Grand Forks herald. [volume] (Grand Forks, N.D.) 1916-1955, 1922-08-11
DIR. LADD WILL NOT DO.

Not many people will take very seriously the
suggestion that the management of the state ee-
vator and Mill at Grand Forks, or of any part of it
will be entrusted to Senator Ladd. 1t is quite Ger,
tain that the industrial commission will not consider
such a suggestion seriously. Yet the suggestion has
been made, and with a certain air of plausibility
Let us see what it involves. .n.
The state of North Dakota went into the ele.
vator and mill business against the Judgment of a
great many of its citizens. The conditions under
which the movement gained Roadway need not now
be recapitulated. 1t is sufficient to recall the fact
that a large number Of those who questioned the
wisdom of the enterprise acquiesced in it in defer
ence to the wishes and the convictions of other citi-
zens who, they felt, were entitled to a demonstration
of the possibilities of such an enterprise.
The history of the Inauguration and early prog
ress of the work is a sad record of incompetence and
extravaganza. Because of the demonstrated unfit
ness of the state administration of that period to
deal with this and other business projects it was re-
called, and a new administration was chosen. The
candidates for the positions to be filled went before
the people with the definite pledge to take over the
elevator and mill project, rid it of its barnacles and
encumbrances, carry the work of construction to
completion in the most effective manner possible,
and operate it in good faith as a straight business
enterprise, making the very most of all its possibili-
ties.
Thus far those pledges have been religiously
kept. The appointment of DR.. Ladd as manager of
the institution, in the impossible event that such a
thing were to be considered, would be a violation
of pledges solemnly made, and hitherto kept. The
members of the industrial commission know that if
the enterprise is to be successful it can be so only
under the management of ia thoroughly competent
business man who has the equipment which can be
gained only by long and broad experience in the
handling of that class of work. {
DR.. Ladd is an experienced chemist. He has
the reputation of being a capable one. 1t is no dis
credit to him that he is not experienced in commerce
or manufacture. His activities have been in other
directions. But it would be as foolish to place him
in charge Of a great enterprise which demands tech
nical skill in a line in which he has no experience as
it would be to place a miller or an elevator man in
charge of a chemical laboratory.
Such an appointment would mean that the state
industrial commission expected and desired the en-
4terprise to fail. and that it washed its hands of the
whole affair. That would be a breach of faith not
to be considered. The fact that many people might
have faith in the ability to work wonders. and in fact
to perform impossibilities, and would. therefore be
deprived Of a basis of protest if he were appointed
would not relieve the administration of it's own re-
sponsibility.
1t is not the business of the state administration
to use this business project as a means of making
political medicine, directly or indirectly. 1t is its
business to make that enterprise stand on it's own
feet and serve the people. of the state-to make it a
success if success is humanity possible. To that end
it must select for responsible positions in charge OF
the work the very best men that it can find, and The
Herald has every confidence that this will be done