The Bottineau courant. (Bottineau, Bottineau County, N.D.) 1895-1929, 1917-02-15

All this, and more, was brought out
at the caucus "open house" held at
the auditorium of the Northwest ho-
tel last week, to. which the general
public was invited and which was ad-
dressed by A. c. Townley, president
Of the league and Governor Lynn J.
Frazier. Mr.. Townley outlined the
plan to be pursued in the future and
the Governor placed the stamp of his
emphatic approval unqualifiedly up
on it.
Will Initiate Petitions
The plan decided upon by the eau
Gus was to initiate petitions and cause
to be placed upon the ballot at the
next election such amendments as
will enable the League to carry out
, it's program Of state-owned indus
tries. 1t was pointed out that the
plan proposed in the Mcbride reso-
luton would require two elections, a
special and a general election; a con-
stitutional convention and either
special or regular session of the leg
islature or the equivalent of two ses-
sions of the legislative assembly.
This would not only be unnecessarily
circuitous and needlessly expensive.
IF special session was called the as
sembly would be composed Of the
same standpat reactionaries that now
compose it and the chances for get
ting what was wanted, even though
the people had approved it at a spec
ial election would be no better than
it had been at this time-and every
one knows what that is.
By the initiative petition method
the amendments if approved by the
people at the next general election
would become effective at once and
the regular session of the legislature
could proceed to carry out the plans
of the organization. The initiative
and referendum law requires Is per
cent of the names Of electors from a
majority of the counties and the
League will be able to get 60 per
cent of the names from all of the
counties.
| Blue Laws Have the Floor.
With Bill "a out of the way the
measure that is strong rival for the
center of the stage in Senate bill 81,
which passed the senate last We'd
nesday, with only two votes opposing
it. It is bill in which the lawmak-
ers are endeavoring to fit new Sun
day lid for the state of North Dako-
ia. The blue lid seems to be out of
date, has proven decidedly unpopular,
since she is compelled to wear it, and
is causing other states to "poke fun
at the Flickertail state because of the
antiquated style of her headgear. The
clergy have been strong in their pro-
tests against any meddling with the
present Sunday closing law. Some
have disputed the wisdom of their
procedure, contending that if they
had consented to some notifications
of the present law then there would
have been some chance to have saved
the best features of it, but they
contend that if it is the old lid or no
lid then no lid goes. Not on!.1 sc
but they contend than an air tight
law will not only not legislate moral
ity into the people but that it will
breed contempt for the law and dis
respect for the people who seek to
force it upon the people.
But 81 lifts the lid on most of the
things included in the present blue
law except base ball and theatres. If
it becomes law you will not be OBJ
liged, if you indulge in the fragrant
weed, to lay in your supply of stog-
les or bull durham on Saturday nor
read Saturday paper all day Sun
day. You will also be permitted
without fear Of legal interference, to
retire to the cool nook amid the imi-
tation palms under the electric fans,
listen to the victrola and suck soda
water through straw to your
hearts content. But thou shalt not
excite thy pulse nor expand thy lungs
while sitting on hard board and
screaming till thou art purple in the
face when thy favorite bush Lacquer
bats the pellet over the fence and in
to the creek when the bases are full
and brings in four scores. Neither
shalt thou, Mr.. Workingman, gather
up thy kids and thy kidlets and also
thy helpmeet and hike thy self to the
movies that thou mayest hear thy
offspring cackle over the antics Of
Charlie Chaplin or feel thyself thrilled
by the sublime portrayal Of some i'm
mortal character in famous fiction.
Also, if thou livest in the country and