New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1917-01-05
Constitution Stands i'll Way
Of Reforms Urged by
Farmers League
pI AN FOR REVISION
BY 4 CONVENTION
Holdoyer Senators, III the
Grio of Interests" May
Insist on Referendum
3, WILLIAM NJ. HOUGHTON

..rtt'c state capital one OF iht Su'"-
AIMS I'M the United States, but IT'S
feature apparently makes little
--...or on thc circulation Of ITS m
,.s..srts or Of the big. viriie men IN
I-. vbo have come here 20 pass laws
..hsrl startle the country. As lt
-. to-day is unusually mild Tor
I.l,s.u5c and this season, and there
~, 81 hint Of spring in the level
.er.b.ne gliding the Wloe, snow .i...,
,~a the frozen Missouri. '''S ~ ,'.N
A'e h,rrv augurv for the outcome OF
IS ~ The legislative programme.
81 t-c other hand, an evil omen lI
..rs 10 regard DO as such, was pro-
ous +, +bc death cf II. r. Berndt the
No,o states Attorney. Berndt, VINO
..,,bied a Young college prof esSor'
ts,tt~.elf through the heart Whethei
s.'.ri5e0t or design, in front or the
49,. courthouse Tuesday morning
W. was found lying dead there on Z"
e-.-,sorcd snow bank.
M whatever the signs and porten IS;
-. sro few Of the farmers VINO ial,
-esii-o that their fight for pohucal
;~5rstrisl autonomy has only lust
The Farmers Non-Partlshh
Y-,o has delivered North DaAoJa
80, Tho grin OF the octopus rcsloe"I
W., Twin Cities Of Minnesota. ouI
..- tbe league maintain its ascencancE
7. loots Ike q struggle Of years oe-
.,;,o tho spectacular defeat OF the Sl"'-
s.rf faction in the last election.
Constitution an Obstacle
The b.r. hearty farmers who turned
.t. ,r,c. arc now crowding the lobby
~ F. Mckenzie Hotel here. named
.s.or Alexander Mckenzie, the old Re
rrbi-sn boss OF the state, whom tney
t.~, ro,+ed But they are sober lot
,r ever, sense OF the word. not a. all
triumphant IN manner and relceh' 70 b
degree. l..
The constitution O. the state is ne
t.~ obstacle. 10 must either be amend
IL fo- tro inclusion Of each important
-su ON the ambitious programme be
f,,e tho new government. or 10 must
b., suuerseded by a new instrument
,hicr shall permit all legislative de-
,,--u-es planned. constitutional
.~-e-4oents providing for the estab-
rsruert OF state owned terminal gram
Elevators both within and without the
state have already been passed. But
tts constitutional amendment IS
.1~bersomc method Of reform IN North
Dakota.
Jstu-e must approve an amendment
a,'ore IL can be submitted 10 the peo-
-'c. and the Leg stature meets blen-
,,lv Thus. more than two years
must slspse before on amendment can
.. ratified and in the meantime a new
state administration must be chosen.
u therefore. constitutional amend
ments are necessary for the establish
mont of state owned packing plants
and 0our mills. OF state hail insurance
and state operated rural credit sys-
.en. then there will be time for the
poaerfsl interests opposed 10 these
-rovstons 10 rally their demoralzed
forces for counter attack before all
lost
No Provision for Revision
Strangely enough, the constitution
Of North Dakota, adopted IN 1897,
when the state was admitted 10 the
Union. makes no provision FOR the
calling Of a constitutional convention.
The friends of the farmers pro
grsmme now In power are inclined TO
think therefore, that & way might De
found TO call a constitutional conVen
ion 10 remould the whole organic law
Of the state and this way 70 s;mphly
The problem. There Is even talk o.
The present Legislature resolving NJ
ssf into a constitutional convention
and drawing up a new constitution lot
admission TO the people this summer
ua special election. But the Senate
ssuld undoubtedly block any sucn un-
Wteedented step and only the holder
spirits are flirting with its eohsloer~-
ton.
The State Senate bids fair 10 prove a
potent brake on the farmers. move
ment State Senators hold Otfice 1or
Jour years. twenty-five of the forty
nine Senators came up for reelection
this last fall, leaving twonty-four hold-
tyers. OF the twenty-five newly elect
Cd, eighteen were the candidates OF the
farmers nou-partisan league. Three
Of the hold-overs have become league
men. But this makes only twenty-one
out Of forty-niue. still minority
On the other hand, there are among
the Senator'S who do not represent the
league a large number whose consttu-
en.s elected BY overwhelming plurRl-
lies the leagues candidates Tor me
House Of Representatives and VINO
therefore can be counted on TO treaJ
he ambitions of the league sympathel-
esly In brief, the league can count
on a majority in the Senate IN sup
port OF It's moderate proposals, but must
expect defeat there the moment II tries
anything drastic, such as the resolving
Of the legislature into constitutional
convention, for example.
May Demand Referendum
Tie majority OF the Senators have
already made up their minds 20 sup
port call for constitutional conven-
Ton provided the call itself is sub
ht,ed TO g. referendum Of the voters.
such referendum, however. must be
eeieUed TO the next general election
t 1919. In case it proved favorable 10
me call tho constitutional convention
could not meet until 1920, and the con-
.niuuon b. dTcw>up could not be ratl-
,eo until 1921 approximately I'VE years
ltom now
North Dakota will have 10 move
slowly loo the adoption Of its interest
q social programme. ID has only fired
me opening guns in its struggle for M
dependence. So much seems assured.
Just what avenue the league wall
irsyel toward it's goal is being decided
now IN secret by its officers and repre-
'tntatves who attended to-day the
pening OF the Legislature in this snow
peoecked hamlet. Secrecy is a watch
word o. the organization apparently. al
nost equally important with Us motto,
Vel stick" printed on all its cam
laign buttons a. G. Townley, the
PRESIDENT; f. p. Wood the viee-presi-
dent these two men furnished the or
ganizing genius which put the league
scrosSl. and Lynn j. Frazier the new
" elected Governor, refuse 80 discuss
Their plans Lesser officers and mem