New-York tribune., 1922-10-27
|Nonpartisan:s
Try Comeback
I'm North Dakota
Vigorous Fight Is On TO
Elect Ex-tsov. Frazier TO
the Senate as Vindicafion
for Last Years Defeat
Bi-Party Group Opposes
Old Line Forces support
Republican and Democrat
jointly 10 Beat Radicals
Ry Carter Field

FARGO, N. d., Oct. 26.r--Oustcd from
state control by the recall eiee don Of
last December. the Nonpartisan League,
fighting With its back against the wall,
is making desperate effort to "come
back ia North Dakota. Thia is the
birthplace OF the league. the scene Of
its greatest political successes and Of
its greatest practical fizzle when in
trusted with actual power and respon-
sibility.
There Is no probability that the
league will this year win back control
of the state administration. Governor
r. A. Mestos, who was elected when
Lynn j. Frazier, the Norpartisan
League Governor, was recalled teil
months ago, seems assured of re-elec-
ton. He has the regular Republican
nomination, won in hot primary fight
against the league, and he is being sup
ported by ell the conservative Demo-
crats. He is the real strong man OF
the state, ana even the league leaders
coacede privately that they have no
hope Of beating him.
They do expect. however, 70 elect
Lynn J. Frazier, the recalled and dis
credited Governor, as United States
Senator 10 fill the seat Of Porter j.
McCumber. AT the present moment the
chances seem to favor. very slightly,
their accomplishing this. IT is perhaps
the closest election in the United
States this year, however and the
slightest incident would be enough to
defeat Frazier and put Democrat,
j. r. T. O'Connor, in the Senate.
Many Republicans Favor OConnor
Nominated by the Democrats, O'Con-
nor has now the Endorsement of the
powerful Independent Voters Associa-
tion. and all the conservative Republi-
cans arc rallying to his defense. He
is regarded, despite the fact he would
affiliate with the Democrats in Wash
ington, as the fusion nominee, and he
is being supported by Democrats and
Repub leans who are opposed to the
Nonrarti san League.
The chief fear of the old line party
men who are supporting O'Connor is
that Of support for O'Connor from
Democratic agencies outside the state.
They have made it clear, in New York
and Washington, that any attempt to
send either literature or orators into
the state from, Democratic national
headquarters will not be countenanced.
The word Democrat" is not good
l. ~ MI.
catching votes. Every one comedies
sand votes stronger il he were on the
ballet as an Independent" It is gen
erally admitted also, that il he had a
Scandinavian name it would be worth
scme thousands of votes to him. Far
from being an asset, his Irish name is
a very real liability SO far as the bal
lot boxes are concerned.
His three chief political weaknesses
are his name, his religion and the fact
that the word Democrat" appears on
the ballot after his name. The relig-
ious angle has grown into Importance
due to the attempts to hurt O'Connor
by the organization Of "Ansax" clubs.
the word being an ahbreviation of
Anglo Saxon and the object similar to
the Ku-Klux Khan. This agitation, it
is learned. is being carried on largely
by some. Of the supporters of Senator
McCumber, who is bitter against
O'Connor, and who is particularly
angry that the Independent Voters As
sociation. did not support him in the
Republican primary, where he was de-
feated by Frazier.
Religious Attack Most Potent
Cutting of O'Connor by friends of
McCumber, while it is expected to be
heavy, is not regarded by O'Connor's
supporters as being as dangerous as
the underground religious attack. plus
the weaknesses of name and political
atfiliation. On the contrary, it is gen.
orally admitted that if O'Connor were
Republican Lutheran of Scandinavian
name ne would, roll up tremendous
majority over Frazier despite both the
strength Of the Nonnartisan League
and the bitterness of McCumber.
O'Connor is wonderful spellbinder,
| however. aud his schedule calls for
scme 500 speeches in the campaign be-
fore election day. He is personally
popular, and is identified fairly well as
fusion nominee by the fact that two
years ago the Republican and Demo
cratic conservatives united on him to
oppose his present opponent, Frazier
Tor the Governorship. O'Connor was
defeated at that time by less than
| 5000 in the Harding landslide, al
Though he was labeled Democrat. OF
an old Red River farming family, he
was graduated from Yale, and won q
/. medal as being the prize debater OF
Old Eli He was leader Of the con.
| servative minority in the lower branch
of the Legislature when the Nonparti
san 1ppYue WAS in fall ux,y;ne 49,
though he has opposed the league anc
its leaders straight along ever since
the radical-conservative fight began he
i has never been bitter, and as matte,
OF fact urges measures for the relieJ
| of the farmers which would be re-
garded as near-socialistic down East.
His great asset, however. is the sup
4 port of Governor Nestos, the stronf
man of the state, and the candirate O.
the Republican party for reelection
Nestos, assured Of his own election. i,
working probably harder for O'Conno
| than fer himself. The conservativ,
ticket, of course, is Nestos. Republi
can. and O'Connor, Democrat. agains
the Nonpartisan League. which lost it,
B fight TO win the Republican label on tn.
Governorship, but won it on the Sena
l tership.
1 Both Conservatives on One Ballot
Campaign buttons have appeared
with the pictures both OF Nestos, Re
publican, fer Governor, and O'Connor
3 Democrat, for Senator, and many ner
sors are wearing this dual partv buf
ton. the first of their Kind ever heare
i OF in these parts. if, indeed. anywhere
| IN the country. The pictures are sid.
oy siae, much as the pictures Of the