The Bismarck tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, N.D.) 1916-current, 1930-05-01
Editorial Comment
Warning Good Men Out of the Field Of
Public Service
(CArRo Eor1lm)

Cargo FORUM
For many years we have been impressed with the
proposition that the successful man rarely goes in for
public service, and we have been deploring that most
r%eerettab!e situation. Casting about for an explanation
OF their failure so to do, we have been disposed to point
to the form Of campaign that Is required for election to
office. to the primary election, to the recall.
The successful man rarely resorts to that which is
cheap and petty, and SO many times, when he is pre-
vailed upon to permit the use Of his name as a candidate
for official position. he has found himself the victim
OF scandalous attack, on imaginary issues having no
relation whatsoever to his qualifications or fitness for the
work he is willing to assume as a public service. His
natural reaction has been to withdraw from the field
and permit others to conduct the public business.
True. we have many fine men, many successful men,
IN important public positions in North Dakota, but the
fact remains that. by and large, those best fitted for posts
OF responsibility In the conduct Of our government,
whether that be local or state. are first to shy away from
such service.
Just now. in Fargo, we are having an experiment in
one phase Of so-called reform government, namely, the
attempt at applying the operations Of the recall to three
members Of the City Commission. This newspaper has
said before that it holds no brief for the assailed COM
missioners. but 1t believes firmly in the theory that the
sound interests OF Fargo are all opposed to fruition Of
the recall movement.
Assume that the recall is successful. and the three
men are busted from office. Will that fact not operate
to further discourage the citizens Of this community, best
fitted for service upon our governing commission, from
ever accepting a call to service upon our governing body?
edge that a constant threat Of recall hangs over them
II they chance to displease this or that group.
Fargo has had one previous experience with the recall.
In that instance 1t ousted Mr.. ]. H. Dahl as police COM
missioner. Within q comparatively short time the same
electorate returned MI. Dahl to the city commission. not
As police commissioner, but - mayor, The recall had
the eventual effect Of e~levating him to an even higher
post than that which he had previously held.
On one occasion the state OF North Dakota had
. recall election. directed against the governor,
attorney general and the commissioner Of agri-
culture and labor. In that instance this news
paper was opposed to application Of the recall,
though 1t did subsequently support the candidates
who were entered against the three recalled Of
fclals, when that recall was ordered In = state
wide convention, representative Of every county.
But like the Fargo recall, the same voters who
drove Lynn J. Frazier cut Of the office Of gov.
crnor. came back = few months later and elevated
him to the United States senate.
The recall is unsound in principle, its application In
curious 10 q community, and almost always, on the
DasaS OF the record that has been written In the past,
1t acts as q boomerang.