The Bismarck tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, N.D.) 1916-current, 1922-03-24

Chairman A. A. Liederbach COM
menced the reading of the minutes OF
,the meetings of the executive commit
tee, beginning with March 13, 1921.
This retold the troubles of the ex-
ecutive committee in running the Cour-
ier-News through the period while
George Totten, Jr., was an employe
and constituted what Chairman Lieder-
bach termed 'the little soviet"
Asked from the floor to tell who
constituted the little soviet" Mr..
Liederbach named George Totten, Jr.
and William Tanner, who is listed in
the records of the league as "Billican."
Pressed as to whom he considered
was back of the little soviet" Mr..
Liederbach named William .Lemke
and the minority members of the ex.
ecutive committee.
Challenged From the Floor.
Challenged from the floor by Walter
Maddox to name the minority men,
bers Of the executive committee as be.
ing members or supporters Of the "lit-
tie soviet" Mr.. Liederbach declined to
use the names.
For the information of the delegates
Mr.. Liederbach produced the carbon
copies of letters addressed to William
Lemke and with the initials Of Mr..
Totten on them in which the position
iof publisher of the Courier|News is
asked by the writer, alleging that the
paper suffered in comparison with
other papers because of a lack Of cen.
tralized authority.
When challenged by a woman dele
gate to produce proof that George
Totten, Jr., was the author of the let
ters Mr.. Liederbach answered that the
initials in the corner coupled with
those of the stenographer were the
only indication of the writer's linden.
tity.
Mrs. Wood Active.
The minutes read by the chairman
covered the period in which the ex-
ecutive committee was attempting to
gain control of the Courier-News from
the committee Of the National Non
partisan committee and one Of the let.
ters introduced the fact that for some
time the control Of the editorial policy
was directed from outside the state.
1t also covered the period of Mr.. Tot
tens connection with the paper.
The long drawn out reading of the
was listened to attentively by
the delegates. Mrs Howard Wood, for.
mer president of the Womans Nonpar-
tisan league clubs of the state and
former representative of the league
women as an ex-officio member of the
state committee, led the attack from
the floor on the statements in the min
utes. Both Mrs. Wood and Liederbach
scored at times as their remarks
caught the fancy of the delegates.
Delay in getting to the actual set
tlement of questions is wearing upon
the nerves Of the delegates and every
effort will be made to conclude the
business of the session by tonight or
at least by an hour that will allow
the delegates to leave here by the 6
o'clock trains Saturday morning. Fail
ure to adjourn at this time will mean
that many of the delegates will have
to wait over until Monday.
The league convention opened at
2 o'clock yesterday afternoon with the
singing of America, followed by pray
er by Rev. J. D. Runsvold, pf the Firs:
Lutheran church, after Chairman A.
A.. Liederbach of the state executive
committee had called the meeting to
order.
Nominations for temporary chair
man were in order. State Senator
Ralph 1ngerson and J. G. Miller, of
Bottineau, formerly representative in
the house, were nominated. Miller
was chosen, 124 to 10O Miller was
regarded as unbiased in the fight be-
tween the two league factions. Later
Miller was named permanent chair
man.
Mrs. George Brastrup, of Griggs
county was named secretary, and a
credentials COMMITTEES consisting of
c. F. Baker, of Renville, Ingerson and
F.. A. Vogel, Of Mclean, named.
The number of delegates entitled
to vote was increased over the num-
ber set by the Liederbach state COM
mittee, when a motion carried that
representation from each county he
based on the vote cast at the recall
election last fall and not on the vote
for Governor Frazier in the preced-
Continued on Page 81