The Bismarck tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, N.D.) 1916-current, 1921-03-31
'RECALL TALKED
FAR IN NIGHT
ATC0NVENTI0N
Opponent Of Recall Named
Chairman and Proponent Is
Named Secretary
WOMEN ENTER DEBATE
One Declares for ''Spring House
Cleaning" -''Fighting Par
son" Speaks Out
WOMEN ENTER DEBATE
(By Associated Prcss.)

(By Associated Prcss.)
Devils Lake, N, D., Mar. 31.-The
Independent Voters Association con-
vention got under way at 8 o'clock
la st night with the permanent organ
ization completed and opinion appar-
emily about evenly divided as to
whether there would be recall or
not. More than 400 delegates were
in attendance and 1900 persons pack
ed the convention hall. 1t is one cc
the largest political conventions in
the history Of the state. 49,
J. +. Davis, Of Goodrich, who is op-
posed to the recall, was elected as
chairman, and George Shafer, of Wat
ford City, who favors the recall, was
secretary. Davis and Shafer had been
advanced as candidates for chairman
by ther respective factions and the
selection was termed harmony move
by delegates.
Outlines Committee Work.
Judge B. Spaulding, Of Fargo,
who called the convention to order.
outlined the history of the recall
movement and told how the commit
te Of q, with seven each from the
Independent Republicans, Democrats
and Independent Voters Association,
had gone on record in favor of the
recall. He declared that the political
and business situation in North Da~
kota is the most critical the state has
ever faced and said the leader of the
Nonpartisans recently admitted that
the league program fate hangs on the
recall and that defeat for the Non
partisans would set their plans back
for twenty years. Above all, however,
he said the delegates must pledge
unanimous effort and harmony to car.
ry out the work outlined by the con-
ventiOn. g@ re
The only discordant note arose
when Herb, Gray, a banker Of Rock
Lake spoke in opposition to Davis as
chairman shouting that I'VE want no
post-dated candidate" Alexander Nc
Kenzie and Senator p. J. McCumber
have placed coach on a sidetrack
here" Gray was referring to a spe-
cial sleeping car placed here for the
Stutsman county delegation.
Sees "Ncw Day."
Davis, in speech Of accept.
ance, declared that North Da.
kotans had been asleep for the past
four years and must wake up
and fight to a finish.
His expression, 81 see the dawn
Of u new day." brought hearty
applause, aS it was "new day"
that was the slogan Of the Non.
partisan league the first year 1t
was in control In North Dakota.
Claimed Recall Majority.
Following caucus last night, it
was claimed by delegates that the
Independent Voters Association ad
vocates had 200 Of 391 delegates at.
tending the convention OF forces op-
posed to the NonpartIsan league lin
ed up in favor of a recall, but the
number of proxies held by the dele
gates had not ben taken in account
assured, delegates said.
Speakers from all parts OF the state
took the stand for and against the
recall of Nonpartisan officials and the
continued long into the
morning, with little chance that a vote
on the recall would be reached before
today. u,
#. G. Nelson. secretary of the In
Voters Association, outlin-
ed the political history of the league
for the past four years and declared
that there must be an organization
fully as efficient and complete as the
league to win against it.
He declared that the Nonpartisan lea
que had made North Dakota the hor-
rible example of all states and that
''the mutilation process must be stop
ped, even with such drastic means as
a recall election"
This gang Of political pirates
swept down on us and with $4,000
persons signed up at SIG each, gained
the most formidable political organi-
zation this or any state has known.
The Republican party was usurped
by these socialists" Nelson declared.
Recall Not Understood.
Arthur Fowler of Fargo, an attor
ney, opened the direct debate on the
recall by declaring that he is against
it because the recall is new and not
by most voters; that there
is no overwhelming sentiment for the
recall at present; that more money
and organization is necessary land
that money cannot be raised because
Of the present tight money situation
and that the league is so completely ,
organized that the Independents can
not organize to win with only few
work.
Fowler urged that the conyen.
ton appoint a committee OF 40
with one from each legislative dis.
trict to keep the state organiza.
ton informed as to the proper
time when the recall might be
ripe and to reconvene the cOnyen.
ton at that time to take such &C.
ton.
Rev. A. O. Birchenough of St. Thom-
as, "The Fighting Parson" and enemy
:..tinued on Page Seven)