The Bismarck tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, N.D.) 1916-current, 1931-01-17

can.
Both !. v. AS and Norpartisans
made note Of the statement and com-
mented on it. To Mr.. Twichell,s ene-
mics in his own ranks it was like salt
in a wound. They regarded 1t as the
serving Of a notice that Mr.. Twichell
still Is boss in his own camp and that
any So-and-So who cares to do so Is
welcome to the effort to take the
leadership away from him.
Going on the well-known political
theory that you can't beat somebody
with nobody" he still seems safely
entrenched.
The prediction that the newswriters
are about to get a break" seems JUS
titled by q survey of the bills already
introduced.
First OF all there is the congression-
al re apportionment bill offered by
Messrs. Bond and Cain Of Minot and
Dickinson. respectively. Both l.. v. A.
and Nonpartisan members regard 1t
as political and supporters of o. B.
Burtness, I. v. A. congressman from
the first district. regard 1t as tragic.
The I. v. A. leaders admit, private
ly. that tho proper thing Is to create
an east and west district. "And vet
they say. I'VE can't do that because
1t would create a district (the west)
which would elect a Nonpartisan until
no n knows when. It looks as
though we'd better run along with
congressman at large until the stu
alton resolves ITSELF"
Gets Vote Chance Anyway
The legislature is going to have q
chance to vote on the east.west d.
vision just the same, because il the
]. v. AS don't offer one the Nonpar-
tisans will.
A. w. Fowler's proposal to eliminate
the March primary election by SUBJ
shutting party conventions and to
change the election OF precinct com
mitteernen In such q manner as to
give the I. v. AS an advantage will
be q party matter. Fowler claims his
proposal Is fair and just. The Non
p%artisans probably will brand it as an
effort to mulct the farmer.
A somewhat similar bill was vetoed
by Governor A. G.. Sorlie four years
ago on the ground that it didn't save
the state anything. This one does by
eliminating the cost Of an election.
l.. Unless the Nonpartisans muster
more strength than now seems pos
sible the bill with pass and will be
signed by the governor. In that
event it may be referred to the people
by the Nonpartisans. And, by the
way, 1t Is generally considered prob
able that a number Of measures will
be referred to the electorate as the
result of this session. The Nonpar-
tisans contend they have done pretty
well by referring things to the voters
and they are not going to overlook
any bets.
May Fight Over Bridges
Two bridge bills, one for q bridge
near Grafton, authorized two years
ago, and another to take soundings
for a Missouri river bridge at Elbo-
woods, may start a fracas which will
involve the state highway depart
ment.
Up In Walsh county they don't like
the fact that the bridge authorized
two years ago hasn't been built. They
want It.
Two years ago. also. the legislature
appropriated money for bridges across
the Little Missouri river north Of
KtlIdeer and the Missouri proper
near Fort Yates" The bill making
the appropriation for the latter bridge
directed that it be built forthwith.
Neither bridge has been built and
meantime the federal government
has changed the law relating to the
use Of federal aid money for I'M
provements located on Indian lands.
This will affect the financing Of
each structure. according to some
persons interested in the bridges, and
something may be heard about
that during the next few weeks.
Some folks say quite Q bit viii be
heard about the highway department.
regardless, and this may prove to
be 50.
But 50 far 1t has been a quiet
session, although the makings Of q
few good brawls already have been
sproute !.