The Bismarck tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, N.D.) 1916-current, 1932-09-12
Official City, State and County
Ncwspaper)
Keeping the Record Straight

keeplng the RECORD Straight
AS the campaign for the November
election is now in full swing, it might
not be out of order to present briet
summary of the Republican state
platform. There has been some con-
fusion as to what the Nonpartisan
League faction of the Republican
party stands for in this campaign, be-
cause of the recent New Rockford ut
terances which injected issues into
the campaign which are not approved
by the Republican state central COM
mittee This committee does not ap-
prove Of:
First :-Martial law to induce higher
prices for wheat and other farm
products. A majority of its members
do not believe recourse to the North
Dakota militia can influence the price
of wheat or any other kind of prices.
Second: There is nothing in the
platform as adopted at the recent
meeting of the Republican State Gen.
trail committee relative to a sales tax.
That is a highly controversial sub
ject. There are sales taxes and sales
taxes. Fortunately the Republican
State Central committee is leaving
cnoc;f;c commandments ~, {ovotior ~
the members Of the state legislature.
Third: There is no endorsement or
reference to the Pick educational re-
port. Contrary to Langer's New Rock
ford announcements, the press Of the
state gave the features of this report
at great length. The Associated Press
bureau at Bismarck carried several
columns about it and many state pa
perS commented upon its phases. It
was not snothered from publicity
angle at all. Bertha Palmer was cred
tied with having instigated the re-
port. Her opponent who led her in
the June primaries did not make it
his issue. 1t must be assumed then
that the Pick report is an I. V. A.
worry not to be added to the many
now borne by the Republican State
Central committee.
Fourth There is nothing in the
Republican State Central committee
program calling for the abolition of
the office of governors private secre-
tary. There is nothing there stating
specifically that state employees will
be reduced in number by 22l. per
cent. Just why that percentage no
one knows. Some taxpayers may feel
that the ante might be raised to
SO 1/3 at least. Mr.. LANCER has spe-
officially promised to reduce the cost
of state government by at least
$1,000 OOc per biennium. In that laud-
able intention he has both the prayers
and the applause of burdened tax
payers.
Fifth:-There is nothing in the Re-
publican state platform calling for
the closing of any state educational
institutions. Mr.. LANCER hints at
closing of several educational schools.
He does not say whether it will be
Mayville, Glendale, Wahpeton, Minot,
Valley City or Dickinson. He makes
no reference to the Bottineau Fores-
try school once closed but later re-
opened as a glorified business college
with forestry as one of the subjects
taught.
Sixth:-Compulsory hail tax as adj
vocated by Mr.. LANCER. No mention
Of it i, the partys program.
These assertions Of Mr.. LANCER
then can be dismissed as obiter dicta,
to use legal phrase. Most fresh
men in law schools learn among their
! first lessons that obiter dicta are
. words without authority" Or, as
one commentator puts it, they are
always irrelevant and usually mis-
chievous.'
Now that mention has been made
of few things not in the platform
upon which the Republican candi-
dates are asking for support, what
. in brief does this document propose?
It may be only scrap of paper, but
what are the issues as joined in that
political instrument?
X y \
Fhst:-Revision M the manner OF
standing the affairs of closed BANKS
reverting to the old multiple system
.of receivers.
second:-Support Of the so-called
Flame duck" amendment to federal
econstitution.
Third Revision Of hail law re-
turning In part to the old basis. but
mot 4 restoration Of the compulsory
Feature, This law was amended BY