The Bismarck tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, N.D.) 1916-current, 1928-03-05
Editorial Comment


l
sue of the Stutsman County Record, pub
lished at Jamestown, the home Of John w.
| Carr, a candidate for the gubernatorial
nomination at the Independent Voters as
ISOLATION convention to be held at James
town March and 81
The question has been raised in many parts
of the state during the past few days as to
whether the Independent Voters Association
of the State of North Dakota is to determine
the policies of that organization, or whether
| it is going to be determined by L. L. Twiche
of Farso and few of his associates. It is a
we'll known fact that Attorney General George
Shafer has aspirations for the United States
senate. 1t is also well known fact that he
is not now, never has been, and does not i'll
tend to be, candidate for governor of the
state of North Dakota. A short time ago Mr.
Shafer announced his candidacy for the United
States senate. A few days later John w. Carr
of Jamestown announced his candidacy for the
governorshipe Of the state of North Dakota.
MIR. Carr had been mentioned favorably for
this position over the state Of North Dakota
for many months, but declined to enter as
candidate until Mr.. Shafer had definitely de-
cided he would not be candidate for governor.
It now appears that neither the candidacy
of Mr.. Shafer nor the candidacy of Mr.. Carr
appeals to L. L. Twichell and some Of his asso-
ciates in Fargo. AS result of this at a meet
ing called at Bismarck last Saturday attended
by L. l.. Twichell of Fargo and w. H. Suits
man of Mandan and six or seven others, a
political slate was attempted to be made for
the voters of North Dakota. This small group
of politicians meeting at Bismarck tried to in
duce Mr.. Shafer to forsake his senatorial am
bitions and to become a candidate for gov
ernor. Mr.. Shafer refused to become can
didate for governor, and told this gathering
that he would not be such candidate Not
withstanding that fact some of the persons
who participated in that gathering at Bis
marck, as early as midnight last Saturday
night called up various Influential persons over
the state of North Dakota, and informed them
that Mr.. Shafer had consented to become a
candidate for governor, and he had agreed to
support Mr. Nestos for the United States SEN
ate. kilograms to this effect were also sent
to large number of other persons.
! Sunday afternoon, Mr.. Twichell and Mr..
Stutsman and a gentleman from Bismarck,
who did not appear to be much interested,
came to jamestown and asked Mr.. Carr to call
few of his friends to meet with them in a
conference. This conference was held and
Mr.. Twichell and Mr.. Stutsman informed the
jamestown members of the conference that
Mr.. Shafer was going to be candidate for
governor Upon further questioning it was
disclosed that Mr.. Shafer did not desire to be
candidate, and that he would not be can
date except upon certain conditions that could
not be complied with. The Jamestown men
were informed by both Mr.. Twichell and Mr..
| Stutsman that it made no difference to them
whether Mr.. Shafer consented to become a
candidate or not, that they were determined
to place his name before the jamestown con-
vention, and that they were going to endeavor
to create enough sentiment to draft Mr.. Shafer
for the place. Mr.. Carr was bluntly told that
he might be candidate for lieutenant COVER
nor, if he SO desired. 1t appears therefore
that Mr.. Twichell and some of his associates
and Mr.. Stutsman Of Mandan are assuming
the authority to tell the people of the state Of
North Dakota who can and who cannot be a
candidate for state office in this state.
Neither Mr.. Carr nor the people Of Stutsman
county were in any manner consulted with ref
erence to the arrangements which were at
tempted to be made at Bismarck by Mr..
Twichell and Mr.. Stutsman, but were on last
Sunday given an ultimatum as to what place
the Stutsman county people might receive up
on the state ticket. The question therefore
arises as to whether the Independent state
convention at jamestown, North Dakota, is to
decide and determine the personnel of the state
ticket. or whether that is going to be deter
mined by Mr.. Twichell and few of. his asso-
ciates at Fargo.
| Stutsman county has been one of the fore
most counties in the political fight for the last
ten years, and has done an enormous amount
of work throughout the entire second congress
sional district. It has never asked for place
upon the state ticket It has permitted other
counties in the state to select the candidates
for the state ticket. If the people of Suits
man county had been approached in the same
manner in this campaign they would in all
probability have again stepped aside in the in
terest of harmony and good government But
they do not take kindly to the proposition of
having state ticket framed up by six or
seven people gathering at Bismarck, and then
told what they can or cannot do. These two
gentlemen who are now attempting to deter
mine who shall be upon the state ticket come
from the two counties whose candidates
headed the ticket at Devils Lake two years ago.
Many Of the delegates at Devils Lake felt
that mistake was made at that convention.
Subsequent events disclosed that they were
right. Is the dominating spirit of Mr.. Twichell
Of Fargo and Of MIR. Stutsman Of Mandan going
to again wreck the chances Of Independent sue
cess in the coming election? From what has
transpired during the past three or four days
- Un,a1d that <horn rvou<1o,.oov. hn.7