The Bismarck tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, N.D.) 1916-current, 1928-06-05
ThOresen and Shafer
Sized Up by Crowds
CONTINUED from page one)


They took alarm and have gone bacl
to their various bailiwicks declaring
that if Shafer is to be elected there
must be greater Independent eff
fort than ever.
"That speech beats u.s." said on,
headquarters campaign manager
ole gets hold of the people ant
he holds Them"
Certain it is that Thoresen's Val
ley City talk made him the kin,
of friends who interpret their friend
ship in personal interest. The wild
fire has spread to Ransom, Sargent
/ and La Moure counties.
Nine out of 10 farmers who hcarl
Thoresen talk have become John the
Baptists in his cause. They ar.
talking to their neighbors who die
not hear the discussion about Thore.
sen and they are earnestly and eff.
fcctively pleading his case.
Independents Concerned
The experience at Valley City
bears out what Thorcsen's friends
have all along contended that il
Thoresen gets before the people OF
the state, if he can get hearing
he will be elected by tidy majority
The estimate Of Thorcsen's recep-
ton at Valley City given above is
not from Nonpartisan League
sources. 1t is the generally accepted
| verdict Of some Of the keenest OBJ.
servers in the Independent group in
Barnes county. 1t is, therefore
! doubly significant.
Yet the reports Of Thorcsen's re-
ception in Barnes county are the
same that have come from every
section of the state where he has re-
Gently spoken. He is qualifying as
a much stronger candidate than the
staunchest of his friends believed he
would be at the time he received the
endorsement Of the Republicans OF
the Nonpartisan League.
Percy Trubshaw, editor of the
Valley City Times-Record, comment
ing on the Thoresen-Shafer discus
sion, declares it has left everybody
happy in his editorial treatment on
the meeting. The Leaguers are con-
fident, he says, that Thoresen wiped
the ground with Shafer.
The Independents are satisfied be-
cause they declare that Shafer had
the advantage in logic upon his side.
Nevertheless, the fact remains
that the crowds cheers were for
Thoresen, whatever its regard for
Mr.. Skaters logic may have been.
One result of the discussion, Inde-
pendent leaders say, is that if the
Independents left the meeting scared
they left to go actively to work. Yet
there is a general disposition to ad-
nit that the Independent organiza-
ton in the county is not as strong
as once it was and that in the pres
ent fight not much worthy the name
has yet been accomplished in or
ganization.
Organization Lays
A meeting to form an organiza-
ton and plan the campaign was held
month ago. Since that time moth
ing has been done. There is little
interest and at this stage Of the
same no work.
Meantime the Independents are
recognizing the fact they have a hot
fight on their hands to reflect Sena-
tor Ployhar and Percy Trubshaw,
the latter to the lower house Of the
legislature.
Probably, however, both will be
returned. They hive large personal
followings in the county and, while
positive in their viewpoints, have
never been bitter.
C. A. Fisher is going to get a big
majority in this county as the
Leagues candidate for the indus
trial commission. Kitchen has lost
strength here and this is Fishers
home county.
The Nonpartisan League, it is adj
mitted, is showing increased
strength.
The tales Of lack of organization
in Barnes county do not correspond
with those of the greatest organiza-
ton the group has ever had which
have been coming from 1ndepend-
ent headquarters. 4.
Here, as in Fargo, there is a
pronounced disposition to gst ready
for a new political alignment two
years from now, when the present
fractional row in the Republican
ranks will be ended and the way
be paved for progressive Re-
publican movement.
Barnes Seeks New Deal
Barnes county leaders call atten-
ton to the fact that they are in COM
plete accord with the Republican
grouping in Cass county which seeks
a new deal and that their interest
in it antedates the interest in Fargo
A veteran Independent thus ex.
pressed the case to The Tribune: 81
am tired of this fight. 1t is not
getting anybody anywhere. / am
anxious to see again the day when
the Republican group can 60 for
ward together as loyal western
Progressives, articulating the inter.
ests Of North Dakota farmers and
business men as one and working
constructively for the development
of North Dakota and its wonderful
opportunity.
"That day is not far away. W.
differ in Barnes county, honestly
We do not hate and we never will
again. Our state campaigns have
developed into what amounts to .
political distraction, with no rea
issues before the people as they arr
being voiced by the candidates. Thu
campaign is merely scramble fol
office in the larger aspect.
"That condition cannot continue
This is Republican state and 9
progressive Republican state. It.
true sentiment is not being reflected