The Ward County independent. [volume] (Minot, Ward County, N.D.) 1902-1965, 1921-04-28

A crowd estimated at nearly $500
gathered at the high school auditor
ium Wednesday evening to hear the
debate between Senator Bert +. Bake.
of Renville county and Francis }.
Murphy, prominent lawyer. on the
question Of whether or not the recent
investigation by the house and the sen.
ate tended to show that the Bank OF
North Dakota as heretofore managed
has been benefit to the state as a
whole. Senator Baker, who was chair
man of the Senate investigating COM
mittee, representing the Nonpartisan
league, took the affirmative while At
ty. Murphy, one of the two attorneys
employed by the house investigating
committee spoke for the negative.
Baker led off, speaking for so min
utes, then Murphy spoke for 20 min
utes, and Baker was given 2O min
utes in-rebuttal.
The debate was the most interesting
held in Minot since the famous David
Golstein-Arthur LIE Sueur debate near
ly ten years ago. The mammoth aud
itorium was packed by eight o'clock,
many coming at z o'clock to be sure
to secure good seats. Hundreds stood
at the sides and in the rear of. the
auditorium and many chairs were brot
in. People even sat on the steps in
the aisles. Many had driven in from
Mohall. Garrison, and other points
from distance Of rs miles or more.
Altho the farmers were busy seeding,
many of them put in good day, jump
in in their cars and arrived in time
for the debate. There were fully as
many farmers as tOwnspeople and
members of both factions were we'll
represented.
Usher L. Burdick, former lieuten-
ant governor and at present presi-
dent of the North Dakota Farm Bur-
eau, was chairman. He announced that
it had not been fully decided whether
Roberts Rules of Order or Queens
berry rules should prevail. 1T means
a great deal that SO many people came
here to be enlightened" he said. 1T
will be the first time in 60 years that
debates of this moment are presented
to the people and no doubt these de-
bates win be continued. turnout the
state either by the same speakers. or
Others" He said the audience would
not be permitted to ask questions. He
asked that neither side hiss the speak,
ers and urged the audience to listen
to both speakers open minded, az
tho sitting on jury. Its q big guess
ton and must be settled at a later
date, he said. 1t was no doubt due to
some extent to the fairness of the
chairman that the debate proceeded in
such orderly manner. There was no
kissing. Occasionally one side or the
other would laugh heartily or cheer
some telling point enthusiastically.
It may be that not many votes We're
changed either way. Most of the
audience had hardly made up their
minds on the subject. The crowd
seemed to come for entertainment and
no one went away disappointed. Per-
haps there are not two men in the
state better informed or better pre-
pared to discuss the subject. Mr.. Muir
ply is one Of the states foremost at
torneys, ready speaker and wit
while at times he can display rare bits
of sarcasm. He showed little Bit
terness however and said he looks up
on those opposed to his views as being
misled but willing and ready to do
the right thing.
Senator Baker, who has resided at
Glenburn for the past Is years where
he is a farmer, had never been heard
in Minot except at one or two minor
gatherings. He proved to be a ready
speaker, was we'll versed in his sub
ject and showed good judgment in
evading certain points that Murphy
had made and which were better left
unexplained, while he dwelt on those
things SO dear to the hearts of the
league members with telling effect
as far as they were concerned. The
time was too short for either speaker
to 20 into the subject fully. They
hit the high spots only. Baker had
somewhat Of an advantage in being
allotted 20 minutes for rebuttal and
while he kept rather cool during the
first so minutes, he warmed up con-
siderably in the rebuttal. When his
friends cheered him, he asked them to
quit and give him time to say what
he wanted to say during the short
time that he had for rebuttal In his
rebuttal Baker made some statements
that would have called forth some red
hot remarks from Murphy had he been
given period for rebuttal. At the
conclusion of the debate, the speaker
shook hands and buried their hatchets
until they meet again.
Just before the debate the Minot
Community band, under the able dir
ection of Prof. John E. Howard, gave
delightful program. The band
numbers some forty musicians and
ranks with the best bands in the west.
A great deal of improvement was
noticeable since it's previous appear
ance.
Senator Baker stated that when he
was elected to the senate. he deter
mined to take the responsibilities for
any mistakes he would make in the
part he was to take in enacting laws,
but few laws were introduced and he
knew they were getting ready for g
great political battle. A new law had
been initiated by the people providing
for a board of state auditors to audit
the state industries. A large number
Of men came into the state to go thru