The Bismarck tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, N.D.) 1916-current, 1925-01-17
N0NPARTISANS
TAKE STEPS TO
ORGANIZE BODY
Probes Which Were Under
stood Sometime Ago to be
Agreed on, Taken Up y.
ATTITUDE OF SORLIE
Governor Has Not Changed,
Opposed to Political
Investigations :
ATTITUDE OF sORLIE


state departments is understood to
have been decided upon by Nonparti-
san League members of legislature
in caucuses and conferences, and ac-
cording to information today organi-
zation Of investigatory machinery
will be carried on in next two days.
The State Highway Commission
and state institutions under manage
ment of board of administration, and
Depositors Guaranty Fund commits
sion are investigations said to have
been voted upon by Nonpartisan
League members of legislature in
caucus. Repeal of the board of
managers law for the state mill also
was favored.
Governor A. G. Sole, who returned
from Grand Forks yesterday, ap-
peared before Nonpartisan League
caucus for the first time last night
since he became Governor. Unusual
secrecy was thrown about caucus,
with all Nonpartisans except men,
bers of legislature and executive
committee barred from its early de-
liberations.
Governor Sorlie yesterday reiter-
ated his previously announced stand
upon investigations-that he object
ed to political inquiries, desired to
preserve harmony program he out
lined in legislature and did not favor
Investigations if there was not ample
evidence to warrant them. He indi-
Gated, however, it is understood that
he would not oppose will of ma
jority Of Nonpartisans if it was felt
there was good reason for opening
inquiries.
Rumpus Starts
, A rumpus started soon after the
caucus opened, Indicative of the
strained feeling in the Nonpartisan
camp. 1t was decided to bar all per-
sons from the caucus except the
members of the legislature and the
League state executive committee.
Roy Frazier of Crosby and S. S. Nc
Donald of Bismarck being the only
two members of the committee pres
ent. 1t was evident from this action
that it was to be session in which
kid gloves would be laid aside.
Among those barred from the eau
Gus were W. j. Church, former
League state chairman; J. C. Miller,
former representative from Botti-
neau county; Anthony Walton of
Minot; Herman Hardt of Napoleon,
third party man, and John Mad
dock, former representative from
Benson county. AS result of the
decision to bar them from the eau
Gus, several of the Leaguers held a
little meeting and drafted q petition
which. was sent to the caucus, stat
ing that it was unfair to bar the
former Senators and Representa-
tives from the deliberations. They
we're admitted finally, but not until
Governor Sorlie had spoken.
SOrlie's Speech
The chief executive remained in
the. League caucus from an hour and
half leaving before it was finished.
He stressed his harmony program
to them in a speech, urged concil-
iation Of warning elements and re-
iterated that he did not favor poll
tical fishing expeditions in the form
Of Investigations. The executive,
however. it is understood, said that
he would not oppose any investiga-
tions that were founded on real
merit.
During the caucus session speech
es were made in which the affairs
Of the Highway Commission, in par
ticular, were discussed at consider
able length, and many charges made.
The charges of brutality to patients
at the insane hospital at jamestown
and other institutional management
under the board of administration
were also brought out.
Criticism against the Depositors
Guaranty Fund Commission and
management of closed banks is not
as severe as it was formerly, because
of the convincing figures made with
regard to the management of closed
banks, the payment Of a dividend by
the Guaranty Fund Commission and
the failure of an investigation of the
latter body two years ago to produce
any satisfactory results to critics.
DISCUSS Highways
The Nonpartisans also discussed
the proposed highways legislation, y
gasoline tax in particular, but reach
ed no definite conclusions.
An aftermath of the caucus and
the bitter feeling engendered among
the Nonpartisans came when Sena-
tor Del Patterson Of Donnybrook
whipped off his coat in a hotel lob
by and slapped Peter Arrhus of Far
60 in the face. Arrhus responded
by inviting Patterson to settle .af-
fairs in a hotel room but further
hostilities were prevented.
It has become apparent that the
Governors proposal that all appro-
priation bills be disposed Of in the
first 20 days Of the session will fail.
With IL days Of the session ended
today, all appropriation bills have
mot been introduced, more have beer
passed, and but few COMMITTEES re-
Jports have been made either. in the
(Contannaa - 49, <hrnal