The Bismarck tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, N.D.) 1916-current, 1931-03-04

Inside Stu11 ABOUT L[lC leBLSIdCuIC
was spread throughout North Dakota
Tuesday night by Rep. Ken Fitch,
Cass county, in a radio address.
Fitch refused to talk about the leg
islature, preferring to discuss the leg
islators instead. The result was a
combination of "hot shots" and wise
cracks about various individuals who
make the laws.
I, ". AS and Nonpartisans alike
were made the target for pleasan.
jibes by the Cass county man. Fitch
is widely known throughout North
Dakota as the leader Of the American
Legion state band.
His speech follows in full:
IF I were a speaker and smart.
like a lot of people that talk over the
radio, I would open this Speach o.
saying Ladies and Gentlemen, but I
won't. I'll just say howdy folks and
if you think you are going to get a
speech about what the legislature die
in session to-day ~you~-arer going Ito b.
fooled. I am going to talk about the
legislators and what we do. I might
even go into the night life in Bis
|marck were it not for the fact that
no doubt my wife is listening in and l
might incriminate myself. So shall
confine my remarks to the daylight
hours with the possible exception OF
telling you how the fixing is done a.
night.
Thought Work Hard
II came to this legislature thinking
that it was hard work and that If a
member was to be a success one
would have to make a number OF
speeches and tell the world what a
swell place this is to live in. In a few
short hours after arriving I found
that the smartest guy in the lcgisla-
ture is the bird that keeps his mouth
shut and his ears open. For example
look at Van Berkom from Burke
county, the only thing that he talks
about with any degree of consistency
is the Dog Tax. But they fooled him.
He talked too much and they put a
tax on dogs. Van is a great guy. He
agrees with Twichell every once IN a
while and a few days ago I saw them
having lunch together. The resul.
was that they agreed on a bill which
was put through the delayed bills
committee providing an amendment
to the anti-smoking law to the effec.
that restaurants be required TO provide
guests with grooved knives for eating
peas. That wasn't so bad. but the.'
have a great stunt around here AMI
it is a motion that reads something
like this: : Mr.. Van Berkam moves
that the vote by which house bill So
land SO was passed be r~econsidered
and that the motion to reconsider b.
laid on the table, That means you
haven't got a chance. You are beat
before you start.
Freeman takes the motion. ducks
it under the table, and the deal Is
over.
Another great guy in this session
is a bird from Bottineau who wa
christened T.. d. Acheson. He Is the
first member Of the house to answer
roll call. I think they must all be
Irish up. in Bottineau county as the
only thing he "a say is NO. But
then he sets next to Representative
Minnie Craig and that may be where
he gets the idea. He was a school
teacher for 10 years before becoming
a LEGISLATOR and that may account 10;
the way he voted on the capito. COM
mission bill.
'Ticklcd to Death
Speaking of the capitol commits
sion bill reminds me that Gordon
Cox, the Burleigh county representa-
tive from Bismarck, mentioned to me
that he would be tickled to death tt
send any Of the listeners, who arr
listening in at this time, an auto
graphed copy of his speech on keep
ing the capitol in Bismarck. Jus:
send in your name and telephonf
number.
"Cox, with the possible exception,
of Rep. George Aljets of Wells coun-
ty. is the best looking and hes!
dressed member Of the legislature
He gets his ideas from Representative
Lynch Of Richland county, tine birc
that killed the crow bill because h.
claimed his county raised more gal.
ions of corn per acre than any othel
county in the state and he couldn'
see n reason for having 2 CROW
bounty because row don't drink.
Another great guy In this session
a. h;,.a Nv tho name ~ 2enAtrr A r