at this time" We had not beer
there long before we discovered tina,
while the majority of the delegate,
were against recall election, the
Fargo bunch were decidedly in favo,
of it and determined to slip it over a,
any cost. Such men as Treadwel
Twichell, L. L. Twichell, Judge B. F
Spaulding, S. ]. Doyle, Theo. Nelson
and Sveinbjorn johnson, recall advo
Gates, worked increasingly in commit
tees to impress their will upon tn.
majority. In The convention hall thes,
worthless hogged the floor and uset
steam roller methods, just like tn,
politicians Of old, in a frantic attemp
to gain their end, albeit they knew
they represented only a small minor
ity. That they were successful is ,
tribute to their skill as manipulators
but the real reason they were able t,
put it over is because the anti-recall
ers were unorganized and in no shap,
to make a good fight on the floor 0,
the convention.
As an example Of the objectionabl,
tactics used by the Twichells an.
others we merely cite the treatmen
accorded Mrs. Strand when she offere,