Evening star., 1924-09-20
C. 0.P. WAGES WAR
IN NORTH DAKOTA
State Today Conceded to La
Toilette, But Change Is
Seen by November 4.
BY DAVID LAWRENCE.

FARGO n. D., September 20.-Were
the election to be held tomorrow
and that's about the most accurate
basis for calculation thus early-the
State of North Dakota would cast it's
electoral vote for Senator Robert M.
La Toilette for President.
The real Republicans" as the wing
of the Republican party which is
fighting the Partisan League
style themselves, will not concede the
triumph of La Toilette. however. on
election day. They insist that with
the proper aid from the Republican
national organization there is still a
chance to carry this State for Presj-
dent Coolidge.
Many things are happening which
might make such AN outcome proba-
BILE as the campaign strategy of all
concerned is unfolded. For one
thing, it is charged, though vehe-
mently denied, that the conservative
Democrats have entered into an in
formal understanding to abandon Da-
Wis and support Coolidge so as to be
sure and keep the States vote from
going to La Toilette. The argument
employed is that the Democrats will
be throwing away their votes ii they
vote for Davis and that they will
help the fusion State ticket of con-
SerVaive Republicans and Democrats
by supporting Coolidge.
situation Unusual.
An unusual situation exists. here in
that the Democratic nominee for gov
ernor has the open Endorsement and
support of the real Republicans" be-
cause they want to defeat the regular
Republican nominee for governor
who is sponsored by the Nom Par tisan
League. The latter is out working
for La Toilette. The Nom Partisan
Leaguers have pronounced the fusion
to be part of an effort of their op
ponents to win for the State ticket
and at the same time carry the state
for Coolidge.
1t is significant that very little is
being said either for or against Davis
by the Coolidge supporters. Nothing
is being done to stir up feeling on
the national tick ct. The tactics of
conservatives in North Dakota may
at times seem unique, but then North
Dakota has a unique problem with
the bipartisan League. For eX
ample, the outside world may not
know that Senator La Toilette was
actually aided in the presidential
preference primary by Republicans of
the conservative type who are said
to have had funds from friends of
Coolidge. What possible object would
they have in supporting La Toilette?
They thought they would beat Hiram
Johnson, and cutting down his
strength would carry the State in the
primaries for Coolidge. And it was
important in those days for Coolidge
10 carry North Dakota, If it was
humanity possible to do so.
Vote Annlyzed.
About 10000 voters wrote their
names on stickers, but it is conceded
that much of the money for these
StickerS came from Coolidge men. So
in analyzing the primary vote in
which Coolidge received 52,S15, while
Johnson received 1858 and La Fol-
lette 40.252, it is fair to assume that
some of that vote that went to both
Johnson and La Toilette now will go
to Coolidge.
The La Toilette supporters claim
they are not making an active cam
paign, but they say the Wisconsin
leader will poll almost as many
votes as Coolidge and Davis com
bined.
Just now the Coolidge campaign is
held up by a mix-up over the placing
of Coolidge electors on the ballot. In
a recent meeting of the Non Partisan
Leaguers and the real Republicans"
it was agreed by the former that the
four La Toilette electors whose
names would ordinarily go on the
ballot under the name of Coolidge
because they won in the primaries
would resign and that five bona -fide
Coolidge electors would be chosen.
Suit May Follow.
The hesitancy of the Non-Partisan
Leaguers to bring about these resig-
nations has caused much comment
and suit may be started to adjust
the matter. The leaguers say they
will carry out their agreement and
give the Coolidge electors their right
full place on the ballot, as was done
in Wisconsin, but they do not want
the La Toilette electors placed in an
independent column, but in the list
of individual nominations" where
their candidates for state offices will
be listed. This situation ultimately
will be Strengthened out, but it is
just now holding up the Coolidge
campaign.
Copyright 1921,