The Mankato free press., 1922-06-30
CONTROLOF NORTH
DAKOTA AT STAKE
PARTY LINES BROKEN IN
PRIMARY sTRUGGLE
in BATTLE
Governor Nestos Heads Conbm-
alton Ticket Republicans
And Democrats.

AuG OeiIUCIAsSs
Bismarck, N. D., June 22-Wfth
party lines broken and dtsregarded.
North Dakota Is approaching ITS
statewide primary June 2Sta with
the interest centerec IN C-se struggle
between the present administrator
and the Nopartisan League for the
cotrol of the state government.
Governor r. A. NeStos, the irsS
governor in the history OF the Um-
campaign, is heading the combina-
ton of Republicans and Domzsrats
aligned against the League. The
later is marshalling its forces p1dsr
the name Of republican, the demo
cratic members of the league sign
ing up as republicans for the pur-
poses CT the primary.
The primary is strictly a North
Dakota affair. While candidate
for United States senator is to be
elected, the league and anti league
battle enters into this and the Sc
lection of the senator is one of the
Queerest angles ever presented to
the people of a state. LINN J. Fra
sier, recalled governor is the cand1-
date for the Nonpartisan League.
Porter ]. McCumber is a candidate
to succeed himself, and Ormsby Nc
Harg, of jamestown, a former pri-
vate secretary of Senator McCnm
Der, is also a candidate.
According to political observers
the primary will not give a line up
on the trend of national feeling.
Conditions politically, they contend
are too chaotic, the party label too
easily changed, for any stamp OF
pro or anti to be declared from the
result. Something of the tangled
conditions can be guessed from the
fact that the names of the same men
appear on petitions of candidates
named for democratic and repub-
lican Office. No alignment has yet
been made in this pot p6urri of pol
itics stamping one side or the other
as carrying the banner of progress,
immobility or reaction.
Six Elements In Campaign
Back of all these conditions trail
the year in which North Dakota
hah been the experimental ground
for economic theories, theories
which needed political party label
for functioning, and still further
back are the years in whcih North
Dakota was attempting to align it
self under the progressive banner,
upheld at that time by its near ma
tive son, Theodore Roosevelt Under
these conditions six different ele-
ments entered into the campaign.
The elements, each one paramount
to some certain group or alignment
or section follow:
ID Interested in the state ticket
and the return of Governor R. A.
Nestos to the position he has filed
since November 23rd last This ell
ement has no candidate for the sen
atorship.
(2) The Nopartisan League, with
Its members signing UP as republi-
Governor Frasier as candidate for
United States Senator and with a
complete state ticket, headed by B.
F. Baker Of Glenburn, a farmer.
for Governor.
(3) Democrats. supporting j. F.
t. O'Connor for United States Sen
ator and complete state ticket.
(4) Porter j. McCumber, sena
tor, ardentiy supported by former
stalwarts with followers in both
the Republican and Nonpartisan
~, ......
(5) Protest against the purpose
of the democrats TO alien with the
lndepent Republican following the
primary upon certain candidates
from each ticket ..-
(6) Protest in republican ranks
against the industrial experiments
the state has been trying.
The Preliminary Campaign
The preliminary campaign, up to
the time of final filing for office,
was a contest between the Inde-
Iendent Republican and the Nc
Cumber forces. The independents
attempted to force the senator and
MS immediate followers to ally
themselves with the Independents
AGAINST the Nonpartisan League
ms was met by the equality insis-
sent demand OF the supporters of
McCumber that the Independents
ally themselves with the senator
regardless of the league question.
Both sides failed in this effort.
although some independent candi-
dates have announced that they
personally will vote for McCumber.
The third man in the race for
senator, Ormsby McHary of James
town, is regarded as al unknown
quantity. Since his return TO the
state, less than a year ago, which
accounts for his inability to vote in
the primary, he has aligned him
self with the Independents. He IS
q former private secretary to Sen.
ator McCunber and has been absent
from North Dakota for some years.
The Nestos Ticket
Governor Nestos is leading a state
ticket on which George Shafer OF
Watford City is the candidate for
Attorney General and Joseph A.
Kitchen is asking denomination as
commissioner of Agriculture and
Labor. These three positions form
the Industrial Commission which
has control of the large business i'm
forests of the state
The league candidates are q. r.
Baker of Glcaburn for governor,
Peter Garberg of Hettinger for At.
torney General and w. J. Church OF
York for Commissioner of Agricui,
ture and Labor. Baker and Church
are farmers, former members If the
North Dakota Senate and familiar
with the work OF the state.
Several independents candidates
in the field but the only one
who is considered by politicians to
have much OF chance is Silver
Serumgard Of Devils Lake candi-
date for Commissioner of Agricul-
ture and Labor He is contended
that he is taking votes from both
sides.
4