The Bismarck tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, N.D.) 1916-current, 1930-06-11
THORESEN CHARGES
GOVERNOR HAFER
/ IS AIDING CHAINS
SAYS Executive Has Placed
People of North Dakota
in Their Hands

SSHVS W wv
in Their Hands
Charges that Governor George F.
Shafer has placed the people OF
North Dakota in the hands Of Gigan-
tic chain institutions" were made by
T. H. Thoresen. state campaign man.
ager for the Nonpartisan League, in
a radio address here Tuesday night.
Thoresen launched into an attack
on statements made by the governor
and other independent candidates.
and asked that the voters be not
''mislead by glib promises
Pointing to chain institutions.
Thoresen asked what is the position
of our state government today under
your present administrations
II contend" he continued, that u
present governor has placed the peo-
pie of North Dakota into the hands
of these gigantic chain institutions,
and 1 challenge him to deny it.
What does the record show?
Shortly after assuming his duties as
governor. one of the major appoint
ments which he made was that of
chairman Of the state board of ad-
ministration. Who did he appoint?
The president of a Incorporation
bank. The position of this official
is of the greatest Importance to the
people of this state.
Another important official is that
of land commissioner, the n who
regulates and controls the loans upon
real estate out of the school fund.
This man is also a director of a Ban
corporation bank, the manager OF the
Bank of North Dakota was, before
his appointment. a member of a chain
bank. One of the first acts of the
present governor and the commits
sioner of agriculture and labor, was
to remove Mr.. HUSKY as dairy COM
missioner. because it was said he was
too friendly to the independent cream
buyers and the cooperative creamer-
les. In his place was put an employe
of the chain centralizers. What does
this mean? Do you consider this
good and proper policy for a state
government to pursue? Shall we
place ourselves in a position SO that
the chains and ~syndicates, both
financial and business, control the
people instead of the people regulat-
ing and controlling these institutions?
Has not your present governor,
whether through ignorance or know
ingly, placed himself and us in a rath-
er dangerous position? Let him ex-
plain.
Cites Mill Report
Much space has been given these
last few days to the fact that the mill
and elevator has paid $158,707 in
premiums during the present COVER
nor's administration. They say that
I misstated the facts when I said that
institution had not paid premiums. If
I have misstated the facts then so has
the governor, because I was but re-
stating what he himself said in his
annual report. l ask that you read
his annual report.
I'VE all know that low-protein
wheat does not carry any premium in
price. So then if the governor bought
high protein wheat at low protein
values where does the premium come
in that it is now said was paid.
= Nov Mr.. Farmer, let me ask how
much premium did you receive for
your grain last year? In my travels
over the state I have not found any
farmer who has said he received any.
Well if the farmers did not receive
any and the governor now says that
he paid premiums, may it not be
pertinent for me to ask who received
the $158.OO0 he now says he paid. We
will let the governor again explain.
The independents say that the mill
has not lost so much under the pres
ent administration. In the first place
we contend that it never did lose any
money. And why should the mill not
make a better showing nov after
Governor Sorlie built such a wonder
full foundation and gave it a momen-
tum which has sent it on the road to
success.
Cites Nonpartisan Platform
"We come to you with a platform
full of help for the people of this
state. In u platform, we contend
for proper regulation and taxation of
public utilities in order that they may
bear their fair burden the same as the
business man and the farmer. This,
the boss-controlled Independents
have fought in two sessions of the
legislature.
I'VE stand for help to true COOPER
atives for the marketing of farm pro-
duce. We believe that the state gov
eminent should be free from en-
tangling alliances with the chains,
syndicates or combinations. We be-
lieve that the state should be in a
position where it may, if deemed
necessary, regulate and control these.
I'VE believe that the pure food and
weights and measures law should be
enforced so as to guarantee to the
consumer the protection to which he
is entitled! We propose, if successful
in this campaign, to call together the
heads of the Retail Merchants asso-
citation and together work out a pro-
gram of taxation and regulation
which will give the local merchant
equal opportunity of fair and reason
able competition. Not only for the
benefit of the business man but for
the development of our state as a
whole"