The Bismarck tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, N.D.) 1916-current, 1923-10-08
LEAGUERS0F
STATEGATHER
HERE OCT, 10



in Bismarck
Nonpartisans from various parts
of the state will gather in Bismarck
on Wednesday, October. 10, for a
state delegate convention that is ex-
pected to be chiefly devoted to con-
sideration of the schism in the lea
que.
1t will be the elimination Of fac
g, tional warfare which has developed
and ragged within the league for the
last two years, and the action of the
convention may determine the future
of the league as political entity.
The convention is called by Chair
man w. J. Church. There will be a
group Of leaguers here, attending the
convention with reservations" It
is the Observation-Disclosures
insurgent faction which has assail-
ed the conduct of the state executive
committee as we'll as the method by
which the chairman called the con-
vention.
On the one hand the "insurgents"
demand that A. C. Townley and Will
liam Lemke be banned from league
Affairs forever, together with other
satellites, and that a new deal be
provided all around In the manage
ment of the league. There is no an
nounced policy upon the part of
Chairman Church, but the REGULARS"
are expected to make stand against
complete revolution within the
league as has been demanded.
In issuing his call for the conven-
tiop. Mr.. Church provided that the
delegates who sat in the league con-
veption. at Fargo in March, 1922,
! should constitute the - coming con-
vention also: Later after vigorous
protest from Mr.. Andrews and his
friends he modified this provision to
the extent of announcing that dis
tricts which SO desired might elect
new delegates. So far as any word
has been received here however, this
has been done in few cases.
This would indicate that a major
ity of the delegates at the Bismarck
convention will be men and women
who were at the Fargo session. That
convention ousted from power A. A.
Liederbach and the other members
of the league executive committee
who occupied very much the same
ground which Mr.. Andrews and his
followers do at the present time
There is no doubt however that the
sale of the Fargo Courier-News, and
other recent events have worked to-
gether to bring about change in
the feelings of many.
In many cases moreover it seems
quite possible that districts where
the league. is weak may be without
representation. unless some new ar
rangement for recognizing delegates
is decided upon on the convention
floor.
New Party Possible
Aside from the fight for the lead
ership of the league which seems al
most certain to develop it is proba-
BILE that one of the chief issues be-
fore the convention will be that of
what form the future organization of
the leaguers shall take.
A strong element in the league is
in favor of dropping the name. as
we'll as the organization plan of the
Nonpartisan League and forming a
state unite of the ''Farmer-Labor"
party or some other political body
based on similar principles to take
its place.
They argue that the Nonpartisan
League has been distributed and that
y new rallying ground should be pro-
vided for those who favor the prin-
ciples which have beev supported by
the league in the past. The Consum-
ers' Stores, and other wild cat VEN
lures are too closely associated with
the name Of the Nonpartisan League
to make that name popular slogan
among the voters, it is contended.
On the other hand strong ele-
ment, including r. W.. Frazier OBJ
jects to cutting loose from the old
parties, and points out that the vic
tories won by the league were won
through the use Of the Republican
party label.
Incidentally R. n. walker and 9th
ers who have aligned themselves
with the Farmer-Labor party form
ed at Chicago ? few months ago may
be present to urge that the leaguers
affiliate with this bbdy.
The Newspaper question, post dat
ed checks, and accommodation notes
for which many leasuers are still
holding the bag will get their US
ual airing it may reasonably be ex-
pected.