The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1921-10-29
Recall Election
in n. Dakota
Independent Voters Opposed
to the Governor, Attorney
General and Commission
er Of Agriculture


of the most intense campaigns for
state Offices waged in any state
will come to an end in North Da-
kota, October % with the casting
and counting of ballots in its now
famous recall election. The three
men that the Independent Voters
Association attempt to recall form
the North Dakota Industrial Com
mission and it is for the handling
of state finances as officers in this
body, rather than for individual
acts as governor, attorney general
and commissioner Of agriculture
and labor, that the recall petition
has been set in motion. At the
same time the recall ballots are
cast, voters of the state will be
asked to pass upon six measures it
is proposed to write upon the stat
ute books of the state ct this time
through the approval Of the voters
and also to decide if they desire to
accept or reject, three amendments
to the state constitution.
The recall petition proper, asks
the removal from office of Lynn ].
Frazier, governor; William Lemke,
attorney general and John n. Ha-
gan, commissioner of agriculture
and labor. The candidates to fill
these positions, if vacated, are r.
a. Neston of Buxton. for govern
or; Sveinbjorn Johnson of Grand
Forks for attorney general and Jo-
seph A. Kitchin of Sentinel Butte
for commissioner Of agriculture
and labor. Mr.. Frazier and Mr..
Hagan have held Office for six years
each while Mr.. Lemke took office
at the beginning Of the present
year. Their present terms expire
with the end Of 1922 and if any are
deposed the candidate taking the
vacant place will fill out this term.
While the battle for these indi-
vidual places is bitter. so bitter it
has passed the stage Of argument,
an intensive fight of the campaign
has been waged over the initiated
measures and the constitutional
amendments. The initiated meas
ures, if passed, will end what is
known in the nomenclature Of this
state as the "Non-Partizan
League Program" The principal
item of the initiated measures is
the dissolution of the Bank of
North Dakota, the taking over Of its
farm loan business by Rural
Credits Association based in part
upon the similar organization now
functioninS in South Dakota, to
change certain financial conditions
within the state and to provide, by
means of two election laws, for
separate ballots for candidates for
cot.:y, state and federal office.
The three constitutional amend
ments provide for constitutional
debt limit and the creating Of a
sinking fund for the payment of
bonds. and a real estate basis for
said bonds, for increase in the pay
of the members of the state legisla-
ture and of the combination of the
office of judge and county clerk in
counties of less than 5000 popula-
ton.
While the North Dakota law pro-
vides that every voter shall receive
a publicity phamplet, setting forth
in full the measures it is propos-
ed to initiate. the same pamphlet
presenting the arguments of each
side at so much per page. the rival
factions have not been content
with this method of reaching the
voters alone, and candidates and
state officials have been in the
field in regular old fashioned po-
litical meetings for more than
month Before the votes are
counted, many men from out side
of the state will take part in the
contest The Non-Partizan Leasuers
have arranged for help from Gut
zon Borglum and C. c. Daniels of
New York city, the latter a brother
of Josephus Daniels, former Secre-
tary of the Navy; Senator Z. F.
Ladd of North Dakota; Glen
Plumb and William H. Harvey. Mr..
Harvey spent almost month IN
the state, making addresses upon
financial subjects.
The Independent Voters Associ-
alton have announced dates for
Governor j. A. O. <Preus Of Min
nesota and will have the assistance
of former Senator A. j. Gronna,
Thomas Hall, present secretary Of
State, Congressman George NJ.
Young and O. B. Burness and a