The recent impeachment of former Illinois Governor Rod Blagojevich brought to mind some early North Dakota history.   The first governor ever to be recalled in the United States was Lynn Frazier, who served as governor of North Dakota from around 1917 to 1921. 

Politics in those days were messy.  Farmers who felt they weren’t being treated fairly by big businesses wanted a state-owned grain elevator to help them get fair prices on their crops.  They organized into a group they called the Non-Partisan League.  In theory, the league was a great idea:  citizens would collaboratively decide who to vote for, from either political party, when they felt that candidate would get them what they needed.

The Non-Partisan League leaders had socialist agendas.  Although they created the state-owned bank and the state-owned elevator that the people wanted, they also passed laws that changed the young state’s constitution and would have taxed people so heavily that private property would have to be relinquished to the state.  Many citizens, unaware of how the new laws would impact them in the future, enthusiastically supported the league leaders.

A small group of people, including state legislator E.W. Everson and Theodore G. Nelson, formed an opposition group they called the Independent Voters’ Association.   The IVA labored under heavy criticism from the Non-Partisan League leaders, who were solidly in power.  Everson, himself a former member of the Non-Partisan League, chaired the IVA.  Nelson was the secretary.

Some members of the IVA formed what they called Fighting Squads.  Everson and other members of the fighting squads traveled around the state.  They lobbied heavily against Non-Partisan League leaders, including Governor Frazier and the league president A.C. Townley. 

As the Non-Partisan League expanded into Minnesota, the tide began to turn.  Some of the leagues’ leaders were charged with corruption.  Frazier was recalled as governor in 1921 in a very close vote. 

The details of the recall collection have been blurred with time, but in light of the troubles in Illinois, some of the themes have been renewed.  Transparency in government, which apparently was absent in the early days of the Non-Partisan League has become a big deal in North Dakota. 

During this 61st Legislative Session, state lawmakers are looking at a bill that would provide a transparent process for situations where the governor would have to appoint a United States senator to represent North Dakota.  A few other bills address the open meetings laws, detailing what counts as an open meeting and under what circumstances city and county officials can meet. 

 Although few people remember the IVA or E.W. Everson, in some ways this is his legacy.  North Dakota still has a very large state government, but the spirit of cooperation has continued and there is also a sense of caution. 

State lawmakers talk about balancing the several needs of the state with putting money away for a rainy day.  Every bill introduced to the Legislature has a public hearing.  Each bill is debated in House or Senate at least once, and in both houses if it has a good chance of passing.  The lawmakers themselves are citizens who leave their jobs for around four months every other year in order to look after the interests of the state.

It’s common-sense politics, but it might not have been possible without the 1921 recall election and the policy changes that followed.  As embarrassing as a recall election or impeachment might be to a state, it’s also a sign of freedom, a sign that the citizens are watching, a sign that they will not put up with mandated limits on the freedoms they hold dear.

As audacious as it may be, it’s a sign of hope.