The Bismarck tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, N.D.) 1916-current, 1935-01-12
An Unusual Message

matter herein are also reserved.
An Unusual Message
It was an inaugural message unique
in the annals Of North Dakota which
Governor Thomas H. Noodle sent to
the assembly Friday.
To his newspaper friends it seemed
a. though some super editor had OF.
dered him to hold it down." Thus
it had all the aspects Of = wel.writ-
ten news story. Noodle said what be
had to say and quit.
As . state and political paper it
has other outstanding characteristics.
One Is the fact that IL points to the
job to be done but u not specific 6
to the way Of obtaining the goal.
That Is left to the judgment, expert
ence and discretion Of the assembly.
The executive makes It clear that he
has no intention Of infringing on leg
islative duties or Of attempting to
dictate the terms Of any bill.
Presumably legislation viii be in
troduced embodying the governors
ideas for making such changes g he
deems wise. It Is to be assumed that
the assembly Will be frankly advised
by him on the details Of such legisla-
ton. The fortnight character of his
message seems to insure such coopera.
ton.
II is only natural that any COVER
nor, faced with a politically adverse
Legislature, should point to the need
for ignoring political considerations II
the interests Of the state are to be
served. Yet the situation which the
governor outlined calls for such &C.
ton much more loudly than could any
individual. A quarter Of a million
people on relief, $4,000 families get
ting help from the government, taxes
unpaid and drouth still stalking the
land. These are factors which the
legislature could not ignore even
though the governor laid less stress
upon them. They are the things which
are troubling the people and II the
legislature fails to deal with them It
will have failed to discharge the
trust which the people imposed on its
members.
Governor Noodles pledge Of CO.
operation may be taken at face value.
His actions in office to date show no
desire to dominate and his record Of
20 years in North Dakota shows that
he Is not that type Of man. Unless
possession Of public office changes
the character Of man, as some
cynics contend it does, the lawmakers
may fairly assume that the governor,
in making this pledge and plea for
harmonious consideration Of the
states Ills. meant exactly what he
said.
His request that consideration Of
the tax problem b begun at once,
% that 1t may be dealt with intelli-
gently. ahows small sympathy with
the idea, advanced in some legislative
quarters, that . special session viii
b necessary to dispose Of this issue.
The state spends approximately $780,
600 on each legislative session and
Governor Noodle evidently feels that
action should be taken now and that
Il = possible to do 50 II there Is no
undue delay.
The governor Is q man Of wide ex-
perience IN dealing with human ma.
tune. He has more than average
appreciation OF the thoughts and con-
victions which sway human conduct
and he knows that time Is . great
healer. Hence his gesture In sending
his message to the legislature without
being asked to present it personally
In . Joint session Is clearly . concilia.
tory move. In effect, he said to thu
members Of the house who BLOCKED
his appearance before 1t, mo matte,
Whist you do or how you feel now.
want to do the right thing and I IN
certain you, also, will put the inter
ests OF the state above purely politica
considerations"
In 90 doing he puts the issue o
constructive legislation squarely up Il
them. The manner in which the
discharge this obligation win NEAR
much that u good Or much that Is Dis.
oavantageong to the people Of Noetl
Dekots. They. the major party q
intsrest II any public matter. WI
watch The Developments Of the nex
oo-odd days with interest.