The Washburn leader. [volume] (Washburn, McLean County, N.D.) 1890-1986, 1921-03-11
Mckenzie Seen as
Receiver ' Of League
Alliance Of Nonpartisans and oldtime
staiwarts to Defeat independents
in Recall ls Now Predicted

Bismarck, N. d. March It's Alex
Mckenzie coming back as aeleader in
North Dakota? His friends say that he
is, and they foresee his return In a new
and surprising role Plans are under
way already, they say, for reconstruc.
tion of the state politically through an
alliance between remnants of the Non
partisan league and the old Mckenzie
organization. - .-g,..0 ri ~, -
The word remnants implies a
breakup of the league. That has been
impending for some time and the old
Mckenzie .stalwarts say 1t would have
happened months ago If the Indepen-
dent Voters association had held of
while from pounding the league.
Mckenzie as "Receiver."
The I. v. A. has started proceedings
for recall election to oust the league.
If that plan goes through, the wise
ones say, look out for the Mckenzie
organization, the old "stalwarts." !"
They will be found helping the league
and fighting the recall ticket. Recall
or no recall, the alliance is being
formed, and within the next year, it Is
predicted, a big slice of the league
will be annexed by the Mckenzie or
ganization. The former ."big boss" is
to take over the political remains of
the Townley league as a sort Of polit-
ical receiver or assignee, according to
this view. -.
The combination aims at keeping the
1. v. A. crowd out of power in the
state, and it is equally hostile to Will
liam LANCER and his following.
The Mckenzie stalWarts and the
league have had diplomatic relations
for years. Some Of the old Mckenzie
men have worked openly with the
league The others have avoided an
tagonizing the Eonpartisans as much
as possible g-.-.,-
Old Machine Still Lives 49,.
At the outset Of the league move
ment, its speakers and newspapers
made Alex Mckenzie the target of
much abuse and ridicule. Suddenly
this stopped and never has been re.
newed. w
The brunt Of the fight against the
league, all along, has been carried by
former progressive republicans, who
also had been Anti Mckenzie men. Mr.
Mckenzie, himself has kept In the
background. He has been accused Of
dealing secretly with the league, and
| the acts of some of his old lieuten-
! ants have given color to that charge
But his attitude, as far as the public
is concerned, has been that Of one
biding his time and feeling entirely
Indifferent az between the two warrine
forces. He has been letting '.dog eat
dog. as he might choose to put it.
Yet the old Mckenzie organization
has not gone to pieces. 1t came, to
life last year and carried the presi-
!: Dental primaries, re-electing Gunder
Olson as national committeeman. Now
1t is claimed that through Senator P.
+. cCumber and Gunder Olson the
Mckenzie men will have the say as
to federal patronage, S% -.s5 sss 4. !,
There has been an active crowding
to the pie counter lately, and as feder-
al patronage dispenser, the Mckenzie
machine is beginning to look and func-
tion llkefin the old days. sss \. 81 1. (,
Il Many sleaguers have shown friendly
feeling for the Mckenzie organization.
They see that the: game is about up
as far as the league is concerned. It
must do business with, more conserya-
tive elements II it continues in power
ito any degree, they realize. They will
never make any terms with the I. v. A.
but they have no such prejudice again
st the stalwarts. They are ripe for
compromise that will preserve a part
of their beloved industrial program. !.
enough at least to save their faces.
They would yield a great deal more in
.a compromise with the Mckenzie ele+-
ment than they would to anyone else:
The stalwarts probably, will be will
ing to continue the rural credits sys-
TEN which lies at the base OF the
Bank of North Dakota; and to try out
the state mill and elevator at Grand
Forks. That is all: the league really
hopes to save ont Of Its prog 83$a 35.s
=