The Bismarck tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, N.D.) 1916-current, 1932-06-27

We WAL ISSpeCC SuCn requests. We
II OF letters as may be necess
SCORES POLITICAL RACKET.
EERING'
New Rockford. N. D..
June "a, 1882
Editor, Tribune:
Political racketeering has again
made its appearance in North Dakota
II is reminiscent Of the good old days
OF Alec Mckenzie and gang politics.
In this most recent development the
1. V. A. organization appears as party
OF the first part, and Halvor Halvor-
son and the "Jeffersonian democracy, y
so called, parties of the second part.
The 'JefferSonian d e m cracy'
thing is sponsored by two well known
personages of the Democratic persua-
sion who have been the objects OF
Republican beneficence for 10, these
many years.
1t seems that the I. v. A. machine
figured there was real danger to the
Shafer candidacy in having so many
Democrats running loose at the pri-
mary election. There being no con-
test in the Democratic camp, what
more likely than that the Democrats
in large numbers would 60 over into
the Republican camp and help the
Republican brothers solve their prob
lens on June 18th? And, horrors and
dismay-wouldn't that mean that
most Of those Democrats would take
1t upon themselves to vote for Nye?
Likely enough. And what wouldn't
that do to Mr.. Shafer?
These were disturbing speculations,
and necessity being the father of in
vention. the panicky I. v. AS pro-
ceeded to solve the problem by Great
ing and projecting upon the body
polite an infant terrible dubbed
"Jeffersonian democracy Coinci-
dent with the birth of this political
monstrosity, and with a fine flour
ish of trumpets, comes Mr.. Halvorson,
political puriSt of the first water. He
comes to bat as the pure and adulter-
ated exponent Of democracy at its
very best. In the Fargo Forum of the
22nd he tells all about it, as follows:
The New Rockford convention was
packed and steam-rollered: the sys-
tenn of apportionment of delegates to
the convention was fraud. etc.. ETC.,
his candidacy as a Jeffersonian DEM
ocrat is by way of protest against the
nefarious practices INDUCED in at that
convention; his candidacy represents
truly the free choice of the unfet-
tered democracy OF the state.
Well, venture to say that Mr.. Hall
vorson's candidacy represents other
considerations which naturally he
does not intend to proclaim from the
house-tops.
The system of apportionment of
delegates for the New Rockford con-
vention was in accordance with the
regular practice both in the Demo-
cratic and Republican organizations.
It was based on the vote cast at the
last preceding election. That is the
rule under which Mr.. Halvorson has
done business, not only in Democratic
conventions but in Republican con-
ventions as long as he has been In
politics in North Dakota. I under
stand he has played in both camps
betimes. AS a matter of feet. at the
present time he is n,61ntaining-so
/ am told-a rather lively campaign
in Ward county as a candidate for
states attorney of that county. Also
he is now q member of the legisla-
ture, elected as a Republican.
The charge that the New Rockford
convention was q packed" affair is
made out of whole cloth, and without
thu SLIGHTEST justification.
Mr.. HalvorSon was asked to permit
his name to go before the convention
as candidate. He refused, stating
that he was already a candidate Tor
states attorney in Ward county; that
his son was just recently out OF law
school; and, on that account, he felt
the obligation all the more pressing
to 90 through with his candidacy as
states attorney. Besides the time
and expense demanded for a state
wide campaign was prohibitive, etc.,
etc.
A short time after the New Rock
ford convention, however, a confer
ence of the I. v. A. organization was
held at Devils Lake. I am told that
at that conference Mr.. Halvorson was
present. Soon after that conference
"Jeffersonian democracy" came lnto
being and Mr.. Halvorson blossomed
forth as its candidate for United
States senator. And he tells the
world that his candidacy, as waro
of "Jeffersonian democracy" Is solely
in the interest of real, honest-to-
goodness democracy in North Dakota,
and never, oh, never, with any REFER
ence to the candidacy or fortunes OF
Candidate George Shafer, I. V. A.!
This Shafer- Halvorson case bears
some resemblance to the notorious
Mckenzie Frank White case IN the
campaign of 1920. Mckenzie, as we
know, was the boss political racketeer
of his time. And in 1920 the prize
was an United States senatorsnlp:
Thus does history repeat itself.
Frank White was induced by Alec
Mckenzie to enter the lists as candi-
date for the U. S. senate. This. not
withstanding that Senator Gronna
had already been named as the regu-
lar Republican party candidate. NC
Kennels aim was to split the dronna
vote SO as to insure the latter's de-
feat. White was JuS1 oce
France. He was popular with the sol,
dier boys and it was figured ne wouio
get q few votes that otherwise Woul9
likely 90 to Gronna. And 1t panneo
ont lust that way. Gronna was oe-
feated. Laid elected. and White pe-
came q good boy. The vote was taaa'
54.e57; Gronna. SLAP; White. 5.411'
Gronna being defeated by 2,8l5 votes.
whites candidacy had done: the )oo'
Subsequently, through Mckenzie,
White was appointed treasurer OF the
United States. ~
And what will Halvorson get? He