The Bismarck tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, N.D.) 1916-current, 1933-04-15
Foreign Representatives
SMALL. SPENCER, BREWER
(Incorporated)
CHICAGO NEW YORK BOSTON

Foreign Representatives
SMALL, SPENCER, BREWER
(Incorporated)
CHICAGO NEW YORK boston
Who Is Most Trustworthy?
Governor hangers charge at Gar
rison that q majority OF the member
of the state railroad board have
abandoned the interests Of the people
and espoused those OF the railroads
has such wide implications that II
should command the interest Of every
citizen.
The situation should be examined
carefully and for the benefit Of the
public in order that the voters Of
North Dakota may be advised as ia
whether the governor or the major
ity" Of the railroad board is right
This assumes, Of course. that the
members Of the board will both re-
sent and deny the accusation.
II the governor Is correct, the peo-
pie Of the state have long given their
support to men unworthy Of their
trust.
Il the governor is wrong, he brands
himself as = malicious traducer
Of efficient public servants and .
wrecker Of his own political party.
There hardly Is any room for mid
die Of the road" decision in such q
controversy.
Until and unless Governor LANCER
presents to the public the proof
whereby he hopes to support his &C.
cusation. the public Is entitled to re-
tain the confidence in the railroad
board which it has held for many
years past.
When and II such proof IS offered,
the railroad board members will have
opportunity to state their side Of the
case and to offer evidence In rebuff
tai. Until then, II the railroad board
makes answer, the matter will stand
- . you did-you didn't" affair
without giving the public a fair basis
upon which to make q decision.
The charge Is Of particularly grave
moment for adherents Of the Nom
partisan League. now the dominant
political faction In the state. It
places them in the position Of being
forced to choose between old and
trusted members and q more volatile
and spectacular quasi-convert. It Is
not amias, therefore to review the po-
littcal records Of the governor and Of
the railroad board members to see
which Is most worthy Of trust.
In the absence Of definite evidence
these records will be the only basis for
making . judgment.
The governors record Is we'll known.
He came into prominence first as the
Nonpartisan League candidate for at
torney general in 1916 and was
elected. After being reelected in
1918 he broke with the league, along
With Tom Hall. later q congressman,
md Carl r. Kositzky.
In 1920 he was the candidate for
governor Of the newly-formed I. v. A.
faction, opposing Lynn J. Frazier for
rc-election. Also he wrote = book
which served as . campaign docu-
nent. Copies still are in existence
md many Nonpartisans will find It
interesting reading In view Of the
present breach.
LANCER was defeated by Frazier for
The Republican nomination and temp
orarily retired from politics. The I.
'. A. continued the campaign against
Frazier in the fall by supporting the
Democratic candidate but LANCER did
not participate. Instead he went to
South Dakota and other states and
uade speeches there lsmbasting the
Noupartisan League.
II le26 LANCER made advances to
he Nonpartisan League and declared
himself % b again "a adherent Of
hat faction. In 1913 he was nomin-
lte4 for attorney general. On ! ticket
aeaded By 7. i. Thoeesen . guber-
astDrial candidate. but was defeated
y , small margin.
H continued 70 declare himself .
Nonpartisau but took no part II the
Of 1880. The records show
hat b has taken little, II any, part
d campaigns In which hs was not .
,ai|aidate.
1ns stoey q the 1eo2 campaign y
,osnpaFativsly freGh II the msmofy
{ mast dti1eaA r = worthy Of note,
,osossf, that oovefnoe Laneef vas
vt - skong = candidate . the ono
member q the railroad board Who
- with him. Ocard members have
Iix-year terms and two did not run).
n ths Republican primary the GOV
rhe - neninated without : ma