New Ulm review., 1922-07-12
1 Wednesday, July I2 1922.
Bid the League Come Bock9

their chief inspiration for editoiial
comment from the international
bankers, have been busy the past week
and half explaining to their readers
that the defeat Of United States Sens-
tor Porter,J. McCumber by the former
Nonpartisan League governor of North
Dakota does not mean a victory for
the Nonpartisan League. As proof Of
that assertion they cite the fact that
Governor Nestos, anti-League, was
renominated to his office with practical
~ as large majority as Frazier's over
McCumber.
&t There is some truth in their asser-
ton. There isn't the least doubt in
the mind of anybody who knows North
Dakota politics and political leaders
that the big vote for Lynn j. Frazier
was partly due to the strong admira-
tion, that all honest people Of all
shades Of political belief feel for
Frazier personally. Former Governor
Frazier is admittedly stronger than
the Nonpartisan League in North
Dakota. Three times, he was elected
governor Of the state, and during his
three terms in Office, never once was
there whisper of suspicion as to his
honesty and character even from the
opposition. Men who have had the
privilege of meeting Lynn J. Frazier
personally have felt instinctively that
he is a man who can be trusted i'm
plicitly. .z
~71On the other hand, McCumber was
the biggest political figure in North
Dakota. In fact, he was one of the
most influential men in the whole
United States. AS chairman Of the
powerful Finance Committee in the
United States Senate, he was en-
trenched so heavily that many political
observers considered him unbeatable.
There was no dearth of money in his
campaign as all the financial interests
of the East were thoroughly interested
In having him reelected. But Lynn
.J.sFrazier's personal popularity turned
the trick. Il S; ~.
%s''The people of North Dakota, enough
Of them, showed fine discriminating
sense when, at the same time as,they
nominated a Lacquer for Senator, they
decided for anti-Leaguers for governor
and attorney general. In this way,
the majority Of the Industrial Com
mission will be anti-Leaguers. But
again, that doesn't tell the story as be-
tween the League and the antis. The.
people of North Dakota showed in thi,
election, as we will show later that
they are strongly for the Nonpartisan
Leagues industrial program. But
they had learned their lesson in former
years when the state was boycotted by
the financial interests of the entire
country, and they have now very
cleyerly decided to leave the Nestos
crowd in charge as directors Of the
state owned industries. Governor
Nestos made his campaign on the
promise that he would manage the
state industries according to the Non.
partisan League laws and that he.
would doi it better than Nonpartisan
League governor could do. He has
already had seven or eight months as
governor and during that time he has
administered the laws to fairly suit the,
Nonpartisans Of the state. With
Nestos and his crowd majority on the
directing board which operates the
state bank, the state mills and ele-.
vators, and the other state industries,
the money interests cannot very well
boycott the state as theiro own political,
friends are in charge. Tosome extent,
there may be an attempt to put on the
brakes, and yet there is little chance
for that as the laws of North Dakota
are plain and any great amount of
political sab botage on the part CT
Governor Nestos means certain defeat.
Mr.. Nestos is human-very much
so-and he is in no mood to step down,
from high Office. He likes to be
governor Of a great state and he would
have no objections to going higher.
For that reason he is not going to stray
very far from the popular will. And
to- see that everything would besopen1
and above board on the Industrial
Commission, the people Of North
Dakota again showed their keenness. in
nominating the. state chairman' of the.
N9npartisan League as the minority
member on the commission, defeating
the present I. v. A. commissi
Some people may think that this was
an accidental potpourrri, but informed
folks know that there were enough
deep thinking people in North Dakota
who voted just exactly this way very
much on purpose.
When it came to the important rail
road and warehouse commission, the
people nominated all three Nonpartis-
ans. For other state Offices, personal
had good dealto say in the
outcome, resulting in the Nonpartisans
OottinU the auditor and ins,Ir. nco; no =, :.