The Bismarck tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, N.D.) 1916-current, 1932-12-17
RESIGNS AS
LAND OFFICE HEAD;
BAILEY GETS POST
Nonpartisan Is Named to Sue.
coed incumbent At Sug-
gestion of Byrne
F0UR.T0.0NE VOTE CAST
State Auditor Steen Is Only
Board Member to Oppose
New Selection
(By The Associated Press)


w. E. Byerly, state land commits
sioner, Saturday rendered his resigna-
ton to the state board Of university
and school lands, which accepted the
resignation and appointed E. o. Bal
ley, Bismarck, as his successor.
Four of the five members Of the
board voted for Baileys appointment
while State Auditor John Steen voted
against 1t. Other members of the
board are Governor George F. Shafer
Attorney General James Morris, Su.
perintendent of Public Instruction
Bertha r. Palmer, and Secretary OF
State Robert Byrne.
Bailey was appointed to fill out the
unexpired position of Byerly's term
which ends August /, 1888.
Byerly's resignation became effec-
tive Immediately and Bailey took over
the office Saturday afternoon follow
ing the filing of his oath of office.
Byrne Proposes Name
Byrne, the only Nonpartisan League
member of the board, presented Bal
ley's name. He said that by appoint
ing Bailey there would be in the land
commissioners position a man OF the
same political faith as the new ad-
coming into office In
January.
Bailey, during the primary election
was appointed assistant to
the state campaign manager and has
long been an active worker for that
party.
He came to North Dakota from Me-
braska in 1902 with his father, who
homesteaded in Dunn county, where
the latter still farms and ranches
The elder Bailey was elected with
Nonpartisan League endorsement as
a member Of the state house Of rep
resentatives at the last election.
E. O. Bailey farmed in Dunn coun-
ty, where he was elected county
treasurer in 1922, holding that office
until 1925. He then resigned to be-
come chief clerk with former State
Treasurer G. A. Fisher and later be-
came secretary of the state securi-
ties commission during the admins
tration of the late Governor A. G.
Sorlie, remaining at that post until
october, 1929.
Since that time he has been con-
nected with the North Dakota Motor
Trades association as secretary-treaS-
urer, and also is with an investment
firm. He is married and the father
of one son. Clinton, 16.
In accepting Byerly's resignation,
the board of university and school,
lands adopted unanimously a resolu-
ton expressing deep appreciation Of
the eminently efficient service rem
dered to the state Of North Dakota, y
by Byerly and commended him for
his "loyal and faithful service as ex-
ecutive officer of the state land de-
partment during these trying times"
Byerly Offers Help
In his letter of resignation, Byerly
said he would be glad to render In
the future such assistance as possible
to my successor"
In q letter to Governor Shafer, By
erly said he was resigning in &C
cordance with my promise to the peo-
pie of North Dakota made public
through the press Of the state some
time ago that would resign my posi-
ton as state land commissioner in the
event Mr.. William LANCER was elected
governor"
I'm resigning my position" Byerly
added, Il have no apologies to offer
to anybody and I feel that I have
done perhaps as well as the ordinary
man would have done in my position.
The problems of the office during the
last two years have been extremely
hard to solve and I, like many other
beings, have no doubt made some mis-
takes. have however been entirely
impartial with all people who had
business to transact through this Of
flee, having never tried to punish any
body who disagreed with me political
". nor have I extended special favors
to those who did agree with me po-
litically. Every case has been handled
as best I could on its merits alone"
Byerly expressed his appreciation t.
the chief executive for the help given
him during his five years as land
commissioner, and added that under
you. I cannot recite a single instance
wherein you have been unmindful OF
the taxpayers and the people OF this
state"