The Bismarck tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, N.D.) 1916-current, 1928-08-29
Lieutenant Governor Becomes
18th North Dakota Execu-
tive Tuesday

Tragic solemnity marked the &C.
cession Of Walter E. Maddox, Plaza
farmer. to the governorship Of North
Dakota Tuesday at 4 p. m.
Called from his harvest field to
assumed the duties of chief executive
by reason Of the death of Governor
A. G. Sorlie early yesterday. Mad
dock took the office in the room
which for four years has been Gov
ernor Sorlie's private office.
Maddox, lieutenant governor for
more than three years, will perform
the duties Of the governorship until
his successor, to be elected in No
vember, takes office next January.
hinged about by the grim faces
OF other state officials and capitol
employees, the new governor stood be-
fore Chief Justice w. L. Nuessle of
the supreme court.
Each with appraised hand, Maddox
repeated the oath as it was slowly
intoned by the chief justice.
II do solemnfy swear that will
uphold the constitution Of the United
States and Of the state of North Da-
kota and that I will perform the
duties Of the office Of governor to
the best Of my ability, so help me
God"
That was all.
Wish Maddox Well
A camera clicked, and the assem-
bled office-holders, circling to the
left, passed slowly before North Da.
kota's fifteenth governor, shaking
his hand and wishing him well. In
the group were two women, Miss
Bertha r. Palmer, superintendent Of
public instruction, and another whose
identity was not disclosed.
Behind Maddox and Immediately
to his left stood John Burke, who
was governor Of North Dakota from
1907 to 1912, the only Democrat ever
elected to the office and the only
governor to serve three terms.
Further to the left stood j. NJ.
Devine, who 30 years ago this month
took the oath Of office Of governor
under exactly the same circum-
stances which marked Maddock's ac-
cession yesterday. Devine succeeded
Governor Frank Briggs, who died
August 8, 1898.
Across the semicircle and I little
to the rear stood the man who, in
all probability, will succeed Mad.
dock in office. He is George F,
Shafer, present attorney general and
Republican candidate for the gov
ernorship.
With the exception Of John
Burke's three terms. the Republi-
can gubernatorial candidate has al.
ways been successful in elections
for the last 30 years.
Issues Proclamation
Having been duly sworn in, Gov.
ernor Maddock's first official act
was to issue '"'amation order
ing oil flags in the state to be flown
at half-mast for the next 10 days
and requesting the people Of the
state to observe that period Is one
Of mourning.
Later he signed an order extradit.
ing Donald Brown, being held in
Walsh county, to Minneapolis to an
swer Z charge Of removing and con-
cealing mortgaged property.
Then he called upon Mrs. Sorlie,
widow Of the late governor, to extend
his condolences.
Governor Maddox arrived late in
the afternoon and went immediately
to the office Of Secretary Of State
Robert Byrne, where he conferred
with Byrne and Attorney General
Shafer. Arrangements for the cere-
mony Of administering the oath o1
office were completed within Z few
minutes.
Members Of the supreme courl
halted . court case to attend the
ceremony. and returned to the bench
when it was over.