Grand Forks herald. [volume] (Grand Forks, N.D.) 1916-1955, 1921-11-07

! IAAIS l. 10 81 MILKY lklllIitl Wy 81 dlIlAuld
individual, to which some other individual con-
tributes by the sale of his vote. 1t is impossible
for one to know that bribery was: committed with
out knowing who committed it. He may guess,
or suspect, but he cannot know of the fact without
knowing something about the individual.
Who in North Dakota paid money for votes?
1T would be interesting to know that, and it would
be useful, BECAUSE that knowledge would result in
sending. some scoundrel or seoundrels to prison.
And, aside from any legal proceedings, it would in
tterest the public to know who has received that
money. Will Mr.. Mansfield please. explain?
THE PLAIN ROAD TO FOLLOW.
The road which must he followed by the new
administration in North Dakota is SO plainly mark
ed that it is almost incredible that doubt shouldEex7
ist as to where it is and in what direction it leads.
Since the election of October 2Sth, two con-
trasting views of the situation have found express
son. One of these is that inaslnuch as the initiated
laws submitted at the election were defeated, the
new administration is not bound to carry out the
proposed laws, that, on the contrary, it would be
warranted in reverting to the conditions of years
ago and abandoning not only the wild ,extravaga1-
ces which have existed recently, but the enterprises
to which the state is definitely committed and to
which the candidates themselves are specifically
pledged. The other view, equally extreme, which
is put forth by some of those in League circles, is
that because the voters of the state have declined
to place Limitations OH what has been known as the
League program, that program has been endorsed
in its entirety and that all that has been accomplish
ed is a change in the personnel of the ad1ninistra-
ton, the new officials being morally bound to carry
out the extreme program which had been prepared
under the late administration.
If there is any difference in the logic of these
two views, the latter is the more reasonable Of the
two. AS a matter Of fact, there is warrant for Meth
er. and neither can stand the test of inspection.
The fact is that the initiated laws were defeated
by a fluke. Most Of those who voted against the
Independent candidates voted against the proposed
laws. OF those who voted for the Independent can
I:1-%n- >-~..1 .o,>.-I IT, -....'A = l.
feat. The result was not foreseen or intended, and
it is utterly elf-contradictory
We need not investigate the vote ON the laws
to determine what the voters desired, Three can
didates went before the people, pledged to a certain
program. Their pledges were made very specif-
ically and very publicly. Every person in the state
! lad opportunity to know what those men stood for,
! and with that knowledge on the part Of the people
these candidates were elected. That is the verdict
! o! the voters Of North Dakota. 1t is, idle to specu-
late on it's meaning when the meaning is so very
l plain. That meaning is that the Independent can
didates were elected for the purpose of conducting
l the affairs of North Dakota in the manner i'll which
they had promised to conduct them. From that
! obligation there is no escape, and the recently elect
t ed officials have no desire to escape from it.
When the whole situation is sinmered down,
a without the obligation Of honesty and economy in
administration which would exist even without
E pledge, tho policies to which the new administra-
e ton is committed resolve themselves in the main
into two issues, SO far as the industrial and financial
work of the state is concerned. First, the mill and
I elevator project must be completed, and the enter
E Prise must be operated efficiently and in good faith,
r and upon a scale large enough to demonstrate con-
4 clusWely its possibilities. Second, the farm loan
{ business of the state must be expanded as rapidly
!, rs this can safely be done in order that there NAV
$ be provided for the farmers the opportunity to Dor
: row money on terms mutually beneficial to the Dor
;. rover and the state at large.
These two things do not. of course, exhaust
$ the requirements OF the situation, but they are the
two conspicuous elements in the program which
II must be worked out. The failure Of the proposed
. law changing-th the makeup Of the industrial commits
$ sion leaves the management of affairs in the hands
a Of the three men just elected, a contingency which
n was not expected, and which must be met as it ex-
| lists. That does not. change the obligation to carry
out the work which the Independents have been
pledged to perform. 1t had been expecte dthat the
e Bank of North Dakota, as such, would be entirely
j.. discontinued as soon as its affairs could be wound
Iup. Under the circumstances, this can not be done.
q but the administration can utilize the machinery OF
that bank for the working out of an intelligent farm
Q loan policy, and can practically restrict the work Of
h the Bank of North Dakota to that activity.
1t can not be too strictly insisted on that in
r. these or other similar instances there must be no
/ playing with the situation, that an attempt to deal
& lightly with the situation would react not only
upon the incoming administration, but upon ali
S those who have supported Unsuccessful candidates.
K # from no higher motive,ssas 4 matter: Of plain poll
tics, there can, be noireversion to a reactionary pol
+ icy. We must go forward along the lines indicated,
: and it is a matter. Of gratification that the elected
officials since their eIecAon continue to pledge
: themselves in this manner as heartily and as ear
) nestly as they did before their election.
Now that the recall election is over we will
/ have a little time to find out what's going on in con
nection with limitation Of ornaments, the Irish
qpestion, the coal strike, and other minor matters
3 of that.sort.
i Senator Watson is certainly having a beautiful
Z time with himself IN the senate. According to his
dIideas any man who happened tobe an officer IN the
4 la I. r. is at least Under suspicion if not IN disgrace
! flor life. All Of said officers are doubtless thankful