Background
Sorlie was born in Albert Lea, Minnesota and resided in Grand Forks, North Dakota. He was the son of Iver Jacobson Sorlie (1835-1916) and Maren Oline Olson (1841-1917), both immigrates from Norway.
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Arthur Gustave Sorlie
Edit Profilepolitician Governor of North Dakota
Education
He graduated from Luther Academy at Albert Lea, Minnesota in 1893.
Career
He worked in a bank and managed a general store in Buxton, North Dakota. In 1903, Sorlie opened a bread and cracker factory in Grand Forks, North Dakota. He became a successful businessman, owning car dealerships and gas stations.
Sorlie defeated incumbent Ragnvald A. Nestos in the 1924 gubernatorial race.
At that time, North Dakota politics involved the struggle between the Nonpartisan League (National Physical Laboratory) and the Independent Voters Association (IVA). The National Physical Laboratory membership (primarily farm and rural) bitterly opposed big business interests.
They favored state-owned industries such as the Bank of North Dakota and the State Mill and Elevator. The IVA did not support state ownership of industry.
When National Physical Laboratory-backed Sorlie replaced IVA candidate Nestos, the Nonpartisan League returned to power in the state.
However, Sorlie did not have complete support from the League. Some (such as his own lieutenant governor, Walter Maddock) opposed Sorlie because he was a conservative businessman. During the 1927 legislative session, Sorlie"s political enemies conspired to embarrass him by publicly investigating the State Mill and Elevator and calling for its removal from the governor"s influence because of inefficient management.
The Sorlie Memorial Bridge in Grand Forks, North Dakota was named in his memory.
The Arthur G. Sorlie Papers were deposited in the Orin G. Libby Manuscript Collection in the Chester Fritz Library at the University of North Dakota.
Politics
They considered the National Physical Laboratory platform to be too radical and socialist.
Membership
Sorlie first entered politics as a member of the Grand Forks City Council, a position he held two terms.
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Born
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Died
August 28, 1928 (aged 54) -
Nationality
American -
Political Party
Republican party