The Bismarck Tribune Newspaper, January 3, 1917, Page 2

‘i : SEN renn aces RUSSELL. SEES He, FUTURE FOR. P. LEAGUE dans it. May Hold Balance of; Power in Congress Within a Few. Years HE TELLS OF RISE OF A. C. TOWNLEY) Cleaned Up by Flax Market, Says ‘Writer, He Began to Ponder é on Reforms By CHARLES EDWAR RUSSELL. A terrible electric shock is now passing over some of the ablest poli- ticians of the northwest ! The alarming fact has been borne; in upon them: that a new and tre- mendous force has been launched in politics and nobody can say where it may stop—not this side of the White _ House, very likely. ‘Anyway, as things shape up now, it! stands within two years to hold the balance of power in congress—if its leaders so desire. The National Non-partisan Farm- ers’ league, which swept ‘North Da- kota at the last election, and filled every state office except one with farmers, js now busy organizing on the same lines in South Dakota, Min- “mesota and Montana. “Everywhere it is being received by ;the farmers with the most significant Snthusiasm. ‘Suppose the league should grow as fast the next four years as it has \@vown in this state in two. Suppose ithe industria) and farming popula- tions to be aroused in half of the Union as.they have been here. The new movement could do anything it) wanted to do. It could stand this country on end. ‘Or suppose that in the next two .¥@ars it does no more than to cinch South Dakota, ‘Minnesota and Mon- tang, as it has: cinched. North Da- kota. It would then have 23 votes in the next congress—if it wanted them :s~indicating 23: yotes in the electoral That would mean practical contro! he house of representatives and ht ae nT influence in all national affairs. If, then, it should start in to insist upon such wholesome and reasonable reforms as it has undertaken in this state, there, would be something do- ing; Oh; my countrymen—something doing! Old High Cost of Living, for in- stance, would take to the woods, and } pied a melon cutter and expert gar- ener ‘of watered stock would go with him. Politicians have good reason to be . They see a farmer that nev- er‘Wpfore had the least experience in polfti¢s, suddenlly arise and create, this “fig. fighting army, then lead it to coniplete -victory, / qutwitting and outfighting the ablest generals in the state. It seems uncanny. ‘A. C. Townley. This farmer is a most extraord- jary person and seems destined to an unequaled career in national poli- tics. His name is A.C. Townley. He is. 86 and used to till a farm near the ‘town of Beach in the western part of the state. All of a sudden, four years ago, he was ruined by a manipulated fall in the price of flax. This started him thinking about the reasons for..the fact that the farm- ers worked hard and got next to noth- ing for their toil. It seemed to him clear as day that the only reason farming didn't pay Was because of artificial conditions brought about by government con- ducted by the interests and laws made in their favor. “Fhe only way to remedy this was te put the government into the hands ofthe farmers and workers, the vast Majority of the population. So he hit upon the plan of a po- litical organization that should not in- terfere with any man’s party preju- dices, but should still enable the farmers to get hold of the machine. Most of the persons he opened up his idea to laughed or tried to shoo him away. But this man has such courage and devilish persistence he seems abnor- ma}. When he started for a farmer went on foot from farm to farm. ex- plaining, arguing, outlining, and get- ting subscriptions, In about two months he had enough members signed up to have an exec- utive committee and officers; also, to have other organizers in the field. That ‘was in March, 1914. When snow fell in 1915 he had 26,000 en- rolled members at $6 each, had start- ed the league’s weekly newspaper and had 100 organizers driving over the state in automobiles the league owned. He is the league's president ;also, its general] manager and wise guy. He keeps it out of trouble and fur- nishes the pep. When the time came for the first battle with the entrenched gang: that had always run the state forthe in- terests they thought they would go out and play horse with this raw ap- prentice. He gave them the jolt of their lives. When he got through with them they looked like pikers and he looked like the old experienced field marshal and that beats anything I have ever known, in 36 years of close observa: tion of politics. Thin and Wiry. He is one of these thin, wiry, tire- less men, with thin lips, a powerful jaw and cold blue eyes. You could no more rattle him than you could rattle a tombstone. He can make a cracking good speech, write stuff that seems to burn the paper, carry all the work and affairs and details of the league in his head, think out a good scheme abaut every three hours, and in per- fectly clean, straight politics run cir- cles around almost any commander J ever saw on the political field. ‘At the same time he has so little vanity he ducks interviewers and can’t be induced to have his picture printed or taken. Some man, this. He commands the league and ought to, for he made it and led it to its present position of power and success. Three or four years ago he was riding on a gang plow ‘breaking prairie and thinking he was fulfilling his destiny. Destiny? Well, who knows anything about that? PIONEER DAKOTA FARMER TO BECOME CHAIRMAN OF STATE RAILROAD BOARD S. J, Aandahl Honored by Selec- tion of Colleagues as Com. mission Head Contrary to % ai expectations, s.{ J. Aandahl, upon the organization of the new railroad commission yester- day afternoon, was named chairman. This’ berth had generally béen con- ceeded to M; P. Johnson of Tolley, a prominent Equity man and the mem- ber of the board who received the big- gest vote at the November election. Charles W, Bleick, of Elgin, also had been mentioned as a_ possibility for the job. The new chairman is a pioneer citi- ben of North Dakota, arriving* in Barnes county at the age of twelve, April 19, 1881? when the territorial capital still was located at Yankton. Mr. Aandahl was born in Norway, and he is now 48 years young, a man of excellent physique and in the prime of his mental vigor. He has resided in Barnes county for 35 years and he is first of all a farmer, tilling a sec- tion and a half of splendid land. The only member of the new com- mission who has planned to establish a residence in Bismarck is Mr. John- son. He has been prevented from locating here by the illness of Mrs. Johnson, whom he left in a very ser- ious condition. Mr. Bleick will. con- tinue to reside at Elgin and the chair- man at Litchville, coming to Bismarck as meetings of the commission may. nec itate. Other changes in the official staff of the railroad commission are probable. The board will be represented legally by the attorney general's department, inasmuch as there is no attorney with membership on the new commission. The board sessions will continue this week until Friday evening, as there is a large amount of business to be attended to. jan, en community sing idea, which has been inaugurated in other cities throughout North Dakota, was given impetus in this city at a mass meeting held in the Methodist church Tuesday even- ing. Representatives of every reli- gious denomination in Grand Forks participated. KEenéver let go till he got him. He OM cookin’ an’ pipe smoke. "to me is some place whar thar’s real. "affection, good plenty of JANUARY 19 DATE SET FOR FIRST BIG. DOINGS, OF THE GRIDIRON GLUB Press Gang of North Dakota Will! Show Up State Affairs at Northwest January 19 is the date set for the Hite big feed and doings of the Grid- club of North Dakota. The date! selected last evening at a meet- ing of ‘the executive committee,’ of which Walter F. Cushing, secretary of the. railroad. commission, and one of the state’s pioneer newspaper men, was chairman. The big event will be staged in the old dining room of the Northwest hotel, where the stage, er- ected during exposition days, will come into good use. The stunts will be similar to those pulled each year by the Gridiron club of the national capital. ‘Twould be a shame to announce in advance what they will be, but it may be stated that each is to be a scream, and that there is not a single prominent state official or important movement who or which will escape attention. And, of course, there will be eats. Who ever heard of two newspaper men getting togeth- er without discussing a feed? The next big doings of the Gridiron club will be held at the Grand Pacific about the middle of February, when the session will be in full swing. If possible, it will be made even more so. The Gridiron club has a member- ship of 200, all in good standing. There will be, too; some guests at the Northwest stuntfest January 19, and it is anticipated that the historic old dining room ,will. be full—which qual- iy will be restricted strictly to the din- ing room. FARMED IN STATE FOR 34 YEARS 1S PETERSON'S RECORD Representative From Thirteenth} District, Entered Upon His Third Term Yesterday Nilg “Peterson of Gwinner yester day éutered upon bis third term as representative trom the thirteenth dis- trigts;He is one of the few repre- sefitgtives comprising the lower bri of the fifteenth legislative as- sembly who defeated a league candi- date, Peterson winning over A. E, Stockhead of Milnor, by a majority of only 30 votes. | After serving ten years as commis- sioner of Sargent county, Peterson the year 1913, returned the following session and was again returned last fall. Peterson is against the proposi- tion of a state-owned terminal eleva- tor, declaring yesterday afternoon that it is too much a socialistic move- ment. He favors individual ownership. He sees in the state-owned elevator. the possibility of the creation of a great political machine, Representative Peterson came to the state in 1882, one year before the gov- ernment survey was made. For 34 years he has farmed, now owning two valuable sections of land adjoining the village of Gwinner from the south. He came to the state from Cakota, Minn. Because of his long tenure of office as county commissioner of Sargent county, Representative Peterson is well acquainted with many of the state laws, and is well equipped to serve his district. Representative Peterson is not antagonistic in the least™to’ the"Nonpartisan league pro- gram. SUPREME COURT TANGLE REOPENED BY MOTION IN | GRANT 8, YOUMAN'S CASE Arthur Le Sueur Questions Right) of Old Tribunal To Deny Rehearing Whether it will or no, the North Da- kota supreme court, or some other tribunal of “competent jurisdiction” must now rulé upon the legality of the supreme court which served during the month of December, 1916, and which included Chief Justice C. J. Fisk, and Associate Justices Burke and Goss, whose seats were contest- ed by their successors, elected at the November voting. The fat was spilled in the fire: yes- terday, when Arthur LeSeuer, repre- senting Grant S. Youmans, filed a mo- tion to vacate the order of the old court in the Minot banker’s suit for damages, aggregating $225,000, from Governor L. B. Hanna, Secretary of State Thomas Hall, former Attorney General Andrew Miller, former Bank Examiner S. G. Severtson, and a half- dozen others.. These members of a former banking board and certain Mi- not people named as defendants, are accused’ by Youmans of wrecking his state bank. The motion to set aside the order of the old court is made on the grounds that “Judges Fisk, Burke and Goss participated in the deliberations of the court and in the decision deny- ing the application -and were not judges of this court at said time, their term of ‘office having expired upon the first Monday in, December of. the year 1916, and the ‘said three persons constituting a majority of these. as- suming to act as the supreme court of this state, and being without legal righ or authority to act, the order de- n¥ing the said motion was without au- thority and void.” Mother's Pension Case Up The new supreme court held its first hearing yesterday afternoon, THIS 18. POSITIVELY ‘CHAPLIN FROM EH. A. ce 'g LATEST COMEDY AND”HAS “NEVER BEEN SHOWN IN BISMARCK. .IT'S 4 MUTUAL SPECIAL IN 2. REELS” . p rlprenpe Reed, in New York” « BROADWAY SUCCESS FIVE ACTS when the Mothers’ pension test suit brought bere iftom Fargo ‘was argued. |The case’ is one'in which the ptobate court of Cass county granted a Mrs. Bessie Nixon jp ipension for each of her eight mitor children, of whom she is the gole*support. The state’s attorney, holding the mothers’ pen- sion act unconstitutional, appealed to the district court,and thence to the su- { preme court, which is asked to rule | upon the constitutionality of the law.| A number of other cases are set for hearing this week, and Saturday the court holds a special session in Far- go for the admission of candidates who successfully passed recent exam- inations for the bar. | 7 eae ee ee i i i dl ¢ IN THE HOTEL LOBBIES. + Lee t+ et t+ 2 ¢.e te Se Assistant State's “Attorney W. .. C. Green of Fargo, left last night for the | metropolis: of ‘the statq, after arguing !a case before the state giipreme court | and visiting several of the state legis- |lators. The assistant state’s attorney was not overly surprised to read- in press dispatches of the shake-up on the Fargo police: force, evidently ex- pecting it for some time. | Edward’ E.'Cole, proprietor of the ‘ole hoteland the Metropole at Far- go, and prominent state Democrat, ar- {rived in the city Monday and yester- ‘day took his.seat in the lower branch ‘of the house; With Mr. Cole is Attor- ey B. G. Tenneson of Fargo, a mem- ber of the law firm of Pierce, Tenne- | son & Cupler of that city, also a house | member, Anthony |, Walton, -representative from Minot, ,is going to play an im- portant part..as a legislator at this ; | session of the legislature. Mr. Walton intance:,among the]. has a large jaca law-makers at thi: session and is well posted on conditions: of the state and its needs. The fame of the name of Olson has spread to the lower branch of the North Dakota legislature. It’s a good old name, but has a close rival in that of Larson. The Olsons are Otto C. of Elkwood, of the eighteenth district, who will be ‘known as Olson of Cava- ler; C. H.: Olgon, of New Rockford, from the thirty-second,; known as Ol- son: of Eddy; Obert A. Olson of Bow- man, from the thirty-ninth, known as Olson of Bowman, and. William 0. Olson of Flaxton, from the fortieth, known as Olson of Burke. The Lar- sons are M. Larson of Wheatland, democrat, from the eleventh district; Martin Larson of Nome, fourteenth district, and L. H. Larson of Courten- ay, from the twenty-third, who will be known as the Larson of Cass, Larson of Ransom and the Larson of Stuts- man respectively. W. J. Maddock of Plaza, started serving his second term as.a member of the lower branch of the legislature. yesterday. His election two ‘years ago, was one of the most ‘heated in the forty-fourth «district. Records show that during the last session his | Vote was always cast intelligently and ‘for the very best interests of the |state. F. J. Haines,.of White Earth, |is Representative Maddock’s political colleague from that district. Friends of C. I. Christenson, of Grafton, representative ~ from the | Fourth district, are. telling a little | story on the law-maker; which is ysu- ally at his expense. Six years ago, Christenson -was elected to the -house |from the Third district. About three years ago, the representative changed | his residence from the» Third to the | Fourth district, -and,‘although not en- dorsed by the league, was elected to serve this term. Christenson’s friends say that the law-maker knew he couldn’t be elected ‘again’ from the Third, so moved to the Fourth. Chris- tenson will align himself with the jeague. oe @ Although Henry Moet of Hetting- er county, representative from ‘the Forty-ninth district, was, not endors- ed by the league, he stated last even- ing that he is in favor of many of the principles avorated. by. the or- ganization. ee, Howard 8. Wood, .30..years of age, born in. Mower. county, -Minn., and who at the age of 15 years moved | with his parents:,to.,.tae farm: near, ; Deering, N. 'D,, ds--the, youngest .pre- siding officer‘of the lower body that the‘ state” has: ever- had: . Speaker Wood attended the Minot high school | and is in charge-of a 1,200-acre farm, owned by the::Wood: family. ..He is married and has' four children. He was the third in the state to’ gign the membership ‘roll -of<the and the first to: donate the: use of his automobile to the Teague - for’ cam- paigning’ purposes. VISITORS. FROM. WASHBURN Miss Irene Haugeberg,,.and- Miss Alice Lyenstrom, both ,of: Washburn, were visitors. inthe -city eee ted ‘afternoon. ob cf ; Moves the Gatse. for full name. Look for signature of H.W. GROVE. 25c. gue; |Farmer-Lawyer Returns | wre for Third A. G. Divet of Wahpeton, senior house member from the Twelfth,, has successfully combined the practice of law and the pursuit’of farming—two vocations not ordinarily ‘associated. Mr. Divet, who is slated for the third time to head the house committee on the sjudiciary, is 45 years old. He was born in Olmstead county, Minne- sota, and at the age of 10 he came with his parents to, ‘Richland county, where he has resiled for 35 years. Politically, he always has been a Re- publican, although 4f Jate years an accusation of insurgency has been laid at his door. He humbly confess- es certain progressive ideas. ‘Representative Divet was born and reared on a farm; his people today and for generations back have been farmers; he owns and successfully operates, one, of. Richland ‘ebtinty’s, best’ faritis, or; “ft may tbe’ mote cor: rectly stated, séveral of them; and he goes in for dairying and hogs and Term in House hominy and all that sort of stuf In- cidentally, Representative Divet has his own sausage recipe, gnd, friends have, partaken of tha particular ‘dtsh“are ‘a unit in declaring they never ‘sau-suge sausage. «Jn addition, to, farming, Representa- tie ‘Divet has successfully engaged in the practice of law for 15 years and is today one of North Dakota's best ‘known barristers. ‘Before he be- came a lawyer he was court stenog- rapher for the Fourth district for six years. It. goes without sawing that Mr. Divet is happily married, with two boys’ of whom he is mighty proud. Donovan R. (please get that Donovan e’ve said nothing as to nationality to date) is 21 years old and is taking his second year's law at the Univer- sity. of Minnesota. Rushby D., aged 17, i8 in the Wahpeton high school. side from his three terms inthe’ ihouse,, Representative Divet has nev- er held nor sought public office. Ses JIMTOWN COLLEGE SUES HILL ESTATE FOR $37,000 ‘A claim for $27,- St. Paul, Jai 500 was filed against the James J. aut estate in probate court here today Jamestown College. It is alleged } Hill offered to contribute $50,000 i Condition that a $300,000 endowment fund be completed and that he paid $12.500 as agreed when the first $100- 000 was obtained. Full aomunt has now been obtained, it is alleged. “New York,” special feature at the Bismarck tonight, with Florence heed.—“Picture immense. . Star can- not be excelled. The people like the picture as well as the star.”"—L. “J. Norman, Strand Theatre, New York. IN GOVERNOR'S OFFICE, Miss Millie Johnson of Fargo arrly- ed yesterday to assume’her duties 4s stenographer to Governor Frazier. HERE RON GARRISON Mr. and Mrs, A. J. Loomis of G: rison, were art Is in the city -y terday and spent the day — visitifig friends. They were guests at the Gran@ Pacific. fS “New York,” special feature at the Bismarck tonight, with Tlorenge Reed.—‘Picture immense, . Star, can- not be excelied. The people like the picture as well as the star.”—L..J- Norman, Strand Theatre, New York. Grand Theater Opening Tonigh ‘MAKING FINE RECOVERY. August E. Johnson, cashier of the First Nationa] bank of Washburn, ar- rived. in; Bismarck yesterday in some- what different condition from his last preceding arrival, when he was brought in on.a stretcher, at the point of death; as a result of having been run doWn: by an automobile in Wash- burn... .Mr. Johnson is making a fine Tegovery “from the results of his acci- ‘dent, and,-although he still feels the Wssepaia:entirely out of. danger, RESTAURANT RUNNING, One of the most popular depart- ments of the capitol yesterday was the restaurant, which has burst into its perrennial bloom. The cafe this year is in chi rge of Mrs. E. Charle- voix:jof ‘Bismarck. She is a genial hostéss;“Offers appetizing viands tast- ily served and by-mid-afternoon ‘yes- terdiy= she ‘declared she had not a thing lefé in her larder. The restau- rant is a decided convenience for cap- itol employes as well as for legislators during the session, and there is every prospect that this year’s business will be exceptionally good. NEW RATE EXPERT. The new: railroad commission very properly, was. ushered in New Year's day with the, advent of.a new rate clerk—James D. Little, Jr, a lusty nine-pound boy. born to Mr. and Mrs. James‘ D, Little at the Bismarck -hes- pital. This is the first time that any- thing of the:kind has.happened to James D. senior, and he is naturally somewhat puffed up about it. Between passing cigars yesterday, the railroad commissi rate clerk dilated upon the amount. of i on ang, the .blugness | | of the-eyes of ti arrival. »:For- B pty, the conclusion -at the ‘office itedgeneral, due. to the shift in siohers, and Mr. Little’s own out ous as they might otherwise be. “New York,” Bismarck tonight, with Florence Reed.—“Picture immense. ‘Star can- Picture as well as the 8 Norman, Strand Theatre, ‘New York. pet abberations are.not so conspicu-| 9 special feature at ‘the | tract and j bercolosis Aikesthe i PEAGE WORKERS .. TO LEAVE CLEAR , PATH IS REPORT (United Pre: Washington, ,Jan, &.—American members of the joint peace commis- sion will leave the path clear for the American troops withdrawal ' from Mexico, minus a protocol, signed ‘by Carranza. ‘The “war deépartinent’s’ plans ‘today were mentioned as not immediate, with emphasis on the immediate, It was thought, however, that following the next joint session, this govern- ment will order back Pershing’s forc- es and relieve some militia units on the border unless Mexican conditions already troublesome, become more menacing, Officials here thought Villa is rap- idly getting the upper hand in Mexico and that Carranza’s government must crumble unless assisted. “TILL ASKS FOR: PROBE (WN DIPLOMATIC. TIPS (United Press.) ° Washington, ‘Jan. 3.—An investiga- tion of charges ‘that tips on adminis- tration diplomatic moves were given Wallstreet fs sought’ in a’ bill’intro- duced by Representative Wood, Indi- ana, today, asking for the appoint- ment of a committee of five to probe the ‘charges, anise 39D: NEW TELEPHONE CO, The secretary of state today issued a-charter to the Hastings Local Inde- pendent Telephone: ‘Co.;*incorporated for $25,000. _ The. indorporators are Peter Strindin and ‘Mrs, “Aggie Strin- din of Hastings and’ H.-A. Pederdon of Litchville: Grand Theater Qpening Tonight. KELLOGG IN THE CITY. iW. R. Kellogg, owner and. manager of the Jamestown Daily, Alert and one of the well known state newspa- per men, arrived in the city the first of the week. and will spend several days getting a line-up on the legis- lature proceedings. Mr. Kellogg is making the McKenzie his headquar- ters. 4 Pia Grand: Theater ‘Opening: Tonight. ; NOVEMBER. 18 CUPID'S MONTH IN. FORKS. COUNTY Grand Forks, N. D.,.:Jan.-3—Dan Cupid proved. himself.a, busy. little love god during 1916 .and his darts flew in many directions throughout Grand Forks county. During the year 268 marriage licenses were issued, while in 1915 but 238, certificates were granted, showing an increase of 25 such permits. Statistics show that November is the most. popular month for the love lorn in this county, while December ranks second and June third.' SANGER WOMAN HERE. Mrs. W. W. Smith.of Sanger, was among the many visitors ‘from ‘that point, who were in the city yesterday. She was a guest at the Grand Pa- cific. HALLIDAY CLOSES YEAR IN A PROSPEROUS CONDITION Halliday, N. D., Jan 3—Halliday closed the old year in a: presperous manner. . Her merchants are grateful ‘for: a suécessfal business year. (The ‘town boasts of a new-city hall; cement sidewalks, a couple of new cheniical fire engines, a magnificent school building, almost completed, and a bran new electric lighting system. Te- ‘ceritly installed. ot = Me