The Bismarck tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, N.D.) 1916-current, 1932-10-19
The SOftening Process

Seth w. Richardson, assistant at.
torney general of the United States
was sent out from Washington tc
strengthen the tatering political
morals of the North Dakota elec-
torate and herd the hungry voters
into the Republican fold again.
But unless he has vastly more luck
than was apparent in his appearance
here Monday night, the result will
be dismal failure and he had better
hurry back to Washington before he
makes the ituation-already bad
from the Republican standpoint
considerably worse.
In the first place, Mr.. Richardson
should re-write his speech, or at
least he should re-learn it. The writ
ten speech, presented in advance to
the newspapers, was much better
material, even though less interest
ing, than the one which he actually
gave. 1t was less labored and its
inaccuracies and misstatementS were
couched in more subtle terms.
Coming from man who has ac-
Quired reputation for forceful
presentation of a case, the speech he
actually gave was an amazing thing
It lacked the characteristics which
one would expect Mr.. Richardson to
bring to it.
But some commentators sadly ex-
pressed the view that Mr.. Richard
son had been subjected to a soften
ing process in Washington. That
he was no longer the hunter of big
game, animal and political, who once
roamed these verdant prairies. They
feared, after hearing him, that the
flesh pots of Washington had vitiat-
ed the power and political virility of
the man who twice ran for the STU
preme court bench in this state and
who occasionally was mentioned as a
progressive candidate for governor
1t was a great deal as though the
fruit Of success had done him i'll;
that his appointment to place of
power in Washington, recognition
after long years of disappointment
had changed the man eitirely.
The old Seth Richardson would
not have laid traps for himself as he
did here Monday night. He would
not have, for example, denied that
the spirit with which the farmer
views his problem is important, as
alleged by the Democratic nominee
whom he was attacking. He would
not have followed this peculiar state
Inent with the declaration that the
farmer has been fed on fine words
for too long already.
The old Seth Richardson would
not have made so inept and futile a
defense Of the Hawley- Smoot tariff.
He would have remembered that au-
diences think as we'll as listen. The
doctrine which he preached was, in
effect, that America need not, can
not and must not trade with the rest
of the world.
He followed this by asserting that
the prices of farm products are too
low in comparison with the price of
manufactured products.
For some strange reason, even as
he draped the robes of progressivism
about his handsome shoulders, he
contended there is nothing which
can be done to adjust this obviously
unequal situation, that the tariff
cannot be further used to help the
farmer.
To President Hoover. whom he de.
scribed as my Chief he made new
oath OF allegiance even as he admit
ted the failure OF the presidents
$4,000 sSS@S% pSSS2 ouI oI1Q tIlC uI4UIIs
ity to do anything further about It.
Speaking often of my" country
and my" people and by that mean.
ing North Dakota and its citizens
he demonstrated clearly that he has
lost touch with both, together with
his respect for their intelligence.
Conspicuously absent from his
speech was either explanation or de-
tense Of the record Of President
Hoover. The presidents record could
not possibly be as black as Richard.
son inferred It to be by his silence
on that point.
The inaccuracies In Mr.. Richard.
sons address were hardly in line
with the reputation as a lawyer
which won for him appointment al
Washington. It almost indicated In.
ability to read the English languag.
clearly. since anyone familiar with
Governor Rooseyelts Topeka speech