The Bismarck tribune., 1934-01-16
An Apple of Discord and the
Love Feast
civilians County Farmers Press

tWllllamS county Farmers fIeSSJ
With the approach Of county and
state conventions, Nonpartisans have
occasion to give some serious thought
to the future of the organization.
Since it's tenure in office with a
complete tickss, the governor has
been an apple Of disccrd. Now is a
time to face the fact! He and other
constitutional officers have very evi-
IDENTIFY failed to work III harmony.
Nor has all this row with the state
executive committee served any good
purpose.
TO the rank and file Of the Nom
partisan League, these men 1t elects
to office are only incidental to a
cause. Nonpartisans maintain first
interest in their organization, and
the men they elect merely serve as
instruments in carrying out the will
Of the organization to have a better,
more responsive government.
! Some of the things that Governor
LANCER has done are credit to him,
and what the Nonpartisan League
would expect from any man it put
in the governors chair. In other
ways he demonstrates plenty OF
shortcomings. He established news
paper with contributions from en-
ployees, but since its issuance it ap-
pears to be solicitous of Governor
LANCER alone. with scant attention to
the Nonpartisan League. And al
though The Leader may think so,
Governor LANCER alone isn't the Nom
partisan League by long shot.
A current political rumor IS to the
effect that there will be general
lovefeast some time in the near fu-
ture, and all the differences that have
grown SO bitter will be patched up.
For the future of the organization,
they had better be, or leader will
be needed who can get along with
others that the organization has seen
fit to recommend. And the others
shouldn't have to be yeS-nen to the
governors office as a primary re-
commentator.
Through the years that the organ
ization has struggled and been kept
alive to vindicate its existence IN the
last election, it hasn't been an execu-
tive committee league, a LANCER
league, or the exclusive property Of
any individual. That idea is out Of
harmony with the high ideals that
gave birth to the league. A. C
Townley is to be credited with its
founding. to be sure, but he left the
organization when he began to think
more OF A. G. Townley and his
schemes than he did Of the cause III
Represented.
Nonpartisans needn't kid them
selves about the next election. Tht
Democrats will be a potent factor
The party in the state has been un'
der the control of reactionaries ane
for that reason the real Democrat!
have joined with Nonpartisans op'
posing the tories who represented TIN
Iparty in elections. The Democratic
candidate will, of course. run on /.
Roosevelt platform, but the fact tina
; the leopard can't change its spot
will give NonpartisanS their oppor
tunity to again serve the state.
The convention in March will tel
the story. If leaguers are to ente
an election contest divided and con
|, fused by the attitude Of men chosel
to represent it, the organization vii
be well on its way to complete dis
integration. It has survived interna
dissention before, however, and
may do so again. The easiest wa
would be to be sure that the maj
who IS nominated for governor de
! earyas ord ran hov,a fho Sffrfeor{ q
the entire organization. There is n
place in the league for these Caesar
who feed upon its substance unit
they grow so great. that they forge
the parent that foStered them.