The Bismarck tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, N.D.) 1916-current, 1933-12-08


himself with a group of advisers who
neither command nor deserve the
confidence of the people Of this state.
Their qualifications, with one or two
exceptions, were that they would
agree to any plan he might propose
and could be used to carry out his
purposes without question or much
regard for the steps that might be
used to accomplish his ends. That
situation has prevailed throughout
the eleven months Of his incumbency.
He has utterly failed to cooperate or
counsel with the other national and
state officials, all of whom are Nom
partisans Of longer standing and
elected to office by greater majori-
ties than he.
Mr.. LANCER has been q disap-
pointment to those who supported
him in the last election. Those who
worked and voted for him sincerely
believed he would give the state an
honest, efficient administration. The
very opposite has been true.
Bread and Circuses
1.-THE Roman emperors in the deca-
dent period Of the empire conceived
the bread and circus idea. To keep
the people quiescent and docile they
gave them bread for their stomachs
and circuses for entertainment on
the theory that II they catered to
these elemental instincts the people
could be handled and made to do
anything the emperor wished. Be-
hind the scenes. 1t would be possible
to practice wholesale corruption, ex-
tortion, graft and all manner Of evil
Our present governor has much the
same conception Of government, al
though he believes publicity will sat
isfy the wants Of the people. In his
personal newspaper, he grabs credit
for any good thing that may happen
to come along. He believes that
showmanship will make him q hero
worthy OF the support Of the people
Of this state. He is not able to fur%
nish bread for the hungry, but he
takes credit for having done SO. Nor
Is he able to furnish circuses for the
entertainment Of the people, unless
his antics In calling out the militia
on the most impossible occasions, or
his inane Don Quixote windmill
smashing may be construed as az
fording diversion to the voters of this
state. His isterest In the people Of
the state Is confined entirely to the
importance OF 50 misleading them
that they will consider him real
friend and reflect him to office. Back
Of his showmanship, based upon q
pretended interest in the welfare of
the state and its people, is played q
system Of political racketeering by q
group Of approved henchmen who
look upon public office as an oppor-
tunity to practice the spoils system.
Those Appropriation Vetoes
"As cardinal principle Of the
League platform In the last cam
paigns was the promise to suhstan-
tally reduce the cost Of state gov
eminent. Because of the prevailing
economic situation, it was imperative
to effect a reduction Of the ten mil
lion dollar appropriation OF the for
mer administration. In his memo
randum submitted to the legislature
at the opening Of the session, the
governor requested reduction Of
81 ,000, 900. The legislature proceeded
to make careful analysis Of all ap-
and, without any prompt
ings from the governor, reduced the
appropriation not 81 100000 but 81
SOC, 900, or $3,500,0O0 more than was
the governors plan. Yet the COVER
nor takes credit to himself for having
accomplished this most laudable move
by the legislature. He says, IT re-
duced taxes"-"I did this'-"I did
that"
It Is true that the governor made
certain reductions In addition to
those suggested by the legislature.
The governor woke up to the fact
that the legislature had stolen his tax
reduction show and that something
would have to be done to enable him
to prove that he would 60 farther
than the legislature. Accordingly,
without any sort Of scientific basis
but with . stroke Of his destructive
pen. various appropriations were
slashed here and there, particularly
In departments and institutions to
which Mr.. LANCER was personally UNI
friendly. The total amount Of the
reductions accomplished by his exer-
else Of the veto power was negligible
a. tax reduction move, but It proved
most embarrassing for the various de-
partments and institutions affected
by rendering them in many instances
unable to carry out their work with
even . reasonable degree Of eff
cheney.
Vented Personal Grudge
I'VE call your attention to. his veto
Of the appropriation for the State
Dairy Department. On several occa-
sions, q q member Of the Industrial
Commission. the Commissioners. Mr..
HUSKY, had dared to express opinions
different from that Of the governor,
and - result he had incurred Lang-
er's personal displeasure. AZ . con-
sequence the appropriation Of ~, 684
was reduced to include the salary Of
the commissioner only. I need not
call your attention to the significauce
Of this veto. It has curtailed the work
Of that department and prevented the
dairy farmers Of our state from re-
cetving the protection and assistance
they need to combat the encroach-
ments Of the centralizers. Il viii
mean . loGs Of hundreds Of Thousands
OF dollars to the people during the
present bienniuua. We call your At
tentton % his veto Of House Bill "a
providing for grading and inspection