The Bismarck tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, N.D.) 1916-current, 1924-05-26
NESTOS LAUNCHES CAMPAIGN

The address with which Cover
nor NeStOs launched the Independ-
ent speaking campaign at James
town presents an admirable out
| line OF the policy which has been
pursued by the present state ad-
! ministration as contrasted with the
platform OF what is left of the
| Nonpartisan league and the pecul-
lar fractional elements which have
| become associated with it.
The league element goes before
the people OF the state with the
declaration that its original indus
trial platform was necessary at the
time of its adoption, and is still
more necessary now, and with the
further specific declaration that he
Bank of North Dakota. must be
made to function az originally in
tended.
Governor NeStoS reminds the
voters Of the character of that orig
inal league platform. Ii includ
ed Il complete program Of state so
Cialism. 1t contemplated. not one
or two state elevators and mills.
but many II included state pack
ing plants, stores and factories
generally. IL is safe to say that
if it. had been possible for the pro
motors ol that policy to carry their
views into effect there would not
today be lett in the state OF North
Dakota a single private business
institution Of importance. State
institutions would have been .es-
tabIShed at every crOSsrOad. pri-
vate enterprise would have been
forced out of existence, and the
business of the state would have
been transacted by an army OF state
employees, all maintained at the eX-
penSe Of the taxpayers. Fortunate
ly, the league administration soon
reached the point where it could no
longer raise money on the credit
OF the state, and the expansion OF
state indnstrialism was checked.
AS examples OF what would have
occurred had the original program
been carried out the governor cited
the cases of the Consumers Stores,
the Home Building association and
other enterprises under league
management, whether or not d-
rectly related to the state govern
ment. The record of each OF these
enterprises is record of dismal
failure. Most Of them were mark
ed by graft and corruption, and all
OF them by incompetency. Yet the
league and its partners go to the
voters today with the demand that
the original program be revived
and followed.
The demand is also made that
the Bank of North Dakota be made
10 function as originally intended.
Originally intended by whom?
Townley, Lemke. Hastings, or
whom? The bank did function for
time in accordance with the
plans of these men and others of
their kind. AS evidenced by the
actual transactions it was one of
the purposes of these people to
use the Bank Of North Dakota as
an agency for the collection of pub
lie funds, and then to have these
funds transferred to the Scandina-
vim American bank of Fargo.
thence to be distributed in the
manner best calculated to promote
the political plans of the league
managers. That this course was
actually pursued is matter of
court record, and is beyond dis
pute. That program was interrupt
Ell as a result Of the recall cleo
ton. but the taxpayers Of the state
are now urged to revert to the for
mer conditions and cause the Bank
OF North Dakota to be operated as
originally intended. How to they
like it?
The governors summary of the
operation of the state mill and ele-
vator is a very clear presentation
OF the facts. The state was left
with a costly enterprise on its
hands, less than half completed,
and with contracts made at the
very peak of high prices. 1t had
to find the money with which to
complete construction, to organize
an operating force, and to find a
market for new product in the
face of the very keen competition
Of establishments of large capital,
long standing and wide experience.
Those tasks were undertaken, and
one by one they were performed.
The answer to the opposition's
charge that the present administra-
ton did not attempt in good faith
to make success of the business
OF the mill and elevator is its ac-
tual record of performance.
The governor is to be congratu-
lated on the excellent presentation
OF facts which he has made in his
opening address. He has made a
vigorous defense OF mis- own adj
ministration, and has shown the
hollowness of the ,pretension of
the OppOsition.-Grand Forks Her.