Grand Forks herald. [volume] (Grand Forks, N.D.) 1916-1955, 1917-04-11
Z, MANY MEET HERE
TODAY TO START
FIGHT ON LEAGUE
Anti-Nonpartisan Organiza-
ton Being Formed at
a Conference.
PEOPLE MUST
BE INFORMED
\ Have Not Been Told Truth
of Townley's Tactics,
(. Speakers Say.
"carry the truth to the people of
NSorth Dakofa

"carry the truth to the people Of
North Dakota"
This was the keynote Of the talks
Ct the morning session OF the the Anti mt,
Socialist conference at the city hall,
when Senator Frank H. Hyland. for
mer Supreme Court Justice Spaldirg,
Rep. A. G. Divet and Hon. Tracy II.
Bangs addressed the $50 men from
all parts of the state who are here to
formulate plans to combat Socialism
and Townleyism and I. w. Wism.
It was A. G.. Divet who gave the
meeting the rallying cry. He had been
propaganda, and particularly the ac-
tivities Of these Socialistic leaders in
the legislative session, and in a vigor-
Gus conclusion declared the belief that
the people of North Dakota did not
believe in Socialism. that they had not
been told the real truth of the per-
nicious doing Of these leaders. and
were fully informed of the menace to
the, state in the proposed Socialism
they would drive them from their as
sumed places of power in the govern
ment of the state.
Garry the truth to the people; that
is all that is necessary" he said.
Chairman Hyland, in opening the
meeting told briefly of the purpose
in the minds of the members of the
legislature in calling for gathering
of the representative men of the state
to take up the fight after they. as the
representatives of the people, had de-
feated the Socialists program in the
legislature. He told of the bitterness
of that fight and how there were
times when those who stood for the
protection of the interests of the
of tIo
: the situation. But the time for fear
and trembling is past" he said.
'The people are beginning to look
with suspicion on the Socialist lead
ers who are working under false col
ors and now they are locking FOL
. leadership in the fight against them. >
Judge Spalding, as q member OF the
! constitutional convention that drafted
the present basic law of the state, re-
lated some of the conditions that sur
round that convention and the mo-
tives that impelled the use of certain
of the most important sections of the
constitution. 1t was intended to re-
strict the powers of the legislature
with a mind fixed on just such a pos
.sibility as arose in the state last win.
ter. There was strong feeling al
that time for even further restric'
tions than were placed in the consti-
tuition. he said, and the most Of this
was from the farmers Of the state
who feared the rights of the individ
ual and the rights Of the people would
be infringed upon unless the mos
radical protection was given them II
the constitution.
I'VE thought we were drafting 8
constitution that was Is years ahead
Sof its time," said Judge Spalding
land l still think so, but it Is pro,
posed to wipe out the provisions we
fyy11x f~or nd fn on k,
ward a hundred years."
He told of the feeling that i'm
bued the trainers of the constitution
in putting the most careful protection
about the school land funds as sa
cred trust.
Mr.. Divet reviewed the acts Of the
$frecent legislature and did not mince
words in his denunciation Of the lead
sers of the Socialists and the one WHIT
was placed in the position of chic
clerk in the house, not for the Sc {
day there was in it. but that hi
,4might be there to boss the job fol
= Townley and the Big Five.
1t did not matter to Mr.. Divet tina
Mr.. Townley and Chief Clerk Bower
had come into the meeting. He wen
to the heart Of his subject with al
8the vehemence at his command ant
won round after round of applause
for his plain denuciations of the mel
!and their attempt to ''steal the con
troll Of the government Of the state.
Tracy Bangs made a few moments
talk, regretting that it was neecssar,
for him to take the noon train 70
Bismarck to appear in a case in tn
supreme court. but assured the con
Aference he was with the movemen
-7heart and soul and took occasion t
Y call attention to the danger to tn
state and nation in the growth of tn
sl9 SOcia liStiC nrOn9p9nd2