The Bismarck tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, N.D.) 1916-current, 1933-01-27
ATTACK ON LANCER
MADE BY S|MONSON
IN FINLEY PAPER
Nonpartisan Senate: Says Gov
ernor Forgot Prediction
Agreement

Finley, N. d., Jan 26-The Steele
County Press. published by State
Senator Nels p. Simonson of Steele
and Griggs counties. in front page
editorial. Thursday said Gov. William
LANCER conveniently forgot his pre-
convention and prediction agree
ment to advise with the Nonparti-
san League executive committee ION
all major matters and to work in
consistent harmony with them
1T Is generally recognized the
editorial says, that the people who
identify themselves with the Nonpar-
tisan League are solldly behind their
executive committee
SimonSon is affiliated with the
NonpartiSan League. He is chairman
OF subcommittee appointed by the
League steering committee to make a
study Of state departments with a view
to recommending where examinations
and consultations can be made.
The editorial, captioned. Whittier
Are We Drifting" says in part:
1T has been said that "a house
divided against itself can not stand
and it is beginning to look as IL GER
tain forces within the Nonpartisan
League are heading the organization
toward its second instruction. This
movement is fostered by the rem
nantS OF the 1919 brigade which at
that time sent the Nonpartisan
League into a l2-year exile A sin
cere and carefully manned campaign
under the direction of highly eff
ficient executive committee brought
signal victory to all the Nonpartisan
League state candidates in 1882. and
now among them appears Franken-
stein who repudiates his benefactors
by disregarding the desires of his or
ganization and ignoring the people
that elected him.
Recalls Frankenstein Story
rs Governor LANCER paving the
way for return of the nightmare
OF 1919? The story of Frankenstein,
who brought grief to his maker. bids
1alr to have its counterpart in the
present battle waged in the ranks IF
the Nonpa::isan League between
Governor LANCER and the .Aecutive
committee who sponsored, his candi-
dacy and brought. abo..t his election.
AAA1 sAAiA az .C~tS WHICH,
placed Governo. LANCER IN office is
generally credited to the effort and
: influence of the executive committee.
who in the conduct OF the campaign
centered their thunder in his behalf
and pictured him as a safe candi-
date" Mr.. Langer's previous check
cred career as politician did not
rsubStantiate this tally. but the voters
decided to take the committee at its
word and Mr.. LANCER was elected. The
vote III his case can bear only one
Interpretation and that is that the
voters believed thai the committee
would serve as balance wheel to
keep him on the straight and mar
row. should he again show his inner
ent weakness for tendencies that
might bring grief to his supporters
and the people OF the state.
!, 'AcclamatiOnS Ended Abruptly
Z Mr.. Langer's loud acclamations Of
respect and admiration for the COM
mittee ended abruptly when the votes
were counted and 1t appeared certain
that he had achieved his all-absorb-
ing ambition to become governor of
North Dakota To him the executive
committee had apparently served It's
purpose. Any further attempt on the
part Of Nystul. Lee and Larson to
keep a hand on the helm was regard
= ed as interference with his preroga-
tives and also perhaps with his ambi-
ton to build personal political ma
chine
Mr.. LANCER conveniently forgot his
pre-convention and prediction
agreement to advise with the COM
mittee on all major matters and to
work in consistent harmony with
them. Surrounded by group Of i'll
chosen advisers. the governor pro-
ceeded with personal fire-hire cam !
paign.
His selections to date have not
strengthened the Nonpartisan League.
In the meantime the executive COM
mittee has maintained 'watchful
waiting policy apparently hoping that
the governor would change his atti-
tude. To date he has persisted in his |
stand OF openly repudiating the COM |
mittee
obviously the governors political ,
future depends upon the support of !
his organization. 1t is generally rec