The Ward County independent. [volume] (Minot, Ward County, N.D.) 1902-1965, 1922-03-02
POLITICAL RUMORS

Rumors permeate the political at
mosphere Of North Dakota. Some
facts have already presented them
selves. One thing is certain, Porter
j. McCumber, who has been United
States Senator from North Dakota
for nearly a quarter of century, Will
be a candidate to succeed himself:
McCumber was young attorney and
rather obscure, practicing law in
small office in the quiet little city
Of Wahpeton at the time he was first
elected to. the Senate. He has de-
veloped remarkably during all these
years until today he is one OF the
outstanding figures in the United
States Senate, being chairman of the
most important committee, that which
has to do with finance and the tariff.
LaFollette is a member of the same
committee and stands third from the
head. Should McCumber be defeat
ed, LaFollette will have an excellent
opportunity of taking his place at the
head of the committee. LaFollette
was once the idol of North Dakotans,
but he lost this prestige during the
war when he was almost considered
a disloyalist. McCumber does not
visit North Dakota very often. He
pended on his lieutenants to keep his
political fences in good repair They
have done a remarkably fine job for
aim during all these years but there
are those who declare that the stake
and rider fences of the old days must
ne replaced by the more modern and
more serviceable design. This is
not to say that McCumber is back
number. Far from it. He is an as
tute politician. He managed to keep
rather free from the bitter political
fight which was brot on six years ago
when Townley organized his nonpar--
tisan league. McCumber remained
out of the state and found it conven-
lent to keep very busy in Washington.
Only during the recent recall election
did he show his political hand, and
only then in rather vague manner,
when Mckenzie, Jim Shea and other
McCumber lieutenants openly oppos-
ed Governor Nestos. 1t is not GER
tain that McCumber will secure the
Nonpartisan league support, altho ne
no doubt expected it for the assist
ance he gave to Frazier in the recall
. election. McCumber undoubtedly ex-
/, pacted that the Nonpartisans would
remain in power. The Nonpartisans
are suspicious of McCumber. They
don't like it because he voted to seat
Senator Newberry Of Michigan. There
are rumors that the Nonpartlsans
may put up candidate Of their own,
POSSIBLY former Governor Frazier.
Gronna, who is out for McCumber's
scalp will hardly be a candidate. he
Is not strong enough.
A. NJ. Christensen, who has been
Judge of the North Dakota Supreme;
Court for many years, will IN all
probability oppose McCumber. There
may be a three handed fight with
McCumber, Frazier and Christensen
in The field.
There is some talk of the Nonpar-
t;sars not putting up state ticket,
and instead letting the present indie
nendent officials remain in office to
work themselves out of bad mess
chat has been wished onto them.
Many nonpartisans are willing to bet
that they will fail in reducing taxes
or making times better, thus insur-
ing a nonpartisan victory two years
from now. Other nonpartisans are
urging complete state and county
s:cket even tho there might not be 9
certainty of winning, but in order to
keep the party intact. No one knows
Just what they will do. The Nonpar-
t:sans themselves are not quite GER
tain lust vet.