The Bismarck tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, N.D.) 1916-current, 1932-04-29
CONVENTION DIMMED
Hope And OPTIMISM
OF N. D. DEMOCRATS
Failure to Get So.CaIIed New
Deaf is Hard Blow to
Party's Youngsters
CAMERON, SCHANTz TANcLE
Ancients Of Organization Are
Accused Of Employing
Steam Roller Tactics
(By Staff Correspondentl

(By Staff Correspondent
New Rockford, N. D., April 2s.-
When North Dakota Democrats came
here Thursday to attend the party
state convention there was the flush
Of hope and optimism but when the
meeting adjourned at nearly mid
night it had vanished from some
faces while on others the freshness
had been dimmed.
The disappointment lay chiefly
among those who had come to New
Rockford as opponents of the so-called
new deal' in ''orth Dakota state
politics. They had hoped to see def
mite and constructive action looking
toward that end. At the close there
were many comments about the steam
roller which it was charged controlled
the gathering. Whether the rank and
file of the new voters in the party
were sufficiently well satisfied with
the results to 60 home and work for
the ticket will determine the fate of
the Democratic cause.
Chief engineers of the steam roller,
according to post convention gossip,
were S. J. Doyle and M. A. Hildreth
of Fargo, H. H. Perry Of Glendale,
national committeeman, and G.. S.
Wooledge, Minot, convention chair
man. All are ancients in the party
and their grip frightened rather than
loosened as the result of the biggest
convention the party ever has held in
the state.
Had 1888 Votes
There were 388 votes legally rep
resented in the convention and most
OF them were present. In addition
there was more than the usual crowd
of convention followers, so that New
Rockford probably had 600 visitors
during the convention period. Both
the I. V. A. and Nonpartisan groups
Of the Republican party were repre-
sented by observers and there were
some insinuations, here and there,
that their hands could be seen in some
of the convention actions. To an
ordinary, uninitiated spectator, how
ever, this was not discernible.
In the background, however, it was
easy to sense the fact that the con-
vention leaders were dealing with q
two-edged sword and that their in
terest was divided between state and
national affairs. While they talked
of state offices and problems, they
appeared to have had a weather eye
on such matters as appointments for
postmaster and other items of federal
patronage.
This generally was accepted as the
reason for the so-called machine re.
fusing to yield even the fraction of
an inch to the many new faces which
appeared at the convention. It was
the reason why one man who has
been recognized as a Democrat for
years, was refused seat In the con-
vention because he had voted in the
Republican primary in March at the
request Of a personal friend. The
boys had been checking up to see who
really was Democrat.
Bangs Is Left Out
This also was one Of the reasons
for giving the cold shoulder to Tracy
Bangs, Grand Forks lawyer. Bangs
had been mentioned as a candidate
for the senatorship but withdrew at
the last minute when it was apparent
he could not win over p. w. Lanier,
jamestown. Bangs was consi-
dered to have at least q chance
until he took the floor to oppose an
open declaration on the prohibition
question. He. admitted he is opposed
to prohibition but argued that some
thing should be offered in its place
and that, In any event, it should be
considered as national rather than
a state question. The convention was
so definitely wet, however. that the
appeal failed to change the attitude
and puts Bangs candidacy under q
handicap from which 1t could not re-
cover. When this fact became ap-
parent Bangs Withdrew.
There was some talk later that
Bangs might enter the primary, re-
gardless Of convention Endorsement.
The platform was generally satisfac-
tory to the delegates off the floor as
well as on 1t. Outside Of the prohibi-
ton plank. its chief provisions are
for q specific reduction Of 20 per cent
III ototC dPpIOpI1dI1O11O 01IO SUdIO.
ed Endorsement OF the Frazier farm
relief bill which would refinance farm
loans at a low rate Of interest by
printing bank notes.
Score Forks Man
Lanier was strongly in favor Of this
idea but Bangs, in speech on the
floor. bitterly opposed 1t. There SEEM
ed no one else, however, who appear
ed willing to take up the cause Of So
called Sound" money. The heat
which greeted the returning brethren
who sought preference may be judged
by the fact that Bangs openly was
charged with having failed to show
hts face at Democratic meeting for
many years.
Three From Bismarck
The Burleigh county delegation,
which had experienced trouble early
In the convention because It had too
many candidates, finally settled It's
difficulties and the convention &C.
Icepted three from the Capital City.
No other city has more. than one cam
CONTINUED On page nine)