The Bismarck tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, N.D.) 1916-current, 1918-01-24
THE GOVERNORS MESSAGE.

Inc governor $ message was HdSlly WflLlcI; III
covered with much brcvity a broad field, and it is
not destined to go down in history as a great state
paper. 1t pledged the support Of the state admin
istration to the prosecution Of the war as heartily
as could be expected in the light Of his ST. Paul per
Torrance. Knowing, as North Dakota does, the type
of men with whom the governor has trained during
the last two years, perhaps it is asking too much to
expect more at this time. Happily, these SOW.
ers Of discord and disciples Of destruction are not
present in this session, in which the league shows
it's good sense. The average honest, earnest, patri-
otto North Dakota farmer is fairly we'll fed up with
the Kate Richards O1larc type of propaganda.
The most definite declaration Of principles which
is contained in Governor Frazier's message is: elm
ternational law and treaties must be kept sacred. -
He also comedies that 'Thc United States is in this
war for principle, justice and dcmocracy.'
These admissions do not measure up with Town
ley's p%reachments in the state tour which commenced
at Devils Lake on Registration day, last June, and
which the governor announced at Mandan he was
proud to share. There was nothing in the COVER
nors message about "capltalism' and ''protiteer-
ing" and rich mems Wars.' None of the trite
phrases which have rippled so smoothly from the
tongues Of ToWnley and Bowen and Thomson and
Kate Richards OHare and others of their school. In
this, the governors message was a distinct improve
ment-as much, perhaps, or more than we have a
right to expect from our chief executive in view Of
the influences with which he is surrounded.
It gives cause to hope that some day, standing
on his own bottom, Governor Frazier may come out
and prove himself the man his friends have always
claimed him to be.
The absence of Townlcy and Bowen and Thoma-
son and co-socialsts is a favorable sign. It's effects
may be seen in closer cooperation and greater har-
mony among the lawmakers. They are neighbors,
assembled here to attend to their own business, with,
seemingly, little interference from those direful inh,l-
ences which invaded the deliberations of the regll-
lar session a year ago. The lcag,icrs are more ap-
proachablc, more inclined to reason and to place
some confidence in their fclloUmen.
There are legislators in the league as we'll as out
side OF it who are inclined to distrust the motives
behind the calling of the special session, but they
are open to conviction. They can best be convinced
through a prompt adoption by the league majority
in the house today of Senator HeckIe's sensible
joint resolution combining legislation to those mat
tiers recommended by Governor Frazier in his mes,
sage. a@
There undoubtedly will be some debate over the
form III which these measures are to be enacted into
law With expenditures already tens of thousands
in excess of those of the Hanna administration,
there are some who doubt the wisdom Of giving the
commissioner Of agriculture $4,000 more for the adj
ministration Of the ''seed and fced'' bonding act.
and another $4,000 to the state seed commissioner.
The home guard units of the state are opposed to
any administration measures affecting their status.
They cannot give Governor Frazier credit for such
a change OF heart as his sudden cspousaI Of the
home guard movement would indicate, following the
attack winch he made on these domestic soldiers in
an interview at Minot. The Minot interview has
never been denied or contradicted. 1t still stands
as an expression Of the governors views on this sub
ject: ne is still quoted as having said that the homo 4
guard was unnecessary. {
The state s insane wards must be cared for: if c
the bank guaranty act is worth anything, it should i
merit a small initial appropriation to give it effect. a
The proposed amendments to the grain grading act a
further concentrate political power in the
hands OF the league, but the wisdom Of this step is Il
matter for the legislators to thresh out. l
Ii the league proceeds to prove it's sincerity by n
when it has accomplished that for which
he special session presumably was called; if it re- p
rains from str1nglng out the session and piling I'D u
more. debt upon the people Of this state, merely that #
t may manufacture political ammunition to be used c
n the primaries, there will be comparatively little 81
although there will always be a large O.
element which can never be satisfied that this spe- a
,ial session was n~ecessary-except perhaps, to the K
Of the league.
A Galesburg Qll.) Mail wedding notice saws:
sThe guests were marched to the coal room to the a
strains OF Lohengrin's wedding march, In the v
middle west, nowadays, you don't size up a bride by t
Ter wedding gifts, but by what's in her dads coal Q
lin.
Cheer up! Big snow means Big winter wheat, G
nd you can spaak tAsschildren to keep warm. +