The Bismarck tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, N.D.) 1916-current, 1931-02-28

Der OF reVefScS suffered ny l.. u.
Twicheu, majority leader and accept
ed and acknowledged boss of the I. v.
A. machine which had been carefully
fabricated to guide party measures
through the legislature and incident
ally to punish those who might ex-
press independent ideas which did not
square with the orders Of the polti-
cal dictator from Cas- county.
Rumblings of discomfort came early
in the session and grew to greater
proportions as the days went by, cul-
n:inating on the fiftieth day by the
administering OF several defeats to
the Twichell cohorts. Some legisla-
tors showed courage enough to con-
slider bills on the merits. The adj
monition, "it's an administration mea-
sure and "the governor insists on
thus" failed to register. These legis-
lators got their backs up and said
they were sent to Bismarck to con-
slider legislative matters on their
merits and not always through parti-
san glasses. They heard the whip
crack and the leader growl, but heed
ed them not.
X + X
Even the presence of Gov. Shafcr
! on the speakers rostrum, at an after
noon and two evening sessions, failed
to whip them into line.
While there is nothing in the con-
! stitution to prevent the chief exccu.
i tive from invading legislative halls
it Is not the usual thing and In most
states it is not done. 1t is not con.
sidered good taste, politically or 9th
erwise. OF course governors call the
boys to The office and talk to them
argue and cajole. That Is the usual
procedure.
But to leave the executive office
and mount the speakers rostrun.
while the lawmakers consider a bill
in which the governor is unusually
interested is unique, to say the least
One legislator arose and charged op'
enly that Governor Shafer had beer
dragged into the legislative halls ap'
parently to tighten the lines. None
of his own faction arose to defenc
the governors unusual and unprece'
OClllCu H4COCAANC uC OASAA SAsAS
X X
There Is revulsion of feeling among
many members of both faction!
cSainst The practice Of caucusing or
every legislative measure in an at
tempt to sound always the politica
significance of its passage. Such
rule has been more rigidly applied a.
this session than In many OF recen'
years. Whether such a practice comes
from either faction 1t is inherent!
wrong. There are some few measures
where factions desire to consider ant
debate in caucus, but to treat ever!
measure from that angle is beint
resented by many members. The!
would like to deal with legislation or
its merits and not continually IRON
narrow partisan lines. That mem
bers of this legislature had the cour'
age to break away from such pres
sure is n of the outstanding Tea
lures of the Twenty-second assembly
X X X
M. M. Oppegard, publisher OF tn
Grand Forks Herald, who has beer
In Bismarck the last few days gettini
q slant on legislative matters. recent
~ wired q story to his paper touchinl
on the issue of the east-weSt reds
tricting in which it was stated tina
the political fortunes Of Congressman
Rurtness were directly involved II
the legislation. Members were quot
cd showing the place Burt1esS ma
gained in congress and why he shoul'
be retained at his present post. Wha
position the Grand Forks senator
will take is a matter OF speculation.
The argument is being made tina
Burleigh county should be placed il
the cast district and let Hall ant
Burtness oppose each other. The ]
v. A. faction points out that such
division might elect a member Of tn
opposite faction in the east district
Placing Burleigh in the west distric
may eliminate Hall as 1t seems prob
able that Sinclair will have cas-
shedding.
Opposed, however, to confusing tn
redistricting issue with the politics
fortunes Of any encumbent, Is tn
more logical attitude that the legis
lature should rediStrict the stat
fairly and justly regardless Of how tn
political fortunes Of anyone are At
fected. Burleigh county, they argue
naturally falls into the west district
The interests Of this county are witt
the great Missouri Slope empire an
few want this county tied to the tai
OF the Red River cart.
Or. shapley Of Harvard estimate
that the galaxy Of stars we can Sc
through q telescope extends owe
I I764 .00O .0OO. 600 100000 miles.