The evening times. [volume] (Grand Forks, N.D.) 1906-1914, 1912-10-29
NEED OF A BUSINESS GOVERNOR

"a - e
fore to the need of a careful and ca
pable business man as governor Of
this state. 1t is a statement that will
bear repetition. 1t is a we'll known
fact that taxation in the state is pref
ty high and that the governor is re-
sponsible either directly or indirectly
tor the burdens the people bear in this
particular. 1t is not essential that
the chief executive be corrupt to
cause a tax burden. He may be eth
er inexperienced or incapable.
No business man would employ an
other to conduct a business for him in
which hundreds of thousands of dol
lars are expended annually who had
not had an experience amounting to
proficiency in conducting similarly
large enterprises. This state is mere
ly an immense business institution in
which the income is derived directly
from the people in the form of taxes
and the governor. as the business
manager, has the expenditure Of this
income in his keeping.
1t is his business to see hat the
state as his business enterprise, gets
the greatest good possible for every
dollar expended. The state peniten.
tiary. the insane asylum. the blind
asylum. the institution for the feeble
minded. the deaf school, the state uni
versity. the agricultural college, the
normal industrial school and the
school Of forestry and the three
normal schools are a few of the
public institutions supported by the
taxpayers and whose money is indi-
rectly under the business direction of
the governor. He has subordinates
for the immediate administration of
these enterprises. but they are the
same as subordinates in a business in
stitution. The governor is respon-
sible for them and has supervision
over them. Carelessness In the BUSH
ness conduct of any Of these Is a
waste OF he taxpayers money. Mr..
Hanna Is big enough business man
and has enough business training to
make him capable of conducting
those institutions to the best interests
Of the taxpayers.
Take the matter Of state banks.
They are essential to the prosperity
of the state. But they must be so
conducted that they will be safe for
every individual who intrusts q dol
lar to their keeping. Mr.. Hanna has
an experience as a banker-an ex-
perience gained in his own success
full conduct Of a bank-that will en-
able him to give the best service pos
sible to make the state banks sub
stantial and prosperous institutions
and at the same time perfectly safe as
repositories Of the public's money.
Yet another matter deserves men,
ton in this connection. Large sums
of money are expended in the inter-
ests of farmers every year. 1t is i'm
portant to them both as benefciaries
and taxpayers that this money be ex-
pended j%udiciously and intelligently.
Mr.. Hanna's experience as a pioneer
enables him to understand the needs
of the farmer who is now pioneering
as he did thirty years ago. while his
present farming enterprises enable
him to grasp equally we'll the needs
of the farmers in the older sections
place of pioneering.
If there were no other considera-
tons than those enumerated above.
1t would seem that the interest of
every taxpayer in the state would lie
in Mr.. Hanna's election, rather than
in hat Of a man whose experience
has touched none of the conditions
which must be met and solved by the
next governor Of North Dakota.