The Fargo forum and daily republican. [volume] (Fargo, N.D.) 1894-1957, 1912-10-02

H- - #E.
Bismarck. N. D., Oct. 2.-Inasmuch
as there has been considerable ques-
ton among the candidates throughout
the state as to whether they could
contribute to their campaign or not
it was decided to put the question up
to the attorney general before they
paid any assessments to the funds AS
is well known, it has always been me
practice for the central committee pI
each party to levy an assessment oR
each candidate to assist in deIraylhS
the expenses of he campaign some
held that this could be done still, pnt
+ha lay seems to be very clear that no
sucb practice can be allowed n tpe
attorney general so decides.
In order that the matter might pc
dealt with fairly and s~quarely, the
several candidates hereinafter men
ton addressed a letter to Attorney
General Miller, asking for an opinion
from him on the subject, to Wnich ne
repIied} as follows
sMessrs. Thomas Hall, II. j. IayLoE'
rarIFO W. @. Taylor, W.
n ctIhreath Bisrnarck, N.e+D.-Ge1-
tlaroen. ISbex to acknowledge receipt
of yolir favor under date OF SEPT: 1P'
in which YOU ask an opinion from
me AS to whether or not, under the
nroyisions of section 10, chapter To-
Laws Of 1911, state officers or canol-
dates for state offices ma legally con-
tribute money to the staSe
cAntraIFcommittee or the state OF Nortn
Dakota TO be used by them in behalf
az the republican, state ticket In the
coming election.
Section 10 of said act provides as
follows:
s.Nos nerson shall demand. solicit, ask
or invite payment or contribution f9r
any religious, political, charitable o.
other such cause from a person WAC
seaks to he or. has been nominatedTor
alected to any office; n no such
candidate or elected person shall make
any. such payment or contribution IL
Il shall be demanded or asked during
the time ne is a candidate for nomina.
ton or election or an incumbenS OF
sny office. Mo- payment or contrlnu-
tion for any purpose shall be made 9
condition precedent TO the putting OF
a name on any caucus or CONVENTION
ballot or nominating paper or petition
or the performance of n duty I'M
posed by law on a political committee.
Section 13 reads:
ANY person shall be guilty OF COR
rupt practice Within the o.
this. act IL he spends n money foi
election purposes contrary to the pro,
visions of this statute, or & he is guilt.
Of treating, undue influence, persona
tons or the giving or promising t
give any money, or valuable thing t
an elector withosthe. intent to induc'
him to vote or to refrain from voting
for any candidate for public office"
Section 10 provides:
IF upon the trial of any action o
proceeding under the provisions of thi
act for the contesting of the right o
any ONCE, or TO annul or set aside sucl
election, or to remove any person from
his office, 1t shall appear that sucl
person was guilty of any corrupt prac
tice, illegal act. or undue influence II
or about such nomination or elecitol
he shall be punished by being de
prived of the nomination or Office a
the case may be, and the vacanc;
therein shall be filled in the name
provided by law"
Section 81 reads:
sWhoeyer violates any provisions O
this act, the punishment of which 1
not specifically provided by law, shat
in conviction thereof be punished b