The weekly times-record. (Valley City, N.D.) 1912-1922, 1922-10-05

ton has loaned, during the nine and
one half months of operation ending
Sept. 18th, $4,S00,O00 to farmers on
farm lands, or nearly twice the
amount loaned by the Frazier-Lemke
administration during the two years
of their operation. South Dakota Wis
itors state that the North Dakota
system of appraising farm lands pre-
paratory to making loans is better
than the system in use in their state
but that the North Dakota system de-
lays the completion of loans some
what. The North Dakota law should
be revised to speed up its operations
and reduce the need of a huge revolv-
ing fund. Under the Nestos adminis-
tration that department has been put
on business basis and is making
loans rapidly and efficiently, and yet
the league would ask the farmers of
the state to restore Lemke to power
so that the farm loan department
could be put back on its former inef-
ficient basis. They may do it but we
do not believe they will.
Is there any reason why a North
Dakota voter should support Frazier
and Lemke? If there is we don't know
it. Frazier and Lemke were recalled
from office because Of their incompe-
tence and lack Of administrative abil-
ity which they lacked when in office
or are they any more competent than
they were year ago? If they have
had any experience during the past
year that would add enough to their
ability to recommend their return to
office there might be an excuse for
the voters to give them their support
but if they have enjoyed beneficial ex-
periences we have failed to hear Of it..
Frazier has spent the year on his farm
at Hoople. He had lived on his farm
there for years before being elected
governor of the state and the expert
ence did not seem to add to his admin
istrative ability. If that experience
did not make a good executive before
there is no reason to suppose that it
would fit him for the position which
he seeks this fall. Lemke has spent
part of the past year in Mexico
looking after his interests there. The
balance Of the time has been spent in
his law practice at Fargo. He did the
same things before being elected at
torney general and his administration
while in that office was the most ex-
pensive and incompetent this state has
ever seen. Lemke has not foresWorn
any of his radical, idealistic ideas nor
has he shown any repentance for his
actions in the Scandinavian American
bank deal, his authorization of the
payment of unearned moneys TO Geo.
Webb, his violation of the Homebuild-
ers law in building himself a $4,000
home in Fargo, his share in the polit-
ical activities of the Frazier admins
tration in placing redeposits in de-
funct banks or his share in the con-
duct Of the farm loan department in
advancing applications Of land specu-
lators, Favorable to the league, for
farm loans ahead of worthy "dirt"
farmers. Under those conditions, and
remembering that Lemke is still try
ing to justify his activities while in
office formerly, why should he receive
any support for the office of chief
executive Of this state? Of course
Lemke and Frazier pleaded that the
laws governing the different state
industries were loosely drawn and
that they were forced to handle state
affairs according to their best judg-
ment. In the first place the laws
should not have been loosely drawn
but since they were who is to blame.
Lemke was the man who governed
the league caucus during the leglsla-
tive session and the man who pass
ed on all league bills, in fact was the
man who framed the majority of
them. If they were loosely drawn he
is the man responsible. Should he be
returned to position Of power in
state affairs on that showing? Aside
from the fact that the bills were loose
ly drawn do you, as Il taxpayer, want
man at the head of state affairs
whose best judgment is as faulty as
his has been shown to be? A bust
ness man of less than average ability
would not have been guilty of the
costly error made by the Frazier-Lem-
Ike administration and still those two
worthy CD gentlemen ask your sup