Grand Forks herald. [volume] (Grand Forks, N.D.) 1916-1955, 1921-10-27
People Must Choose Between
Bog OF Socialism, and
I, Highway OF Efficiency and
Honesty In Public Service
Says Independent Candi-
date For Attorney General.
tHcrald Special service)

Cavalier, Oct. 26.4-what should go
down in history as Johnson's famous
crossroads speech was delivered here
to a large and enthusiastic audience
by the next attorney general for North
Dakota. this evening. Sveinbjorn
Johnson arrived here from points in
Towner and Cavalier counties. where
he also had successful meetings. His
speech was the ,calmest and ablest in
dictment Of the administration heard
IN these parts for a long time, and it
made a great impression.
Stand at Crossroads.
Mr.. johnson said in part:
W are standing at the. crossroads.
We have followed a tortuous road for
four years that has lei us into a mo-
rass Of waste. extravaganza and con
stantly mounting taxation. From
1918 to 1921 the state tax, exclusive
of the hail indemnity tax, has been
Multiplied almost four times. The
burden Of property has become we'll
nigh unbearable. Lands. sometimes
quite unproductive for al after year,
must year a, tax under the lew day
Of one dollar or more per acre. while
formerly the burden averaged only
about rs cents.
Burden Growing Heavier.
THE waste and extravagance
that have marked the course Of this
administration heretofore. the pro
gram they have planned Of going deep
er into creameries. mill construction
and the like, indicate that this burden
must become heavier in the future. If
we do not turn, the dream of Walter
Thomas Mills will be realized, as he
told a Chicago audience some time ago
that as a result Of the system Of tax
alton adopted in North Dakota by. the
N~onpartisan League. the tax burden
on lands would constantly and pro-
g~ressively increase. and the state after
a little own all the land, thus paving
the way for state socialism in full
flower. 4
Time to Count Cost.
rs 1t not time to stop and consider
what the new day is costing us and
what we, who pay the bill, have. re-
ceived or may hope to receive in RE-
turn?
Our credit has been ruined by an
administration that has disregarded
the ordinary standards of decency
which men have been accustomed to
respect in the public service.
"Our governor is notified in writing
on May II. 1919. that ENLIGHTENMENT
and fraud are taking place with refer
ence to public money directly under
his control. ass,chairnlan of the board
Of directors Of :the-Bank. of North Da-
kota; that this bank is being looted
n being used5by politicians for pri-
vate and party ends; that staggering
losses confront the people unless the
practice be at once corrected; that
personal ~favoritism marks the conduct
most scandalous mismanagement and
dishonesty characterize the manner Of
its control.
Governor Inert.
yet. he does nothing. He retains
the very men who are responsible for
the enormous losses to the people and
rewards them with renewed confidence
and 'preferment. Fraud and dishon-
esty in the public service seem badges
of honor, and Cathro and Lofthus and
the est are staunchly defended and
boldly retained in positions Of trust
and responsibility.
"Lofthus commits a fraud, in the
supreme court. admits it under oath,
and Mr.. Frazier rewards him by again
putting him in charge of the state
banks in North Dakota. Such a con-
temptuous regard of the public inter
ests is utterly unprecedented in the
history Of any state in the union.
IFS it any wonder that the investi-
eating public has become timid when
misconduct. and malfeasance in the
banking department of our great state
are rewarded instead of rebuked by
the administration. =
We have arrived at the fork in the
road. Shall we go or deeper into this
quagmire into which this administra-
ton has plunged us, or shall we turn
into the highway where open books,
honesty and efficiency in the public
service light the way?
Must Restore Credit.
I'VE are at the crossroads. Our
ruined credit must be restored or
thousands of farms will be lost in our
state. Men are unable to redeem from
foreclosures made las. year or to pre-
vent foreclosures this year. Capital,
thesmost timid creature in the world,
hesitates to come into u state under
existing conditions.
I'VE have been accustomed. wheth-
err we are farmers or residents of the
towns and the cities. to make our
loans through our local loan agencies.
the small real estate dealer or the
focal banks. These alllare in the bus
mess and have connections with in
vestors outside the state. In this way
SO millions or so millions have in
some years been loaned in North Da-
kota, and we need that much now to