The Bismarck tribune., 1922-01-30
Letters of Roylance Reveal Cor
respondence to Get La Fol-
lette's Help in Matter
MANY RADICALS NAMED

NOnpartisan league movement II
merge it into national organization,
activities of some of them with we'll
known radicals of the country and
other phases Of proposed cooperation
with outside forces to enlarge the
scope of the league are shown in some
of the letters of William G. Roylance,
former publicity agent for the Bank
of North Dakota, which escaped the
ash-heap.
The letters of Roylance are part OF
a large amount of correspondence
which failed to reach the ash-heap TO
which they were consigned.
The letters reveal Roylance, i'm
portant figure in many dealings of the
league in North Dakota, as working to
the same end as Scott Nearing, noted
radicalist, as corresponding with Up
ton Sinclair and endeavoring to join
Senator LaFollette, of Wisconsin,;
Senator Ladd, Glenn Plumb and 9TH
ers. There also is indication many
leaguers didn't like the idea of ma
tional expansion
On Aug. 20, 1921, Roylance wrote
D. c. Dorman, Organization Manager,
National Nonpartisan League, Mime
apolis saying:
I'm compliance with our recent con-
versation, I have written Senator
Ladd with regard to possibilities for
closer cooperation between the league
and LaFollette forces in Wisconsin
and with regard to my plan for unit
ing national progressive organlza-
tions. Senator Ladd has written me,
promising to see Senator LaFollette
at the earliest possible opportunity,
and he entirely approves of my idea
for bringing about national coopera-
tion, without arousing suspicion OF
anv organization with regard to po-
litical domination. Senator Ladd ex-
poets an early, recess Of Congress, IN
which case he will probably return to
North Dakota and I will have an op-
portunity for conference with him
here or at Fargo. I shall follow
these matters up as vigorously as pos
sible and will keep you informed"
Interests Carl Thompson
On August "a, 1921, Mr.. Dorman
wrote Roylance saying:
"We acknowledge receipt Of your
letter of August 20 We are glad to
note that you are working on the
proposition of getting the forces lined
up nationally.
eve had long letter from Carl D..
Thompson stating his position and
that he had had letter from you
"We are very anxious to work with
Mr.. Thompson insofar as possible and
as he states that they have no idea OF
wanting to form third party but
merely get the forces together.
"Kindly give Mr.. Thompson all the
consideration possible along this
line"
Thompson formerly was an active
member Of the Socialist national or
ganizations and campaign manager
one year. He also was in the employ
of the Bank of North Dakota.
On Aug, 81, Roylance answered Dor
man saying: with regard to your
request in your letter of August 24th
that I give Mr.. Thompson every con-
sideration possible in my efforts to
bring about closer working unity be-
tween our organization and others
working along similar lines. am glad
to say that Mr.. Thompson and / have
arrived at complete agreement on all
important points. II | am able to at
tend the Public Ownership Confer
ence next November we feel very con-
fident that we shall be able to get a
number of influential and progressive
leaders together and working plan
adopted"
on Sept /, 1921, Mr.. Dorman ac-
knowledged receipt of Roylance's let
ter of Aug. 81, and said: we are IN
receipt of circular from Mr.. Thomp-
son, inclosing the call and invitation
to a meeting on November the 18th
to 21st. No doubt, you have received
a copy of this, which we consider IS
very we'll gotten up, and will be OF
tremendous propaganda value over
the different states. We are going to
send it out to all of the State Man.
ayers and organizers and boosters,
and do everything we can to get as
large a representation to this meet
ing as possible
Expects National Movement
In a letter to Paul Greer, of the
Omaha Daily Bee, on Sept. 26, 1921,
Roylance said: IT do not expect the
League to fall to pieces; but | 40 ex-
pect that before long it will be merged
into a movement that will assume ma
tional proportions"
The name Of Upton Sinclair was
brought into the Roylance corresponds
ence on Aug. 4, 1920, in letter to
Herbert E. CASTOR, of the Minnesota
Daily Star. A paragraph of the let
ter reads:
'.There is another subject which l
desire to bring to your attention, in
which have had some conversation
and little correspondence with various
persons interested in liberal publica-
tions. l refer to the difficulty that is
being experienced in securing sup
plies of paper. Learning a short time
ago that Mr. Upton Sinclair had inter
ested himself in plan for establish
ing cooperative paper production in
the interests of labor and other liberal
publications, I wrote to him, giving
him certain information which I had
collected some years previous relating
to available supplies OF paper pulp
wood. Mr. Sinclair referred me tc
Mr.. Costello, Managing Editor Of the
Federated Press, but I have not YET
taken the matter up with him."
Roylance wrote considerable mat
ter for The Federated Press, which
had on its executive board Robert M
Buck, of the New Majority; r. E
Smith, of the Daily Bulletin, Butte
Montana. and Herbert E. CASTOR, O.