The Nonpartisan Leader Newspaper, June 8, 1916, Page 8

X ‘Some Details of An EXtrabrdinarjf Conference at Which / { f/ By DIC T. GRAPH HREE days before the meeting bercin after detail of the battle worked them- selves out in his mind the big boss smiled a satisfied smile .and blew a large cloud of smoke toward the ceiling. Then his eyes fell upon a calendar on the wall and Crafty sat up with a start; His rat-like eyes stuck out of his head: like leadpencils. The curve of his mouth assumed an inverted position, his chin dropped down and there spread over his whole face an expression of amazement, ment. “By Gad,” he exclaimed to himself, wrmttonly a little more than four weeks till ~—theprimaries. Here I am planning a big campaign when in fact we haven’t time to start.” N = He then quickly dispatched three or four telegrams and put in three or four long distance calls. These calls and telegrams resulted in the meeting herein reported, and those present were the various candidates, the campaign man- agers and campaign committees and Crafty’s lieutenants. As the “boys” gathered Crafty sat at his desk, nervously fumbling with a paper weight and glancing at his watch between times. . TIME DOESN'T WAIT EVEN FOR CRAFTY “I want you gentlemen to take a look at that calendar,” said the big boss, bit- terly and giving his thumb a jerk in the direction of that document. All eyes were turned toward the wall on which hung the calendar. “Do you see any- thing alarming about that,” he contin- ued with sarcasm. “It looks to me like it was time some of you fellows wake up or get off the job.” Usta B. Butrick shrugged his should- ers and Slipry gave Dodger a sly wink. “There’s only four weeks of this cam- paign left and you fellows haven’t even fired a pop-gun yet. For the 30 years that I've boss of this state I have never surprise and .discourage- . The Big Boss Learns Why "APRIL 28" and the cows givin’ more milk, as a result. I'm here to tell you, that un- less you get busy an’ that quick too, withered him like a cabbage leaf on a hot stove. : 2 HE HEARS BUTTRICK “HAS NO ‘DOUBTS” Crafty’s eye then reéted on Buttrick who squirmed under the searching gaze, ' “Why can’t we have a hot campaign, Mr. Buttrick ?” interrogated the big boss. “Well,” been pretty busy with my . personal affairs and besides I.have not thought it necessary. 1 am: pretty well known in this state and I have no doubts as to the outcome, regardless of any campaign I might make.” 3 ¢ “Neither have I any doubts as to the outcome, - either,” remarked Crafty, mockingly.. “But that outcome will be that. you candidates will remain in private life for another two years and a lot of you boys will have to seek other jobs. ‘That’s what the outcome will be.” _Buttrick’s campaign' manager grew nervous. Crafty turned his eyes upon- - him and exclaimed, “Well, what’ve you got to say for 'yourself?” “I'm doing all I can,” he stammered. POLITICAL SHARKS UP A TREE - s g Have made it a point to find out about-the standing of the League and must say that I believe the League candidates will get every vote. I know that is putting it very strong but think I am right. - Am getting a paper by the name of Public Opinion.. Judging from the way they get after Townley, it must have been gotten out for the express purpose to roast the leaders of the League: send you my' copy but am of the opinion that you have seen it the political shark is seared out. We got “’em up a tree” and must see that they won’t get down.— before. This time, believe me, GEORGE KUHRY.: ° GUILD IN A HOLE. We had occasion to speak last week . of the numerous scares put out by the opponents of the Nonpartisan League in stammered Buttrick, - “I've. It Is a Very Quiet Campaign “I'm going at this thing in a quiet, but effective way- Ry ' thoughtfully. He looked penetratingly at Crafty and cleared his throat. “Well, what is it?” sneeringly asked the big boss. Slipry’s thin lips formed a contemptuous smile. “It’s a-plenty,”. he said, quietly. Crafty looked surprised but made no reply. “I know what's the matter,” continued Slipry. “What”? asked the big boss. S “Why, none of-these fellows want to commit political ‘suicide.” Crafty started as if prodded with a hat pin. “Whada ye mean?” he said sharply. " “I mean this,” said the chief lieuten- ant, “I mean that there is not a man in this campaign that knows where he’s at. He can’t go up nor come down. If he" could come down he don’t know where he’d land ‘nor where he’d hit. He's afraid to say anything for fear it’s the wrong thing. He’s afraid to open up his mouth for fear he’ll ram his foot in it up to his knee. He’s afraid to do anything for fear he'll be photographed in the act, an’ there.you are.” Buttrick looked pleased and Dodger.' nodded approval while Flipflop betrayed Would Tribune, that also gave the lie promin- " ence in its columns, is equally culpable, It is up to these sheets to prove. that members are individually liable for the ' disgust. “Tll tell you I'm -not afraid to say things,” piped up Flipflop. upon him like an- infuriated beast. . “Throw that-fool -down the elevator shaft,” he roared, pointing a stubby finger at the excited Flipfiop. Dodger snorted out loud while M. T. Head and three or four other fellows, made a rush at Flipflop, determined to literally carry out .. Crafty’s dodged around the corner of the table siezed a heavy. ink well and raised it- menacingly in his right hand. “Not another step,” he snarled, “or I'll smash your mug in,” he said, addressing M. T. Head. - Slipry, Dodger and two or three others rushed in between the riot- ers and restored order. Flipflop retired to his seat spitting like a cat. while Crafty bored him through with his gim- let .eyes. A CHARACTER SKETCH OF I B. FLIPFLOP “Flip,” said Crafty, deliberately, “you are the blankety, blankest, blank fool that I have ever seen. If you know what’s good for you you’ll keep your senses an’ put an ice pack on your head.” Flipflop mopped the perspiration from his - low forehead and looked about defiantly, but said nothing, “As I was saying,” proceeded Slipry— “That’ll do,” interrupted Crafty, “we know what you were . saying and we know_ what you're goin’ to say an’ we don’t want any more of-it.” Slipry smiled, relighted his cigar and leaning back in_his chair threw his ‘feet on the corner of the table. = “Now here’s orders;” continued Crafty. “We're going to start somethin’ and = start it quick an’ start-it strong—-" “But what'll we start?” interrupted Buttrick. 3 ‘ Crafty looked at him in disgust. “Start anything, anything,” he answered emphatically. “Make a noise. Don’t go slipping around over. the state like you was walkin’ on eggs. Make a lot of - speeches, give out a lot of newspaper i!_xterviews. Take-a rap at that Nonpar- instructions. Flipflop- “Quiet, ' thunder and Tom Walker,” “The trouble with you is that you say i) reported Crafty” there won’t none of.you know that you yoared Crafty. “Quietness ain’t goin’ too blamed _much,” said Slipry sharply. B was sitting in his was in the race and that farmer will be ¢, get you any where. You've got to “The other candidates see what has hap- i headquarters, leis- nominated by the biggest vote ever cast make a whirlwind dash with a cyclone = Ppened to you—that you’ve killed yourself Sl urely smoking a for one man in this state.” windup. You’ve got to stir things an’ an’ blasted all your political future, An’ 3 & big, black cigar Buttrick shrugged his shoulders again start something.” they are too wise to fglllov; suit."d = i g and planning the and Flipflop piped up and said, “Well, Rl P bl is . Flipflop sprang te his feet an gan bl pre-primary = cam- I'm making all the noise I can.” wastlclll:ryc}};:g: ata:lxa sx‘l:gze}:vei,n;un;]?:n‘gfi;;; to ' gesticulate wildly. Crafty turned paign. As detail Crafty gave- Flipflop a look that & dual] tisan League. Throw it'into the leaders : ; : the effort to wreck it; amongst others debts of the o zation or stand un- f tha toat: seen so quiet-a campaign. If there ever rported r AT asked iberate liars. League 0 t orgvamz’atmn. Put up some fight. was a time when noise was needed that :xlll:mtl:)c‘:r of * the rm;bggg : a:fy 3:%?;- gembers aswill understand from .the SHOW that you've got convictions and a time is now and yet it is as quiet as a funeral. The candidates -seem to be ducking publicity _and the campaign managers. seem to be hypnotized or chloroformed. ; by “If . we don’t get something started mighty quick we will all soon:be taking our quadro-centennial vacation. Every where I go it is nothing but- Frazier, Frazier, Frazier. Even many of the business . men’ -are boosting ' for that farmer an’ freely predictin’ his election, which means that they are going to vote for him, - A lot o’ farmers have got the notion that times are improving since that ‘farmer was indorsed even, “and claim that the hens are laying more eggs contracted by that organization.” Now comes the Nonpartisan Leader in its last issue and offers ‘Guild of the' Fargo Courier-News $1000 in cash to prove its assertion, the Courier-News having been the first newspaper to print this false: 3 hood. 5 That it was a falsehood should haye been apparent to anyone; that Guild prited it with malice is equally apparent, for he has in.person led the columns of. abuse heaped on.the League. 1t is not to be thought of ‘that thisslam at the League was printed in his paper. without - his fi € P e owledge or sanction; Bt . This puts the ex-preacher in a hole— he must prove his assertion ‘or’ stand convicted of lying with deliberate in 3 do the League injury. The Bismare, pes A © ° . PAGEFEIGHT . e lengths that this pair-of ‘manure sSprea- ders go to, the deep-seated intent to in- jure the League by any means, fair or e Dy - foul—PARSHALL LEADER. — FELLOW FARMERS, i(’s spring and house cleaning is'in order; so help your wife eradicate _by canceling your: sub- - scription to the Grand Forks Herald. I hope in the near future the Leader will be a daily~—L. L. STAIR. ~ . 1 NOTICED IN one’ of the state papers, “Burdick, our future Governor.” rgot that the farmers will vote ‘backbone. - Look at that ‘fellow Sorry— O. I M. Sorry from Traill county. He’s makin’ a stir and kickin® up a dust” “You ‘mean he’s digging up clods; which means that he’s digging his polit- ical grave,” answered Buttrick, coolly. Crafty looked more disgusted . than . ‘ever. After a moment’s pause he look- ‘ed at his watch and then exclaimed. = - “I ‘guess we'll have ‘to adjourn’ this meeting: {ill tomorrow. ~ back here prepared to do business.” -~ ‘Flipflop ducked ‘out’of ‘the roo ~hastened down ‘the stairs, not . for the elevator and the 1 eeting, ingly, ‘adjourned. : wif thing over, every one of you and come