The Bismarck tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, N.D.) 1916-current, 1935-01-07
FORCES OPPOSED TO
LANCER APPARENTLY
TO CONTROL SENATE
Speakership Fight May Be De.
cided on Floor by Few Hold.
Ing Balance Of Power
THREE CAUCAUsEs SUNDAY
Situation Complicated by e.
fort to Unload Dspossd
Governors Influence


troll Of the senate for this session,
members Of legislative coalition COM
posed Of Democrats, anti.Langer Nom
partisans and WAS Monday con-
tinued their drive for control Of the
house Of representatives at the session
opening Tuesday noon.
Leaders hopes Of success were
matched by opposition statements that
the coalition would be unable to mug
ter enough votes to elect speaker and
control the house.
The number Of votes needed Is 81
and the closeness Of the fight Is In.
dicated by the respective claims Of the
contending groups. The Nonpartisan
group which heretofore has been align
ed with Exc Governor william LANCER
claims 81, four more than needed.
The coalition claims 50. Privately,
both groups admitted that the claims
represent hopes rather than accomp-
lished facts and that the result will
not be determined until final count.
ing Of noses.
Decision on Floor Seen
Three different caucuses were held
Sunday and additional meetings are
scheduled for Monday night. With
only few men holding the balance Of
power there remained the possibility
that the speakership fight may Be de-
termined on the floor instead Of in
advance.
Leading candidates are Harvey SOL
berg, williams county, tentatively
agreed upon as the coalition candi-
date, and william Crockett, Cavalier
county. anti-Moodie administration
choice.
Others mentioned as compromise
candidates intended to unity all the
nominal Nonpartisan votes are George
Aljets Of Wells county and Math
Dahl Of Emmons.
The situation was complicated by
the obvious fact that there Is an anti
LANCER faction within the so-called
LANCER group. Their efforts are aim
ed at the dual purpose Of unloading
LANCER and still maintaining the iden-
tity Of the Nonpertisan organization.
They feel LANCER has been bad for
the party and seek to dissipate his in
fluence without coming out In the
open against him.
AS near as could be ascertained.
this faction within faction consists
Of about half Of the claimed strength
Of the entire group. The remainder
are still disposed to follow LAngerS
leadership.
For whatever 1t may be worth. the
anti-Langer faction within the fac
ton asserted that practically every
state officer is In favor Of their move
ment. They hope this fact viii en-
able them to win control.
Expect Challenge Defeat
Members Of the coalition group ex-
pressed the thought Monday that
control Of the house would b -
cinch" u 1t were not for the uncer.
tainty surrounding the governorship
by reason Of the attempt to unseat
Governor Thomas II. Noodle. Il Moo
dies title to the office was unques-
toned. they said. they would win tn
. stampede.
Meanwhile, 1t was apparent that
representatives Of Ill factions expect
Noodle to defeat the challenge to his
right to hold office.
Talk about impeachment proceed
ings against him q well - against
members Of the supreme court In the
event the challenge Is ovefruled was
classed as an effort to "ghost" the
court members and sway their dec&-
sion.
Meanwhile. proposals to delay &C.
ton at this session until the cover.
norship question u decided BY ID.
journing the house from day to day
were revealed as having been made BY
o. r. Erickson, senator from Kidder
county and LANCER leader. It was
contained In letter sent out BY him
to house members several days ago.
That such q scheme would b adopt
ed, even II this group elects . speak
er, seemed doubtful Monday.
Erickson, mentioned . . candidate
for president pro tempore In the
senate. the post Immediately below
the lieutenant goveruorship. had
small success IN . caucus Sunday and
his opponents within the group &.
pressed confidence that his name win
not even be presented for that Of.
flee. A. 8. Marshall Of Dickey coun.
ty. Q veteran Nonpartisau, loomed -
49, s>Sr>1>at lA nhnAno