EXPANSION AND DECLINE 197 



vian-American Bank of Fargo, a North Dakota corporation used primarily 

 as a financial agency for the League and its subsidiary organization prior 

 to the establishment of the Bank of North Dakota, had, among other 

 things, lent money to the League on postdated checks which the organiza- 

 tion had accepted in payment of membership dues. The Scandinavian of- 

 ficials, it was asserted, repeatedly had refused an audit of its books, but an 

 examination was finally ordered by the board of bank examiners, two of 

 whose three members were the dissenting League officials, William Lan- 

 ger and Thomas Hall. The examination revealed that the bank had some 

 $75,000 in postdated checks among its assets, had exceeded its authorized 

 lending limit, and was totally insolvent. As a result, the bank was ordered 

 closed and a receiver appointed. League officials immediately sought to 

 rally the aid of the farmers to the bank and succeeded in so doing; yet 

 the fact remained that this was but another in the series of blows that 

 led to the collapse of the League. 



More trouble was in store for the League in the elections of 1920, caused 

 mostly by its disaffected leaders. William Langer, in seeking the Repub- 

 lican nomination for governor, came within a few thousand votes of de- 

 feating Lynn J. Frazier, whose strength was largely in the eastern and 

 more prosperous counties. Two other rebelling members, Carl Kositsky 

 and Thomas Hall, were nominated for state auditor and secretary of state. 

 The opposition also nominated John Steen, a Republican, as state treas- 

 urer, and two others for the railroad commission. Majorities were won by 

 opposition candidates A. M. Christianson for the supreme court and 

 Minnie Nielson for superintendent of public instruction. Indications also 

 were that the conservatives were to gain control of the lower house of 

 the legislature. E. F. Ladd, the League candidate, defeated Ansel J. 

 Gronna for the Republican nomination for the United States Senate, 

 despite the fact that Gronna was a member of the League. Gronna's de- 

 feat also brought dismay to the progressives. 34 



In Minnesota, it appeared for a time that the League finally was to have 

 its day. The primaries gave J. A. O. Preus, the Republican, 44 per cent 

 of the total vote, and Henrik Shipstead, the Nonpartisan nominee, for 

 whom an airplane campaign was conducted, 41 per cent. 35 The other four 



34. Bruce, Non-Partisan League, pp. 212-13. 



35. Ibid., p. 214. For accounts of the airplane campaign, see the Minnesota Leader, 

 May 8, 1920; Non-partisan Leader, May 31, 1920, p. 4. 



