The Bismarck tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, N.D.) 1916-current, 1928-03-28
CONVENTION
BEING HELD AT
VALLEY CITY
Continued from page one)

this year. Expression was general,
however, that the party has chance
10 carry the state in the presidential
election and that a full state ticket
would help in the national CAM
paign.
Whether the stat. goes Demo-
cratic in the National election is be-
lieved to hinge on whether Governor
Alfred E. Smith of New York is the
Democratic presidential candidate.
Smith was unopposcd at the state
primary March 20, and will have
the states 10 delegates to the Ma
tional convention.
Fusion Days Arc Over
In 'his opening speech Chairman
Hughes said he was glad to see
many Democrats returning to the
fold OF the party after relatively
long absence in the ranks of other
political organizations and declared
the time has come when the Demo
Gratis OF North Dakota wish to say
to the people of the state that from
this day forth Democratic princi-
pies shall be our chief concern po-
litically."
The purpose OF the meeting, he
said, was to draft platform and
select candidates who will 60 be-
fore the people next fall, running
as Democrats on Democratic plat
form.
The party cannot be rebuilt by
reminiscing OF things which arc
past and gone, Hughes said, and de-
clared that the real Democrats O!
the state must plan for the future
and give serious thought to the
matter Of rebuilding the party.
Thinks Vote Can BE Doubled
Pointing out that D. NJ. Holmes
Grand Forks, candidate for governor
two years ago, received 25,On0
votes, Hughes said that four years
ago John w. Davis received only
$4,000 votes as a presidential can
didate. He expressed the belief
that the Democrats can this year
double the vote cast two years ago.
Commenting on the political his
tory of the state durin the last 10
years, Hughes said 1t took 10 years
to tear down the Democratic party
in the state an. that it cannot be
built in day, but that the party
should start here today.
The only direct reference to eth
er faction Of the Republican party
was made by Chairman Hughes
when he asserted that first grade
schOol-boy in any school in the
state could write better platform
than that adopted by the Indepenl-
ehtS in their convention at James
town. 'H
Mr.. Hughes was made permanen Mt
Chairman by unanimous vote anu
John NHannaher of Fargo was made
secretary.
Kelly Introduced
J. Nelson Kelly OF Grand Forks
was introduced as the newly-electeJ
national committeeman from ths
state and gave Il brief address In
which he urged a united Democratic
party in the state 8@
p. w. Lanier OF jamestown Wa
the keynote speaker and urged al
legiance to the banner Of "true JET
fersonian Democracy"
Members of the credentials com
mittee named were A. L. ITEM
bacher. Fargo: John Lish. Dickin
son; J. L. Page, 3ottineau, and G
X. Otto, Valley City,
Group May Not Report Today
Information obtained while thu
credentials committee was doing it.
work indicated that the nomination
committee to be appointed toda,
| may not be asked to report to thu
convention at all, but may be- au
thOrized to select a ticket and plac,
it in the field. The reason for this
was said to be the fact that little
| discussion has been had as to candi
dates and many delegates were mo-
prepared to vote on nominations to-
day.
If this step is taken the MAR
work for today's convention will b,
the adoption of platform.
The platform was expected I:
deal with both state and nationa
issues, although Chairman Hughe.
assured the delegates in his open
ing speech that it had not yet beef
written. State issues which will b,
taken up, it was indicated, are til
state mill and elevator, any reduc
ton Of taxes by consolidating Ger
tain state offices. National issue!
will deal with farm relief and til,
sO-called oil scandal.
In his address to the convention
Kelly averred that the state has TOT
many bureaus for political lam'
ducks which could well be dispense,
with at a saving to the taxpayers.
Fight Develops
A fight developed shortly befOr,
adjournment for lunch when Johl
Eaton of Fargo moved that the del
! egates from various counties be per
mitted to vote the full strength o
those counties in the convention.
Chairman Hughes said he did no
think such a plan would work wei
and that he saw no reason for 1t.
r. B. Murphy of Bismarck ur;e,
that the voting be done only by thos
present at the convention and ]. L
Page, .Bdttineau, chairman >of tn,
credentials committee, suggeste;
that the voting be limited to th0s
present and those holding defiuit,
proxies.
| Hughes said it did not seem fai
that one man. representing the full
strength OF a county, could cas-
as many votes as delegation witt
large representation and F. O
Hellstrom Of Bismarck moved I.
table Eaton's motion.
| Hughes said he saw no need fo
fight, that all present were Dem
ocrats and wanted to do the hes
thing possible for the party and tina
| Eaton's motion certainly was out o
the ordinary.
Motion Is Withdrawn
Eaton >countered with the remarI
that he had not expected to debat,
with the chairman and that his mo
ton was not unusual. He acceptei
q suggestion by Hughes that u
withdraw his motion without takin
l.