The Redwood gazette. [volume] (Redwood Falls, Minn.) 1873-1940, 1925-07-29
Raw Chase and
The big Three . as
Gunnar Sees Them

Well the course of true love never
did run smooth. Our good, efficient,
genial and trustworthy state audi
tor, Ray P. Chase, leading Republi-
can and receptive candidate for gov
ernor-now or some other time-has
come out in very caustic letter in
which he severely takes to task the
"Big Three"-the super-board un-
der the reorganization act.
1t is all over conflict of authori-
ty. The "Big Three" have seen fit
to turn down the appointment of a
certain man, made by the conservation
Board-of which latter board the
State Auditor is a member.
And there you are!
It's Board against Board-authori-
ty against authority.
The Administration and Finance
Commission-commonly called the
"Big Three"-issued a statement,
when they turned down the appoint
ment referred to, and it is to this
statement, and the source from
whence it sprung, that Mr.. Chase is
plying his compliments in the letter
that appeared in the papers Tuesday.
In substance the auditor tells the
"Big Three" that they do not know
what they are talking about; that
they are attempting to pass judg-
ment on subjects that they have
probably-he is no sure about it
Given one hours study each, whereas
he himself has given those same
subjects careful consideration for a
period of five years.
Plainly he tells the world that he
does not think much of the knowledge
that the Superboard has accumulated
on the subject in question.
All this may be lot of delightful
recreation for the state auditor, but
we fail to see wherein he expects to
serve the state, or the party he re-
presents. by so violently and so sud-
denly jumping off the reservation"
We will grant that he may be
right in the matter of the appoint
ment Of the man that all this fuss is
over, but was there not some way
of ironing this thing out without
heralding to the world the fact that
the state auditor, so colsely con-
nected with the administration of the
state government, thinks that he chief
commission under he reorganization
plan is bunch of numbskulls
Surely, Ray, this was not a gra-
cious thing to do!
People are wondering why this
statement was issued by the state
auditor and it seems that those who
have their ear to the ground see in
it nothing but a political move
poorly disguised.
This last statement it is not pos
sible for us to believe. We have
known Ray Chase for many years and
we have always found him a man
of honor and we cannot for a mo-
ment entertain the thought that he
is permitting that tickle, Turing thing,
Ambition to carry him off his feet.
There is no doubt that the state
auditor believes in the plan of reor-
ganization, as a general proposition.
Ray Chase stands for efficiency
and economy as is consistent with
efficiency.
That is the reason why we regret
to see him attempt to throw mon /.
key wrench into the machinery" at |
this particular stage of the game.
1t seems to US that this letter of his I
must have been "born in the whirl-
wind of ruffled temper-a decidedly
undesirable place to be born.
The reorganization act is an hon.
est attempt to secure better service
in carrying on the business of the
state. at lower average cost than
has been the experience in the past. |
That is all that it is.
The reorganization act is a man.
made law. We have never heard any,
one contend that it came down from
above.
Even the men who have been Sc
lected to administer the act are Just
ordinary men. No supernatural |
origin is claimed for them. |