Grand Forks herald. [volume] (Grand Forks, N.D.) 1916-1955, 1919-04-11
kOsitxky Calls.
Stairs Bluff;
Challenges
For Debate
Tells Nonpartisan- Speaker
He Will Bring Records
Along and Let Him Ex-
plain Who is the Double
Crosser"
(By George A. Bensonl

state Auditor Karl kOSttZky q
called Speaker L. L. Stairs bluff.
Stair, one of the staunchest sup
porters the big chief has. could be
counted upon to resent Kositzky's dis
play of independence and Insurgency,
andnhe proved true to- the trust. He
wrote Kositzky a letter, in which he
evidently referred to the state auditor
as a "double-crosser."
Now, Kositzky wants to go to Bot
tineau to determine who the double
crosser is.
Here is what he wrote Stair:
Bismarck, N. D., April 3, 1919.
Hon. j.. L. Stair.
"Newburg, N. D.,
Dear Sir:
Il have your letter of recent date
and note what you say in regard to my
stand against some of the laws which
were passed during the last session of
the legislature, also that l am a
do~uble-crosser. Now Mr.. Stair. l am
going to go to Bottineau. in the near
future and give a talk and I am also
going to bring some records along and
have you explain matters. There are
some important matters which the
people want explained and you will
have a chance to explain them and
also prove. who the real double-cros-
sers are. BE sure and come, or to ac-
commodate you what date will be de-
sirable for you and I will orange to
come on your date, providing you give
me a weeks notice.
"Yours truly.
Carl r. Kositzky."
So far, Mr.. Kositzky has received no
reply from the speaker.
Stair, it will be recalled, was the
man who vas elected speaker of the
house because of the influence he
would have in other states. His cleo
ton was forced upon the caucus men,
bers by Townley, and the night the
caucus made its nomination, one Of
Townley's chief ~lieutenants declared
they wanted Stair" because of the
propaganda work he could do in other
states. .'t a.,
=, Dell Patterson, the league SPELL
binder, in speaking in behalf of Stairs
candidacy. declared that we will
decorate him with such honors that he
can go into any state with, honor"
Walter Maddox of Plaza, was the
only other nominee, but, despite the
fact that he was the popular choice,
no n spoke for him during the eau
Gus meeting. A few hand-picked men,
named by Townley. were eloquent in
their praise Of Stair, and he was fore
ed upon the house. Maddox could
- lax output " oil Ill1OTlCy
members for, at a meeting held the
same night, they decided to vote for
him providing he could get the caucus
endorsement.
Stair was one of the original organ
1zers of the league. With A. c. Town
ley and F. c.. Wood, he Old pioneer
work, and at one time advanced $1400
didate for the United States marshall
ship. but despite the fact that he car
ried a whole grip-ful Of petitions to
Washington he could not take the job
from s. j. Doyle.
During the sixteenth session, Stair
did excellent work for the master. He
always heard the still, small voice,
and needed it faithfully. Townley
elected him and he served Townley
we:!.. Just how faithfully he did his
work is revealed by a little incident
that occurred when the session was
over.
During the ifty-third legislative day
7. F. T. O'Connor of Grand Forks,
introduced a concurrent resolution,
which, among other things, provided
an additional dollar a day in pay for
Miss Myrtle Lindberg of Rugby, the
desk s~tenographer in the house. The
resolution was introduced because of
the great amount of extra work Miss
Lineberg had to. do. It passed both
houses without a dissenting vote.
The day Miss Lindberg left Bis
marck she was informed by Speaker
Stair that we would not give her
the extra money. He made some
excuse about there being no roll call
when the resolution was passed. He
also intimated, it is reported, that
Miss Lindberg "had been against u.s.
during the session. So far as could
be learned, the particular sin for
which she was condemned was in
making a complete transcript of o. B..
Burtness' speech the closing night of
the session. 1t was the speech in
which Burtness defended the minor
ity members for signing a statement
attacking the leagues legislative pro-
gram, and it was the speech that the
leaguers did not care to have go in
and it has been pretty thoroughly dis
seminated since that day. Miss Lind
berg let Mr.. Burtness make 'correc-
lions in the transcript, but (Townley's
thanks to Geo. Totten Jr., the chief
clerk) most of these corrections did
not go into the Journal.
So Stair was a faithful laborer, and
no doubt worthy of his hire. Little
wonder that the state auditor proves
a fostering sore upon his hide, and
little wonder that Stair should hurl
anathemas at Kositzky.
But Kositzky has called his bluff!
It now is up to the speaker of the
house!
The message is in the hands of the
sergeant-at-arms. THE state auditor
waits without" Will the speaker
summon him to Bottineau?