The Nonpartisan Leader Newspaper, January 20, 1919, Page 5

League members if he became a candidate on the floor of ghe house, notwithstanding the Leagne in- dorsement for Stair. Maddock did not: hesitate one mmute. He said that the League caucus decision for Stair made him a supporter of Stair, and next day, when the leg- islature convened, Maddock was the first man on his feet whenynominations were called for, and nominated Stair. The “We'll Stxck" button meant something to him. And then’ something happened that opened the eyes of a good many people to the fact that there is more than one nonpartisan orgamzatlon in North Dakota. By nommatmg Mr. Stair the League members had given proof of their own nonpartisanship. For * while most of the League members originally were Repubhcans, and were elected on the Repubhcan “Carry Out ticket,. Stair is a Democrat and was elected to the legislature on the Democratic ticket. He was se- lected as League candidate for speaker by Mr. Mad- dock, a Republican. The anti-League membkers of the North Dakota legislature, largely from Fargo and Grand Forks, include both Republicans and Democrats, but are principally - Republicans. = When sthey found that Stair had been selected as League candidate for speaker, they offered to give- their votes to Mr. Maddock, Republican, if he would run. But when Maddock refused the anti-League men showed their own nonpartisanship by selecting® J. F. T. O’Connor, Democrat, at a secret caucus of their own. O. B. Burtness of Grand Forks, the candidate of the old-gang Republicans for con- gress against John Baer two years ago, showed his own nonpartisanship by nominating O’Connor Pledges,” and the rest of the anti-League men, mostly Re- publicans, cast their solid strength of 32 votes for the Grand Forks Democrat. Stair got 71 votes, with several League men absent. Over in the senate the old gang was so badly licked that they did not attempt to put up a can- didate for president pro tempore and the League farmers had completed the organization of the upper house inside of an hour, the quickest work .ever done in North Dakota. By the time these lines are read, both houses will be turning out some of the most important measures that have ever been considered by a western legislature. Yes, gentlemen, the legislature of North Dakota is organized and ready for business, important _business and lots of it." Urges Frazier Message to Legislature Emphas1zes Opportunity to End Long Fight Victoriously— Many Progressive Measures Embodying the League Program Suggested NN J. FRAZIER, farmer-gov- ernor of North Dakota -in de- livering his message to the North Dakota legisiature, now controlled in both branches by the farmers, struck the key- .-note of a session that is bound .to be famous throughout the United States. The keynote struck by Governor Frazier may be " summed up in nine words. The spirit that runs through his entire message is: -~ “Let us carry out our pledges to the people.” Governor Frazier presented a long list of pro- gressive measures, measures bound to make North Dakota a better state to live in. But the governor did not forget that the farmers had promised econ- omy along thh progress. He recommended also a series of consohdatlons of offices about the capitol to do away with duplication of work and reduce . the cost of government. Governor Frazier appeared before the senate and house in joint session Wednesday afternoon, January 8. Three-fourths of the members of both houses, were farmers, elected by the Nonpartisan league, and the farmer-governor, appearing to give an account of his stewardship, was given a tre- mendous but respectful ovation, Governor Frazier said in part: . f‘Members of the Senate and House of Bepre-J sentatives: “Two years have passed since I first came before the legislative assembly to offer a few recommen- dations as'to leglslatlon deemed expedient. During the fifteenth session some good laws were enacted, - THE YEAR 1919‘ IN THE SAME STATE HE'S A PARCIFIST OND' AN ) ANARCHIS T~ _; /// ; T%/ HE'S A DOWNRIGHT BULL SHE WEEKEE é i ' ""‘tfii/éfr 1 2 but unfortunately there was a controlling element of opposition in the senate which prevented the enactment of the program and the platform upon which the administration was elected. The ma- jority of our voters have again spoken in no un- certain terms, and have honored those of us, in whom they had confidence as public servants, by re-election. I want to take this opportunity to ex- press my appreciation of the splendid indorsement given the state administration and, with your as- sistance and co-operation, I feel confident that we " may accomplish much that will be of real benefit to the state and its people. INDUSTRIAL COMMISSION “In order that the program and platform on which we were elected may be carried out, I rec- ommend the creation of an industrial commission which shall have power to establish and operate any and all public utilities that the state may undertake. TERMINAL ELEVATOR AND FLOUR MILL “] recommend that under this commission be established a Terminal Elevator and Flour Mill association, which will include the buying, selling, storing and manufacturing of farm products. Finances to be raised by the sale of state bonds. STATE HAIL INSURANCE / “Compulsory state hail insurance has been ap- proved and by all means-should be put into oper- ation at this time. LIGNITE COAL “Among the most important public needs in this state are cheap and abundant light, heat and power. Experiments carried on by the School of Mines have demonstrated great possibilities as to these matters through the development of our vast stores of lignite coal. I therefore recommend that a state-owned and operated industry in the pro- duction of lignite coal, lignite briquettes and the " resulting by-products be established and extended as rapidly as successful operation on a small scale shall Justlfy larger undertakings. - HOME BUILDING “In order to promote among our young the hab- its of personal thrift and savmg, and in order to encourage farm ownership in the country and home ownership in the towns, and especially and above all other considePations, in order to put within the reach of returning soldiers the best opportunities for the employment of their labor in such a way that the largest possible number of them may be- come the owners of their homes and farms, I rec- ommend the establiShment of a department of pub- lic service modeled somewhat after the well-known building and loan associations but with the econ- omies of large scale production in building and of “eredits at cost placed within the reach of all. BENEFIT FUND “Our soldiers and sailors have made great sacri- ficés and are deserving-of some special recognition at’ your lmnds, and I urgently recommend that a fund be provided to give them real assistance in . the way of education or to enable them to enter _business, or to ‘provide for themselves a home or - a farm. S RURAL CREDIT BANK “In order to assist in financing public utilities and in financing banks, corporations. and associa- tions and providing for "real estate loans for farm- ers, I recommend the establishment of a state bank which will act in a ,sxm!ln' capacity for our state: " "as do the Federal Réserve and Farm Land banks for the dlstrlel; m_whigh they are located.” = = 7