The Bismarck tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, N.D.) 1916-current, 1930-06-09
Candidates Weak
On Promises to
Save This State
Continued from na pe onel

Save This State
Continued from page one)
mission to run the state mill and ele-
vator and a banking code commits
sion. No one a accuse him of pat
terning after Mr. Hoover with his
commission idea because the governor
recommended those things last year,
before MI. Hoover took office. If
there is to be any accusing it may be
that some one will charge Mr.. Hoo
yer with initiating Mr.. Shafer.
But Mr.. Shafer did not make any
offers to save the state. There were
some promises of that nature two
years ago but Is months in office has
damaged the governors promiser. It
doesn't work so we'll as it did. And
besides there isn't anything for him
to promise to save the state from. Two
years ago the possibility of a Nonpar-
tlsan success was held UP as a ghost
~ menace and a promise was In or
der.
Fear Back sliding
But the state has now had 18
months Of salvation" from the Nom
partisans and some Independents arc
admittedly fearful that the voters
may back slide" to the point of vot-
ing AS they did before they were
saved
The n issue, as it appears so far,
Is that the Nonpartisans are out in
the open lambasting chain industry
whereas the Independents are stand
ing staunc1ly for things as they are.
In his speech at Steele the COVER
nor did come out for the exemption
OF stored grain from taxation and
stated that, as a matter of principle,
grain and other products of the soil
should not be taxed. Whether he
proposes to apply the principle II re-
elected he didn't say.
MI. Brant was equally noncommit-
tai as to what he proposes to do about
chain industry. if elected. But he
made 1T very clear that he regards
IT AS a menace to the commercial
life OF the cities and small towns.
Bills directed at chain stores have
reen introduced in the legislatures
OF some 20 states and perhaps Mr..
Brant will adopt the theory incorpor-
ated in one or more of them and be
more specific in a later speech. Per-
haps Mr.. Shafer will also expa-
tate a little more on his principle"
OF exempting products of the farm
from taxation.
Plenty of Opportunity
Both Shafer and Brant are in the
field, talking afternoon and night.
They are having plenty of opportun-
lty to tell what they know; what they
hope; what they suspect and what
they think they know. Doubtless they
will be heard from later.
Meanwhile the business Of throw
ing political dirt" has commenced
Just who started it isn't certain but
the Independents are shedding salty
tears over alleged extravaganza by
the NonpartisanS in the conduct of
the state game and fish department
and the Nonpartisans are just as
lachrymose over the expense accounts
or the state regulatory department.
The Independents are getting their
dope" from an Official inquiry by
the state examiners department. The
Nonpartisans are getting theirs
through the work of a private inves-
tigator. One probably is just as re-
liable as the other and if the lack
OF an official" investigation Is a
handicap to the Nonpartisans they
will have to grin and bear it. They
have no investigating department at
their disposal.
So far, neither side has spent much
time IN denying the accusations of the
other. Each is relying on the prin-
ciple that the best defense is an Of
fensive and the whitewash brushes
still are in the bucket.
Campaign Methods Changed
Probably the outstanding fact of
the present campaign is that the
NonpartisanS are making a bid for
the support of merchants and bankers
and the Independents are using bait
intended to catch farmer votes.
The result is that most of the fac
tors which dominated previous cam
paigns are missing this year. The
sharp cleavage between the opponents
and advocates of state industries is
gone because the Independents have
adopted the industries. They say they
are in favor of what industries now
exist but are opposed to any more.
The Nonpartisans claim the indie
pendent advocacy Of the industries
represents a weakening from the old
time Independent stand and Is a ges-
ture made for political purposes only
and the Nonpartisans aren't ad-
vocating any more industries either.
The chain-industry issue was furth-
er emphasized by a letter. written by
Mr.. r. H. Thoresen. Nonpartisan
campaign manager, and circulated to
the businessmen Of the state. In it
he told the local merchant that the
independent leaders have always
fought for combined wealth, conbin-
atoms and outside influence" and
that whatever gesture the 1ndcpend-
ents make toward a solution of the
chain industry question will be "mere-
ly for the purpose Of holding the bus
inesSmen in line" for the I. v. AS.
Mr. Thoresen talks over the radio
Tuesday night and may enlarge upon
his theme in that speech.
Twichell May Answer
The letter is said to have caused
the Independents some concern and
Mr.. L. L. Twichell, the Independent
campaign manager, probably will get
around to answering it soon. Per-
haps he won't answer it at all, but
those who know. Mr.. Twichell also
know that no Nonpartisan can hit
him a wallop in the political bread
basket without Mr.. Twichell at least
trying a e -back. When Mr..
TWichell's answer-if one is to be
made-comes out, the two letters
probably will present all Of the is
sues which the campaign Is likely to
develop.
IF the rtisans hadn't rharocd