The Omaha morning bee., 1924-03-11
Nonpartisan
Support for
Senator Norris
Democrats, Farmer.Laborites
Progressive Republicans
Send Endorsement of
Candidacy.

Lincoln. March 10.-The first gun
in the Norris campaign for re-elec-
ton has been fired. 1t consists OF
sending out to the newspapers copies
of letters Of endorsement written by
senatorial colleagues of Senator Nor
ris.
The letter of explanation accom-
panying the copies is written upon the
letterhead of the law firm Of Soren-
sen G. Bollen. Bollen is a democratic
candidate for the nomination for
state auditor. He is also candidate
for the progressive nomination.
The senatorial letters endorsing
Senator Norris are written by mem
bers of all political parties, but the
so-called progressives predominate.
Senator owen of Oklahoma. democrat,
endorses the man endorsed In equally
strong language by Senator capper,
republican, OF Kansas. And Senator
Wheeler OF Montana, democrat, ap-
pears alongside OF Senator Magnus
Johnson of Minnesota, farmer-labor.
Nor is Senator Borah, republican, OF
Idaho, less fullsome in his praise of
Senator Norris than Senator Ship
stead, farmer-labor of Minnesota, + or
La Toilette of Wisconsin.
II Is a very imposing array OF en-
dorsements, but there are those who
entertain the suspicion that the dem
ocratic senators who endorse Senator
Norris have done So with their
tongues in their cheeks. feeling that
the reelection Of the Nebraska man
will spell a lot more trouble for the
republican side Of the senate.
C. A. Sorensen, who Is acting as
chairman of the Norris campaign
committee. was the head and front of
the Nonpartisan league In Nebraska
when 1t was going good. and Is still
ostensibly in charge of IL.
There are republicans in these parts
who are Just bit mystified. With
a Nonpartisan Lacquer managing the
Norris campaign. from a law office
In which the manager is the partner
of man seeking n state office az
a democrat. and with the senator
seeking reelection as a duly filed re-
publican on the republican ticket yet
Insisting that he Is above party, is
not a republican and much given
TO opposing republican policies. there
seems to be ample explanation Of
why so many republicans are won
dering Just what TO do about il.
Senator Norris has said that he
would not come back to Nebraska TO
campaign in his own behalf, but the
supporters OF Charles Sloan are not
any the less inclined TO activity. They
assert that IL Senator Norris does
come back during the primary II
will not be TO make speeches In be-
half of republican principles. and II
during the campaign certainly not
to make speeches for the entire re-
publican ticket. u has been a year
since Senator Norris. campaigning for
election on the republican ticket, has
spoken for his colleagues on the
ticket. according 10 regular repuhli-
cans who are given TO doing their
fighting at the primary and then CIV
Ing hearty support to the choice Of
the majority.
The letters Of endorsement given
Senator Norris candidacy show one
striking fact. Probably no other sen.
ator on the floor could have secured
endorsements from democrats like
owen and Wheeler and such extreme
radicals az Shjpstead and Magnus
johnson. Democrats hereabouts mere.
~ smile when they read ths Owens
and Wheeler endorsements. and some
republicans mntter to themselves
after reading uhe shlpstead and John
son endorsements.