Bismarck weekly tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, Dakota [N.D.]) 1884-1943, 1892-05-06

UuSIlCSS Ill Udlu dllu ColllL.C GliCl AnOoLo
to the emergency which occasions their
coming together.
THE EXTRA SESSION QUESTION.
"Three cheers for the old flag, and au
appropriation" Such in brief seems. to
be the sentiment prevailing among the
prominent citizens of Grand Forks and
Fargo, as voiced in the meetings held in
those places at the request of Governor
Burke. Ever since the startling piece
of information was promulgated from
Grand Forks that North Dakota had no
provision for the selection of presiden-
tial electors, how to get out of the fix
has been the question. That there is
ample provision for e~lecting the electors
does not seem to be much of a question.
At least the inference is strong enough
in sections 2, 3 and II of the Australian
for ballot law. Butthere is no provision
counting, officially, the votes that may be
cast for the electors. There is no ques
ton about that. Neither is there any
way of counting the votes for governor
or any other state officer. The old terri.
torial law provides that certain officers
shall canvass the vote for delegate to
congress and the TRIBUNE is perfectly
willing to take chances that the persons
therein named can issue, lawfully, certi-
ticates to the persons receiving the high
est number of votes for any state office
and presidential electors. But that we
must have an extra session seems to be
the idea prevailing among the prominent
residents of Grand Forks and Fargo.
They n and all rise up in their might
and shout Justify that it must and shall
be done, 81 far as their individual opin-
ion is concerned. It is announced in
grave tones that for North Dakota to be
unrepresented in the electoral college
would be nothing short of criminal. We
will add to this, by way of parenthesis,
that in no possible combination of Cir
cumstances can the vote of North Da-
kota in the presidential question cut any
figure, as there can in no event be a tie
that North Dakota would solve. Alittle
figuring on the electoral votes of other
states and their probable political com
pick ion will convince one of this fact.
It is significant that thus far all the talk
for an extra session emanates from
Grand Forks and Fargo. In the meeting
at Grand Forks, Mr.. E. J. Lander states
that we must have an extra session, not
! only to provide the electoral machinery,
but to make an appropriation for the
state fair to be held in that city this fall.
The citizens of Fargo have very CON-
mendably taken hold of the extra funds
for the Worlds Fair appropriation and
tried to raise by popular subscription
the money necessary to make the same
a success, id their opinion. It seems to
be the opinion that their efforts will fail
and they too be in favor of a special ses-
sion. Colonel Morton, the noted boomer
of that city, thinks the legislature should
appropriate $150,000 more to the Worlds
Fair fund. And in consequence Fargo
is in line for the extra session.
If the legislature is convened in
special session it will be for at least four
things, viz: To provide for the election
of electors; to appropriate money for the
Worlds Fair; to appropriate money for
the Grand Forks fair; to provide for a
board of canvassers for state officers
election. Four bills of this Importance
will require at least ten days time to con-
clude. This will mean an expense of
$4,000 at least. The same members
will be asked to made the appropriations
as we're here last winter, and it will be
wonderful if they have experienced such
a change of heart IA to make the appro.
priations asked for. At the time they
refused the state fair a cent, they, by a
mere scratch, gave the Worlds Fair
commission something to work on be-
sides wind. Possibly they are of diff
ferent turn Of mind now. The TRIBUNE
doubts it.
The TRIBUNE does not wish to be I'M
derstood as going on record against ap-
preparations for the Worlds Fair and
the Grand Forks state fair. Both are
meritorious and should receive state sup
port. But will a special session fix up
the matter?
Farmer Walsh and others argue, and
not without following, that if an extra
session is held, the elevator and grain
question must be settled. It is asked if
measures of interest to the agricultural
! interests Of the state are not of as great