The Bismarck tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, N.D.) 1916-current, 1922-11-11
EXPLANATION
OF ELECTION J:
is DIFFICULT
Great Difference in O'ConnOr's
Vote and l. V. A. Leaders
Caused Comment
VI = - ahE
CAMPAIGN BUNGLED?
Question Raised by Many
League Probably Will Get
Federal Jobs in State

League Probably Will Get
Federal Jobs in State
With the election over politicians,
but more especially people who are
not politicians, are seeking an ex-
planation of the remarkable out
come of North Dakota politics. The
great majority given Governor Nes-
tos. which may finally be more than
10000, and the defeat of J. F. T.
O'Connor by 5000 to 5000 is the
stumbling block for many who are
seeking to give an accurate view Of
the results of the election. 1t is the
greatest difference by many thous-
and in the vote of any two candidates
backed by the I. V. A. organization m
the state.
The election may bring great
changes in the complexion of North
Dakota politics and politicians. Tho
future of the league is uncertain, but
with the capture of the office Of
senator and the consequent hold
which the league has attained on the
several hundred jobs offered in fed
eral service in North Dakota the
league is in position to have a ma
chine as powerful as the machine it
had when it had control of all Of the
state offices. It may be that the sue
cesses in the races for national Of
fices will inspire the league to give
more attention to an effort to keep
! its own representatives from North
Dakota down in Washington and not
give so much attention to state poll
tics.
Great Difference in Vote .a
Governor Nestos increased his
majority ever the primary by 10000
votes while Mr.. O'Connor was defeat
ed by about the same majority per-
haps less when final returns show
the exact figure, than Senator Nc
Cumber. All of the l. V. A. organi-
zation candidates increased their
majority over the primary excepting
on the senatorship.
Many of Mr.. O'Connor's friends
refuse to accept the explanation be-
ing voiced in editorials in l.. v. A.
papers that he was defeated simply
because he was on the Democratic
ticket. They point to- reaction
against Republican party almost
everywhere in national politics. They
also point out that Mr.. O'Connor
received 100000 votes for Governor
two years ago, which would have been
enough to elect him Senator. And
further that the campaign empha-
sized more than any previous cam
paign the position that Frazie1was
not real Republican. Many fhends
of Mr.. O'Connor, while appreciating
the support given by individual
workers all over the state and local
organizations, are not in a very
kindly mood toward the central cam
paign organization which could not
deliver the comparatively few votes
necessary for him to win, when it
delivered big on other candidates.
Their contention is that the man.
agement of the campaign was bung-
led orl that many Of those whom
they thought were O'Connor's friends
Intentionally allowed his campaign
to slide and concentrated on the
other candidates. Predictions were
freely voiced before the election. by
many l. V. A. leaders that O'Con-
nor would be defeated.
Unusual Forks situation
Perhaps the most unusual feature
of the campaign was the reversal in
Grand Forks county. The ku klux
Klan is blamed by many Of O'Con-
nor's friends for this, but they also
point out that the Jerry Bacon ma
chine failed. to deliver, and that al
though Grand Forks was given the
s2.5OO,OOO elevator and the same TIC
ket as O'Connor had on it Hans An
derson, Sveinbjorn johnson, Judge
Birdzell and Congressman Burtness
all. from Grand Forks. While jealou-
sy among politicians in other parts
If the state was manifested because
so many Grand Forks men were on
tho I, V. A. ticket it also was fig
ured by many that this would heip
O,Connor in the northeastern part OF
the state. :.
There are many explanations OF
the defeat offered to O'Connors
friends. which seem plausible until
thew consider the great difference
between his vote and that of other l.
Y. "A. candidates, not merely a 1e"
thousand, but many thousand votes
One factor which was counted on
70 help O'Connor was not known to
many people. President Harding re'
fnsed to make scores Of federal aP'
nointments in North Dakota, lncluc'
ing United States District Attorney
the postmasters ,at Bismarck' man.
dan. Minot, Fargo, and scores
If other similar appointments,
There was real resentment expressed
toward the national administrat, on
because of this. Senator McCumoeI
had already secured the appointment
of United States Marshal. and some
other officials but opposition OF the
Nv. A. organization and differences
between some of the cOngressmei
were responsible in part for hoio'
ing up many other appointments
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