The Bismarck tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, N.D.) 1916-current, 1926-02-10
tRy AssOciated prcsso

administration IOTCeS WOu luC
opening battle at the NOnpartisan-
Republican state convention here to-
day.
In u contest to elect temporary
chairman Ben Larkin, speaker of the
house at the last session, defeated
John Gray, Ransom county, anti-ad-
ministration candidate. by vote Of
55 to AZ. Ninety-eight Of the 1O2 ac-
credited delegates voted.
The administration won without
fuss or oratory despite the fact that
the opposition called into play all it's
heavy vocal artillery.
lngersOn Opens Fight
In opening the fight on Larkin,
Senator Bert Ingerson, Burke coun-
ty, farmer-labor advocate, said he
felt it ill., advised, in view Of the bel
ligerent attitude of the convention,
that member of the administra-
tion" be named chairman. He pre-
dicted a hard fight and bitter con-
troversy. Others who supported Gray
were Senator's Dell Patterson, Donny-
brook; d. H. Hamilton, McHenry
county; c. C. Talbot, Ransom coun-
ty. and Frank vogel, Coleharbor,
floor leader at the last session.
J. c. Olson Of Barnes county and
Judge Harris of Dunn Center sup
ported Larkin in brief speeches,
averring that they did not feel his
post as an employe Of the state rail
road board would affect his integ-
rity.
In IA brief speech following the vote
Larkin said he was glad that there
were 55 people in the hall who had
that his honesty and in
tegrity would not be swayed by
"paltry little job" and assured those
who voted against him that they
didn't know your uncle Benjamin"
Credentials Committee Named
Larkin named a credentials COM
mittee of five, composed of r. w.
Divide county; Roy Larson,
Ward county; George H. Hoople,
Pembina county; c. r. Peterson, Bis
bee. and Mrs. Minnie ID. Craig, Benson
county.
Ray Smith of Bottineau was named
secretary Of the convention without
A motion to recess while
the credentials committee met was
lost and Governor Sorlie was called
on for an address and report of his
The entire atmosphere of the con-
vention was strained when it was
called to order by X. w. Frazier,
chairman Of the executive commit
tee, as the result Of long hours Of
bitter discussion among leaders and
delegates.
Reports were current that the
Farmer Labor advocates would at
tempt to swing the convention into
that party and. failing in that, would
bolt the convention.
Party Leaders Confident
Administration spokesmen said
they were confident that they had
the situation we'll in hand, that they
had made no deals with the opposi-
tion and would make none, since they
had sufficient strength to insure "a
clean-cut administration victory.
1t is expected that the convention
will proceed with nominations Of
for various state offices
late this afternoon and tonight. In
dications were that the meeting
would not end until Thursday after
noon.
Progress of State Institutions Out
lined
Reporting on the progress of the
Bank of North Dakota and the state
mill and elevator, Governor S0rlle
expressed confidence that the bank
eventually will be in position to help
other banks in the state and that
the mill and elevator already has
helped other mills.
North Dakota, he said, is the first
state in the union to sell its own
bonds to its own banks and predict
ed that the state bank idea. properly
carried out, will eventually prove to
be the financial saviour Of the state.
The mill, he said, is helping other
mills to create . market for North
Dakota wheat on q premium basis
with results advantageous to the
farmer, who is getting . premium on,
his grain. The mill also has made
it possible to buy flour cheaper at
home, Sorlie said. since so per cent
of the flour used in the state now is
rrilled By the state factory. Before
the mill was built. he said, North
Dakota farmers paid more for flour
milled from their own wheat than
people in the esst paid for the same
product.
Alill Has Proved Vsludhle
Pointing out tkst the mill lost less
money In le26 than in nay previous
yesr, 0orlte said that Il has pfle1d
] good thing spve1 &C III lo5sri Is raY
oatr bscanse tfs'slA aAele asrs