Grand Forks herald. [volume] (Grand Forks, N.D.) 1916-1955, 1922-11-13
KEEPING FAITH.

he Independents gained control of the state
administration a year agolbecause they had pledged
themselves to a program Of economy and efficiency
IN the handling of the states business, to the carry
ing out, in a sanely conservative way, Of certain
specific projects to which the state was committed,
and to the liquidation, at the earliest possible date,
of other projects which had been, entered upon with
out warrant, and the unwisdom of which had been
amply demonstrated. The independents retain con-
troll of the administration because they have car
ried out in good faith the pledges which they made.
There has been a lot Of nonsensical talk about
the independents adopting the Nonpartisan league
program. The league program is as vague as the
principles. of socialism, and as elusive as the pro-
|yefbial flea which is never there when one puts his
|hnger on it. Sometimes the official program has
been one thing, and sometimes another, depending
on Mr.. Townley's varying conception of what the
program should be. But the real program is more
than a. written declaration. 1t includes not only
written declarations, but actual performance. 1t
includes not only enterprises inaugurated under
the direct auspices of the state, but collateral prof.
|ects such as Consumers stores, newspaper projects,
agencies, chain banks, by means Of which pri-
lvate interests were to milk the state, the placing of
an army OF inconlpetents on the public payroll, III
reward for party services, rank favoritism in the
management OF every department, the degradation
OF the courts into mere machines for the clinching
of partisan schemes, and a riot Of extravaganza
which .heaped up indebtedness without leaving the
taxpayers anything to show for their money.
That, and much more, is the real league pro-
gram, and it is that which the Independents have
lopposed from the beginning, and to which they are
Iopposed now. The Independents. pledged them
selves to the Republication Of that program, and it
has been repudiatede and abandoned. ~
Governor Nestos and those who took Office
with him a year. ago were placed in controlso of the
states industries. They had the power to cause
the abandonment, not only of the wild projects
IfQ which there had never been justification, But
1pf those for which the demand antedated the or
ganization Of the .Nonpartisan league. There were
those who urged that in the pursuance }of. a safe
and sane policy this Should be done. No such plan
WAS given consideration for a moment. The pledges
(which had been made were respected, and they
have beer carried out faithfully. Had this not been
done North Dakota would not now stand where
lshe does. as the one member Of a great group lof
northwestern states in which radicalisrn. has been
effectively checked and ernphatcaliy rebuked. Tie
adrninistfatiafn has shown no leanings in the direc-
ltion of radicklisin, bution the other hand ittf'has not
lcommittsd the irretfisvable blunder Of ADOPTING
|reaetio1sry policy Therefore the good sense Iof
tihie state has siignid6edd iis approval Of tbescourse
Iof 10 oAicials, sfnd SIhas CONTINUED their iease of
le1fhoritY IN order that gtheEexceIlent work which
have performed thu. farA may Sc carried oaut.
IKE has never been nsthe history ii tie state
Hbett3s iIl,Is4r sfi1h DI Ae value ofSwisdo1m earnest.
lnsss ~ mod ration an thls handing 81 public Sc