The Bismarck tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, N.D.) 1916-current, 1921-12-05
REPORT LEAGUE
WILL CONSIDER.
CHANGED METHOD.
Balance of Power" Idea is Ad-
vocated By Some Leaguers;
Favored BY Townley
TO DROP "NOMINATIONS"?
Proposal is to Endorse Candi.
dates and Principles and
Make no Nominations

The Nonpartisan league will have
before it this winter for serious con.
sideration the question of whether il;
will continue to make nominations"
or will merely endorse candidates &C.
ceptable to the league.
Suggestions that the league en-
deavors to become the "balance Of
power" in the several states in which
it operates have been made frequently.
A dispatch from Minneapolis Sunday
said that the national headquarters
likely would drop it's present plan of
making nominations as any other pO-
litical party and would cOnfine itself
to endorsing candidates favorable to
the league.
The balance Of power" idea is sait
to be that of A. c. Townely. Il has
been discussed at various times by
Nonpartisans here, but not as seri-
ously as since the league defea. in
the recall election The proposal OF
ToWnley's has not been favorably re-
garded by leaguers who have been ac-
tive leaders in this state because the
league has keen able to elect it's candi-
dates in all but the recall election and
even now because the league claims
to have, 100000 votes solid in any
election and there is no necessity Of
adopting balance of power" atti-
tude. i's,
Chairman Liederbaeh, of the pres
ent state committee, in Bismarck a
few days ago on business, said the
league would put the present admin
:c%~ot;o~ ~, vi OF ,,ntil Eob,.,,ar NO
declined to comment on the balance
Of power idea.
Would Pledge Candidates
If the league should drop its role
Of a political organization making
nominations as any other party l.
would seek to pledge candidates to
its principles and might devote more
attention to obtaining legislation
through the initiative or through pres
sure brought to bear upon legtsla-
lures.
The proposal for the new attitude
OF the league Is said to have emanat-
ed from national headquarters be-
cause Of the difficulty of the league
obtaining complete control IN Mime
sofa, Nebraska, Kansas and South Da-
kota AGAINST the present strongly Or
ganized political parties. The league
has obtained large membership in
those, states and there is belief on the
part Of some of the NOnpartisans that
the league could WELD a greater force
by bringing pressure to bear upon
candidates and upon parties in power.
This idea has been fostered by Sam
uel Gompers, OF the. American Fedora
ton of Labor for labor unions in op-
position to the formation tof labor
party, It has been practised by the
prohibition forces with success when
the prohibition party failed and Is
growing force in politics in all parts
of the country, there being score OF
organizations which through petitions,
coercion and threats seek to force en-.
actment of their ideas. 4G
Difficulties Of Holding Office
One Of the difficulties OF. the .or'
ganization in North Dakota has been
the usual bitterness and emnltles re-
sulting from political control and dis
tributiOn of patronage. Omce-seeK-
crs have also created difficulties with
in the league in North Dakota. There
is aways the likelihood in a polit1cal
organization that there will be many
men seeking office for the office alone,
without particular regard to the plat
form on which they ride into power.
These difficulties would be avoided by
the league if it were an absolutely
non-party organization, but there are
many leaguers in the league; who BE-
lieve that it also would lose strength,
power and driving force if it attempt
cd to maintain such a role.
The balance of power" idea is con-
sidercd very seriously by many league
leaders and the winter conferences or
the league are expected to- decide
whether it will follow its present
course, or assume the new role.