The Bismarck tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, N.D.) 1916-current, 1928-02-03
BATTLE bETWEEN Two FACTIONS OF
NONPARTlSAN LEAGUE ANTICIPATED
AT STATE CONVENTION FEBRUARY {
Rum0rs State That So.C Called
Townley Oil Crowd Win
Attempt to Dominate State
Ticket In Opposition to Pres
ent Controlling Faction

Recurrence Of the fate which was
theirs when the effort to launch
Governor A. G. SOrlie as 4 presi-
Dental candidate failed, is feared by
Nonpartisan leaders here az the date
for the opening Of the Nonpartisan
state convention nears.
The date is February 8. A real
struggle for control Of the conven-
tion on major issues is in prospect
according to some Nonpartisan Of
flee holders at the state capitol.
These are prepared to resist any at
tempt by the so-called "Townley oil
crowd" to sweep the convention and
nominate candidates Of their own
choosing rather than candidates who
would be acceptable to the men who
have controlled the Nonpartisan fac.
ton for the last four years.
As in previous Nonpartisan con.
ventions they expect opposition ia
the 'pie counter brigade" as Non.
partisans who are not officeholders
have occasionally called those on the
state payroll in the past.
Friends Of Governor A. G. Sorlie
have admitted that the ''oil crowd
will be m important factor in the
convention If they do not control it.
Reports received here indicate that
they have been active in many coun.
ties In the state and will control the
convention delegates from those
counties.
Townley Not Interested
Townley, himself, is said not to be
interested in the political moves OF
his friends and followers but the
magic Of the Townley name is be-
lieved to have helped them in their
efforts to restore what they call the
"original Nonpartisan movement" "
The idea back Of the movement was
demonstrated when the so-called
Townley group broke openly with
Governor Sorlie and divorced itself
from his leadership.
What part Sorlie or his influence
will play in the convention is not in
evidence. That he will have many
friends in the convention is certain,
however, and it is expected that
theSG will b strong enough t. pre-.
vent amy effort to adopt, a 1esolu.
tion censuring the governor, such -
some of his enemies are expected TO
propose.
The forthcoming convention also
is expected to see the return to the
Nonpartisan fold of William Lemke,
Fargo, who with Townley was one of
the original Nonpartisan leaders.
Lemke was practically read out of
the party by the S0rlic faction two
years ago and launched the Farmer
Labor party, to which he rallied a
number of Nonpartisans who were
dissatisfied with the Sorlie admins
tration as not in accord with their
ideas Of the way the Nonpartisan
principles should be carried out.
Lemke, it is understood, will attend
the convention and he is expected to
take prominent part in its proceed
ings.
Opposition May Develop
It is being presumed in capital cir
cles that all present Nonpartisan Of
ficeholders. with the exception of
Sorlie and State Treasurer c. A.
Fisher, will be renominated. Even
here. however, it is expected that
some opposition may develop II 9TH
ers In the party express the view
that some Of the officeholders al
ready have had seats ut the "pie
counter" for a long enough time.
The names Of four men are being
heard here in connection with the gu-
bernatorial endorsement. They are
Fisher, State Tax Commissioner
Thorstein H. Thoresen, Ole Olson,
state senator from Eddy county, and
Lieutenant Governor Walter Mad.
dock. So far as is known, however,
none Of them are avowed candidates.
(Continued on page twol