The Bottineau courant. (Bottineau, Bottineau County, N.D.) 1895-1929, 1917-01-11
NORTH DAK0TA'S LEGISLATURE
By O. NJ THOMSON The Cou,ants Special Correspondent

/ Those who serve the dead
past will have to, some day, be
numbered with the political
dead, and it had come Hanna s
turn. AS clever politician he
had induced the people to place
upon him the highest honor in
their possession and he had
straightwav betrayed the trust
ing confidence of that people.
Faithfulness to interests that
I'prey upon his own people had
brought upon him the disap-
proval of nearly all the people
of his state. They did for him
what they do for all such-when
they find out-retired him to
private life where ne will re-
main as long as he lives and re-
mains in the state Of North Da-
kota. His political future has
withered like Jonah's gourd
vine, his political hopes have
blasted like the accursed fig
tree and his name will go down
to posteriety an unpleasant
memory. We do not even
pause to shed a tear or drop a
sprig of myrtle-we pass swift
ly on to more important busi-
nes ss.
Governor Frazier's speech
was a masterpiece of simplicity
and directness. 1t did not
mince words, hedge or dodge.
1t contained no gush, flattery
or weasel words. It hit the
spot. rang the bell, went to the
bulls eye and did everything
else that a plain, simple address
on burning and vital subject
delivered by plain blunt man
should do-went across and left
no confusion in the minds of
those who heard it as to it's
meaning.
After the preliminary para
graph it plunged straight into
the program Of the Nonpartisan
League. 1t recited the de-
,nands of that platform and
concluded it by saving, Il
earnestly recon mend that this
assembly let nothing stand in
the way of carrying out these
wishes of the people. And
not a man who heard these
words, caught his level glance
and faced his square jaw be
lieved this was all bluff.
Other recommendations con
tanned in the governors mess
age may be summarized AS
follows:
Semi-annual payment of tax
Reduction of the contract
rate of interest from 10 to s
per cent, with tnisdemeanor as
the penalty for taking usury.
Creation of the state highway
commission.
Minimum m wage lawfor wo-
men and children and regula
ton of hours of employment.
Adoption of a reasonable
compensation act.
Creation of a labor bureau in
connection with the office of
the commits ,ioner of agricul-
ture.
Adoption of the Wisconsin
probation system.
Civil service in some appoint
i've offices.
Placing the inspection of oils
under the pure food depart
ment.
Enforcement of hotel inspect
ion by the pure food depart
ment.
Consolidation of state tax
commission with the state
board of equalization
Liberal appropriation for ex-
perimental work in utilizing
Ignite coal.
Better drainage laws.
Make state superintendent of
public instruction a member of
the board of regents and extend
his authority.
Increased state attention to
the problem of rural schools.
Orphans home. ..
That the office of fire marsh
al be abolished and the work
of his Office be taken over by
the insurance commissioner.
Nonpartisan election ballot.
Let us act," concluded the
governor, that our state will
be a better place in which to
live; a better place in which to
make a home; a better place in
which to rear our children so
l. - 4