The Bismarck tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, N.D.) 1916-current, 1925-12-14
THIRD PARTY
PLANSBRING
A REACTION
Enemies Might as Well Be
Open as Secret in OPPOSE
ton, Says Sorlie
WAS SEE BENEFIT
Attorney General Shafer Says
Party Split Will Aid the
Republicans II

Announcement Of plans by former
Nonpartisan leaders to hold conven-
ton here December 10 for the pur-
pose of organizing a new political
party has produced q standard reac.
ton among members of both the
Nonpartisan Republican and I. V. A.
Republican groups in the capital
here.
Governor A. G. Sorlie, titular lead
CT Of the Nonpartisan organization,
is optimistic. He expresses no con-
Germ at the pro- ccted split in the
ranks of those supporting him. His
view is that the men back of the
plan would not support him anyhow
in Il campaign for reelectl on and that
he might as we'll have them opposed
to him openly as secretly.
Attorney General George Shafer,
one of the leaders of the oppos ite
Republican faction in the capitol. al
Il split in the Nonpartisan ranks will
inevitably result in an advantage to
the |. '. A. Republicans.
Independent Republicans will watch
with interest the outcome of the pro
posed third party convention but the
formulation of a plan Of campaign
leaders here say, will wait until the
]. Y. A. convention is held in March
In the meantime the |. V. AS arc
maintaining Il hands-f policy.
Plenty Of Rumors
Meanwhile, rumors fly thick ant
fast through the corridors of thu
capitol where the third-party conven
ton is a topic Of major interest. Few
Nonpar::sans in the capitol group be
lieve it will result in harm to thci
organzation-but all are interested
10 suggestions by his friends tina
he go about the business of erecting
his political fences Governor Sorli'
has replied that he had no fences t
build. 81 am not interested in fence
building" said the executive. NV ha
] am interested in is keeping m.
promise to the people which ! mad
in the last campaign. promised t.
put the state mill and elevator am
the Bank of North Dakota on thei
feet. am doing it. l believe tn
people generally are sold on the valu
Of the mill and elevator to the farm
crs. grain dealers and the state as
whole. 1t is proving good thini
for the state. The same thing hold
true of the Bank Of North Dakot;
Bankers in all parts Of the state hav
come to Il realization of its value t
them and to the people at large in tn
states financial system
Sorlie's Comment
Commenting on the third part
proposal the governor cited state
mcnt made at Wilton in the las
campaign at the time that his oppor
:. cnts in the league were threatenin
to place a third ticket in the field q
the result of convention then undeI
way at Jamestown. 81 said the
there was room enough on the balle
son to change my view," the execl
tive said.
Friends of the governor give vary
ing weights to the statement credi
ed to Jack Pfeifer, former Slol
county political leader but now {
Plaza, that the third party conventio
plans to pave the way for the Ove'
throw Of Sorle and the downfall {
Gerald r. Nye, Sorlie's appointee ;
senator, at the Nonpartisan CONVEX
ton in February. The plan, AS on
lined by Pfeifer to friends here. it
reported, is to "shelvc" Sorlie ar
Nye and nominate William Lemhe {
Fargo, one of the original leaders {
the Nonpartsan league, as the cal
ddate for senator.
As viewed by |. V. A. leaders hel
the formation Of third party wOu
seriously affect the problem Of d.
lineating the issues in the next can
paign.
S"aatOrship An Issue
First of all, of course, the senate
ship will be an issue. Governor SO
lies action in appointing Gerald
Nye together with all the inciden
surrounding the appointment will
put under fire, |. V. A. leaders sa
:. and the governor has indicated h
Willingness to accept that as an issu
As viewed by leading |. V. A. Il
issues represented by the state M
and elevator and the Bank of Nor
Dakota will be on new basis. AS
sees the situation third party won
attempt to revive the original No
partisan League program Of sta
owned and operated industries. III
Nonpartisan faction represented
the governor would be placed in Il
middle ground with platform
keeping the state owned industri
already organized but of going
further with the industrial progra
while the !. v. AS will probably
in the position of advocating wit
drawal by the state from the prese
industrial enterprises as rapidly
possible.
Governor Sorlie says the mill a.
elevator and the state bank will n
be an issue; that the state as who
with the exception of small groups
individuals, has been sold on T
proposition of their value and tn
the main and burning issue will
the senatOrShip.