The Bismarck tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, N.D.) 1916-current, 1927-08-17
STATE MILLS
WHEAT BUYER
Is REMOVED
S0rlie Names C. A. Bell to
Succeed Webster-Spencer
Is Promoted

Removal by Governor A. C. Sorlie
of H. M. Webster as wheat buyer for
the state mill and elevator at Grand
Forks and the appointment Of C. A.
Bell TO take his place was announced
here today upon the return Of the
governor from Grand Forks, where he
attended special meeting of the
North Dakota terminal exchange yes.
terday. At the same time o. l.
Spencer, manager of the mill depart.
ment, was designated general man.
ager of the entire state mill and cle.
vator plant.
Mr.. Bell. the new wheat buyer, has
served the state owned institution as
a grain solicitor and later as flour
salesman and was cited by Coverno,
S0rlie as an efficient man in bott
positions. He pointed out that Mr.
neu's promotion is just recognition
offAfS sservices.S ss.-e .s.. =. 4
Removal Of Webster is believed
here to be q direct result OF the re
port Of the mill fact finding com nit
tee appointed by the state senate las
winter.
Rumors that Webster would be re-
moved were in circulation here be
fore the governor went to Gran,
Forks early this week. On Saturday
however, the executive had said tha
he had no changes to announce.
/ Governor Gives Reasons
On his return here at noon today
however, the governor said he ha,
removed Webster because the latte
"could not seem to visualize the man
ner in which l wanted to handle tn
wheat PURCHASES for the mill"
He had taken the matter up wit
Webster repeatedly, the governo
said, directing that wheat for tn
mill be bought through farmers ele
vators, local independent elevator
/ and from farmers who could ship di
rect to the mill.
Webster, the governor said, is a
| old elevator man and familiar wit
the established methods Of purchas
ing grain and apparently could no
grasp or put into effect the system
Of buying as nearly direct from tn
producer as possible which the gov
ernor wished to inaugurate.
Webster is fine fellow" tn
governor said, "but it proved har
| to teach an old dog new tricks. N
still convinced that the mill can bu
| all the wheat it needs in North Da
kota without going to Minneapoll
for it," A
The mill fact finding committee ha
! made two reports to the governor
neither Of whickshas been made pub
lie. One report was presented las
| winter at about the same time ma
terially different report Was made
the state senate and to the publ,
The latest report WAS filed sewers
| weeks age and reaffirmed' the sug
| gestions which the committee mad
last winter.
! Changes In Methods Urged
These are said to have provide
for changes in the method Of buyin
wheat for the mill and for change
In the method of selling the flour.
The committee II said to hay
charged that the mill paid more 70
grain last year than the marke
price elsewhere justified and to hav
/ attributed this % one Of the reason
for the poor financial showing OF th
mill in 1925. Friends Of the Cover
nor who appear to know the content
| Of the, report claim that the mill pai
more for It's grain becapee 1t pur
| chased It on the hasis Of protein con
1 tent and it slater devoloped that tn
high protein content of winter whea
| in Kansas ana elaewhere made pro
tein content : drug on the market
| As result, the explanation aoes, th
mill lost evsrything Il had paid 4
/ protein preMivHns.
The report q the senate committe
also 10 said 70 have chayeed that /
l e,,t@tenk3a1 nvn,AnsS1mw ~ thn whna