The Bismarck tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, N.D.) 1916-current, 1929-01-07
TRAYNOR HAS EDGE
OVER PETERS WITH
House CAUCUS SET
independents Control Lower
Legislative Branch by IS
Majority, Check Shows
LEAGUE LEADS IN SENATE
Nonpartisan Organization II
Upper Chamber Doubtful !
as Members Trickle in
LEAGUE LEADS IN SENATE

Politicians from all parts OF the
state were here today preparatory to
the opening Of the twenty first legts-
'lative session tomorrow.
Two questions buzzed louder in the
hotel lobbies than all others COM
bined. They were. who will be speak-
cr Of the house. and will the Nonpar-
tisanS organize the state senate on the
same basis as marked the Indepen-
dent organization ut the last session.
Edwin Traynor Of Starkweather.
Ramsey county. appeared to have the
inside track in the race for the speak
ership. The independents control the
house "a to 20. . checkup today
showed. and undoubtedly win elect
the speaker. Who will be the Indie.
pendent candidate will be determined
at caucus Of Independent house
members this afternoon or tonight.
Traynor was said to have 50 votes
lined up which Is just half the NUM-
Der needed to control the caucus.
His major opponent is D. L. Paters
of Wolford. Pierce county. veteran
Independent member Of the house. he
also had following but political OBJ
servers were doubtful II he could mus
ter enough support to defeat Traynor
In the caucus.
Nonpartisans Uncertain
Nonpartisans were uncertain % to
the organization Of the senate, which
they control 26 to 23. Some indie.
pendents were hopeful that two o.
more Nonpartisans might desert their
faction In organizing the senate but
1t was generally believed that the
wish was father to the thought. Not
all Of the Nonpartisan senators were
here and . full roster will not be had
until tonight or possibly tomorrow.
AS q result Nonpartisan leaders said
the situation IL uncertain and will not
be resolved until z caucus Of Ncnpar-
tisan senator's can be held.
At the last session the Indepela
dents. tn organizing the scnn 5e1
adopted rules which took commts
tee appointments out of the hands of
Walter Maddox, then lieutenant gov
ernor and presiding officer Of the
senate.
~ W0O = 4uCCtAOAI II AvOAlkJ04 VA00I1S
will adopt the same tactics this year.
Some are said to be in favor Of giving
the Independents some Of their own
medicine while others favored q plan
to heap Goals Of fire upon the collec-
tive Independent head by letting
Lieutenant Governor John Carr name
tho committees in accordance with
the custom which prevailed until two
years ago. Which policy would b
adopted appeared to be . toss.up.
Shafer Illness Troubles
There was some question today q
to when Governor George r. 0hafer
will deliver his inaugural message to
. joint session Of the two legislative
branches. He still Is suffering from.
. cold and some of his friends were
urging him to postpone presentation
Of his message until Thursday. He
wants to deliver 1t in person and some
persons feel that he will be in better
physical condition by that time.
The schedule now coutemplates the
meeting Of the two legislative branch
es at noon tomorrow. They are ex-
pected to spend most Of the afternoon
In getting organised and in other
preliminary work.
On Wednesday committees viii b
appointed to formally notify the gov
ernor that the legislature has con-
vened and organized and invite him
to appear before 1t and present his
message. Walter Maddox. now an
ex-governor, IS expected to deliver his
parting message to the legislature Just
prior to the presentation Of shafer's
message.