The Bismarck tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, N.D.) 1916-current, 1932-09-12
Text of DePuy's Keynote Speech at Sunday Rail!

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of direct legislation, for no legislature
would dare favor open and direct leg
islation granting the special privileges
and benefits which are dealt out by
these boards and bureaus.
II we reduce our governmental &C
Invites to purely governmental pur-
poses many of the boards and bureaus
would become unnecessary and pro-
lperly dispensed with, thereby remov-
ing the ruinous taxes and tribute in
cident to the maintenance Of these
activities.
Wants Simple Government
We propose to get back to simple
government as near as can be to be
run by those who do not require the
highly technical knowledge necessary
to carry on these functions which are
not of a governmental nature.
This program, of course, has
aroused and will continue to arouse
vigorous opposition throughout the
campaign. Boards and bureaus fur
nish places for an army OF employees,
inspectors and fieldmen who will lose
their jobs or will not get jobs which
have been promised them If the
boards or positions are eliminated, as
proposed by our platform and by the
J Democratic candidates, and this army
OF office holders and those who may
expect positions naturally object to
the discontinuance of such oppor-
tunitieS.
But to offset the votes and influ-
ence Of those reaping, or who expect
to reap, the benefits of these unnec-
essary positions, are the votes and in
fluence OF the taxpayers who pay for
these activities and 1t is to these lat
ter we look and especially appeal for
support regardless of their political
affiliations.
Democrats Can Do 1t
It so happens that the Democratic
party is the only party which can
accomplish these ends. We were not
responsible for the creation of these
appendages and we have no entangle-
mentS nor alliances nor made any
promises which obligate us to furnish
single job to any individual or group
of individuals. There Is no hind
rance to our carrying out our program
and this We propose to do to the best
of our ability.
And here let me advert to our diff
ference with the declared intention of
those who oppose us:
According to the Associated Press
report OF our opponents speech:
"Brandishing broom which was
presented to him at the meeting to be
used in cleaning out the state offices
he said, we will have a thorough
housekeeping
I know extravagant declarations
catch the popular imagination, but in
my judgment the removal of expert
enced and competent employees and
the substitution of less competent
ones is not the remedy for inefficient
government. This state is a mighty
big organization. The turning of the
management of the details of govern
ment over to inexperienced employees
is unthinkable. The chaos which
would follow would be irreparable.
The damage to the public interest
tremendous. There are no super-men
running for office on either ticket
who could handle such a muddle.
In my judgment the rule should be
the elimination of all unnecessary de-
partments, the removal of all UNI
necessary employees, and the employ
ment of those. and only those, who
are loyal to the peoples cause and
who are best qualified for the posi-
ton and willing to accept reasonable
compensation and to give more serv-
ice than they can hope to receive pay
Tor. So far as nepotism is concerned,
that was condemned by the Demo-
cratic platform in terms which leave
no room for uncertainty, and do
not favor the employment of married
women whose husbands are gainfully
employed at living wage.
Our second fundamental point pro-
poses favoring all legislation calcu-
lated to promote our basic industry
OF agriculture. Agriculture is the in
dustry upon which the prosperity of
everyone in North Dakota depends.
Our schools. Our merchants, our pro-
fessional men and our farmers, those
OF every legitimate line of endeavor.
depend for their prosperity upon the
success OF agriculture. So we favor
the enactment of any LEGISLATION
which is calculated to promote that
industry. This field has been neg
lected because we have permitted our
government to be operated for pur-
poses for which it was not adapted,
losing sight of the fundamental in
dustry upon which our prosperity de-
ponds.
There is wide field for favorable
legislation within the realm of gov
ernmental activities without having
the government itself indulge in such
activities.
Favors Dollar Wheat
For instance, there is on foot at the
present time movement for dollar
wheat. At the present time its sue
cess Is problematical. With sufficient
support and proper cooperation it
would probably succeed and with the
assistance of favorable and sufficient
ily comprehensive legislation the
chances Of success would be mate
rally improved. It contemplated the
setting OF the sale price by the farmer.
AS means to this end 1t contem-
plated the orderly marketing of wheat
at the fixed price only, and then the
feeding instead of the marketing OF
the surplus. This is not q visionary
idea If 1t can be worked out. It rec
ognizes the law of supply and demand
and the right of the seller to have q
say regarding the price he should re.
ceive for his product.
This is a marked departure from
the present mode of fixing the price
OF grain and comes nearer to price
fixing In other industries.
AS long as the farmer takes hia
, poduct to market and lets the buyer
. have all the say as to what the buyer
will pay, the price will depend not
upon the cost Of production but upon
what the buyer himself is convinced