The Bismarck tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, N.D.) 1916-current, 1925-06-27
ACTION TAKEN
TO FILL POST
IN US. SENATE
Frazier Wants Candidate
Named to Fill Unexpired
Term of Edwin F. Ladd
MAY CAUSE BIG RUMPUS
Leaders Here Do Not Believe
Meeting Is Authorized
by State Officials
MAY CAUSE BIG RUMPUS

r. w. Frazier, vice chairman of
the Nonpartisan League Executive
committee, is seeking to call a meet
ing of the delegates to the last Non
partisan League State convention for
the purpose of naming a candidate
to fill the unexpired term Of Sena-
tor e. +. Ladd. The Tribune today
received the following telegram dat
ed at Crosby, N. D.:
A state wide meeting Of the
delegates to the last Nonparti-
san League State Convention is
called to meet in the Mckenzie
Hotel, Bismarck, N. D., on July
Z, for the purpose of selecting
candidate to fill the uneXpIred
term Of the late Senator Edwin
Fremont Ladd.
State Executive Committee,
BY II. w. Frazier,
Vice chairman.
Ole Knutson, Thompson, N. D..
chairman of the committee, could
not be reached by The Tribune at
this writing, to ascertain whether
he authorized Frazier to cali the con-
vention, but friends of Mr.. Knutson
doubt the authority of Frazier.
Mcdonald Not Consulted
S. S. Mcdonald, Bismarck, member
of the executive committee, which is
composed of Frazier, Knutson and
mcdonald. said today that he had
not seen Frazier in a month and was
never consulted upon the question of
calling a state convention.
Gov. A. G. Sorlie received the same
message as was received by The Trib-
une from Roy Frazier. He had
little comment to make other than
that it was his belief that the call
was unauthorized. He was assured
by Mr.. Mcdonald that no committee
thought that Frazier was attempting
to force Gov. Sorlie's hand.
Gov. Sorlie has not changed his
position from the first. He will
make no announcement until Senator
Ladd's body is carried to its final
resting place. He did not seem to be
particularly interested in the ac-
tions of Roy Frazier. Mr.. Frazier
has been more or less of an insur-
gent in the Nonpartisan ranks. His
failure to secure a state position has
made him rather cool toward the
Sorlie regime, but he was taken care
of at Washington, D. c., in a sub
ordinate capacity by Senator Lynn j.
Frazier.
Legal Steps Unlikely
1t is unlikely that any legal steps
will be taken to seek a showdown
on the issue. If any were taken, it
is likely that they would fail. 1t is
pointed out by some of the most able
lawyers in the state that the state
is without authority to prevent Gov.
Sorlie from making an appointment,
and that the United States senate is
the sole arbiter in this instance.
If Gov. Sorlie made an appoint
ment, it is pointed out, and the SEN
ate seated the appointee, that would
end the matter. II is positively stat
ed in we'll informed circles that the
senate of the United States is the
sole judge in the matter.
In view of this any attempt to call
conventions or proceed as though an
election were in prospect is pre-
mature.
Gov. Sorlie could call an election
if he SO desired, it is pointed out.
but he wants to avoid such a con-
tingency.
No call has been issued for a con-
vention of the Nonpartisan League
to name candidate for senator, ac-
cording to statement made to The
Tribune by S. S. Mcdonald, secre-
tary-treasurer of the executive board.
late this afternoon.
"There has been no call issued for
convntion," he said. "No member
of the board has the authority to
call convention. 1t must be called
by a majority of the board. l spoke
with Ole Knutson, chairman of the
executive board, over the telephone
today and he told me that he has
issued no notice for convention"