Bismarck daily tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, Dakota [N.D.]) 1881-1916, 1907-03-16
Evils
GRAND FORKS TIMES GIVES
LIEUT.. GOVERNOR DESERVED
PRAISE

lEUT.JGOVERNOR DESERVED
PRAISE
Grand Forks Times: Few officers of
the state have made a better record in
the execution of their duties than has
Lieutenant Governor Lewis in the dis
charge Of his, as presiding officer of
the senate. 1t is true that in the major
ity of cases an election to that po-
sition means the political death Of the
one so leceted. But in this instance
it will be found that the election Of
Lieutenant Governor Lewis will be
something like the election of Garrett
A. Hobart as the candidate for the
yice-p presidency in the first Mckinley
fcampaign. It will be remembered that
though he had never been in public
life priors to his selection for th sec
ond place on the republican ticket, he
proved himself to be one of the wisest
and safest counselors of his party and
the nation, and on many occasions he
was the. diplomatic and successful
agent for the solving Of the dificult
and perpIexing problems which con-
fronted the first few years Of the adj
ministration in which he held the sec
ond place.
| Mr.. Lewis came to the position with
no boasts nor no promises and when
he assumed the gayel on Jan. g he
was as much untrammeled as any man
could possibly be. But the task be-
fore him at that. time was no easy
one. He was the presiding officer of
la body composed of not only different
political parties but of party factions
all bent on securing every advantage
possible. Out of this confusion it was
bnecessary to so develop a sentiment of
friendliness and good wall that the
public interests would not suffer. In
the appointment of the committees
and in dozen other instances the
good judgment and tact. as well as the
diplomacy of the presiding officer Of
the highest legislative body of the
state carried the members along a
path so smooth that when the session
closed there were no scars, no unkind
feelings, no bitter envyings. b
Much Of the ease and rapidity with
which the work wash done was due to
the splendid ability of the presiding
officer His unerring judgment, his
comprehensive knowledge Of parlia-
mentary practice and procedure, and
his alretness all combined to give him
g mastery of the situation at all times
that kept the body over which he was
presiding in the very highest. con-
dition for work, and enable it to make
better progress than would have been
possible had other methods been in
vogue In the chair. 5. s-sxs
He harmonized the differences be-
tween the members when such differ
ences came, and the confidence Of the
members in his fairness as wen as
their respect for him personally en-
aDled him to do more in this particu-
lar than could any other man have
done. q .#,s &. 3ss5
That these things had their effect
upon the senate's deliberations is cyl
denced by the character Of the legisla-
ton which came from that body. It's
work was not, hastily. not carelessIy
done, and the differences of opinion
among the members on the more Inn
po'rtant matters Of legislation were
fought out in committees and by par-
sonal conferences, so that when the
measures reached the senate there
was little to do excpet to formally call
the toll and record their Judgment.
The lieutenant governor being dis
interested party could well seek to .ac-
complish compromises which the
members themselves could not do and
which they in many instances were
not disposed to do. It was such COM
promises which gave the senate It's
record for careful consideration Of ali
the measures which came before ii al
Well as the serious investigation which
marked every deliberation. There was
not q member of the senate who did
not leave Bismarck with profound
esteem for the presiding office and q
high opinion Of his ability as public
ofticial. He has made record 81
which he may well be proud and 81
which is party and friends need not
DC ashamed. There will be other lieu-
tenant governors as there have been
~ the past, but the record of the pres
ent one win not suffer by comparison
with those who have preceded him
and II will indeed be lucky for the
state Il another is found who sur.
passes him in the future.
VIM. christman MISSING.