Williston graphic. (Williston, Williams County, N.D.) 1895-1919, 1917-01-11
CON CON WILL Be
FACT|0NAL ISSUE
METHODS OF FRAMING AND.
ADOPTING NEW CONsTlTu-
TION THE BIG QUESTION


TlON THE BIG QUESTION
Mcbride Offers Senate ResolutisD
That Meets Opposition
Forces Have Plan
Bismarck, N. D., Jan. 1O.-OAeial
announcement today of the Nonpar-,
tisan leagues plans for bringing a6oue
the adoption Of new state eonstitD-
ton, reveals movement somewhat
different from the previously lntici-
pated theories.
Under the plan that will be pur-
sued, new constitution that is draft
ed almost entirely from the present
constitution, will be submitted to the
legislature, with resolution passing
such constitution on to the people q
a special election.
The new proposed constitution win
carry provision for state ownership
of public utilities, raise the boo9
limit, provide exemption for farm i'm
prOvements, provide state insuranee
features, and probably one or tive
other features.
Mcbride Plan Surprise
Bismarck, N. D., Jan. S.-The first
big surprise of the session was sprung
like a thunderbolt out of q clear sky
this afternoon when Senator Mcbride
introduced a concurrent resolution
providing for . constitutional con-
vention with referendum vote to
Re taken at special election Nov.
6. 1917, with the election of delegates
to be held in conjunction with the reg
ular primaries the last Wednesday
in June, 1918, the convention to as
semble July l2, 1918, for session of
fortyfive days, and the election for the.
ratification on the first Tuesday after
the first Monday in November. 1919.
The compensation for the delegates
is placed at SIS per day and mileage.
This resolution puts crimp in the
plan of the Nonpartisan leaders %
force revision BY the legislature.
1t provides for. the holding of but
one special election, that being the
referendum on the proposition next
November. The League leaders pro.
gram called for one special election,
so the two plans are even on the mat
ter Of expense to the state.
The plaE proposed by Senate. Me-
Bride will REQUIRE less than two yeary
and in tact but eighteen months a.
ter the resolution could be:ome eE-
fective without an emergency clause.
to put the revised constitution into.
effect.
The League leaders plan would ~
quire one year and give little or NO,
time for consideration by the people
Lieutenant Governor Kraabel r.
ferred the resolution to the judiciary
committee, of which Senator Mcbride
is chairman, and it will be reported
out at once, passed and sent to the
house.
League Opposes
Bismarck, N. d., Jan. 9-Endcrse--
ment last night by the Non-partisan
league caucus of the leaders, plan
for legislatively constituted const5-
tutional convention, which took the
form of resolution committing the
league members of the assembly to
the plan, really marks the formal
opening of a fight that bids fair to
attain gigantic proportions within q
comparatively short time.
The Nonpartisan leaders said to-
day. their bill had not been definitely
decided upon
naming delegates may be accepted,
principle that the people have al
ready declared their approval of the
convention idea. bv the manner in
which thew voted for the league pro-
rram in recent e1ections
Appointment of delegates by the
70 houses, or BY the governor, or
the selection of delegates from among.
Tho membership of the tw, houses.
are methods under consideration.
That the NonDart;san bill will not
be introduced till the latter part of
the week. is also Indicated. Confer
ence during the next two o. three
days viii be held to definitely de-
e'mine the form Of measure.
IN last nights caucus, Represen-
tative E. E. Cole of Fargo addressed
the gathering, declaring himself for
the leagues program. A general
discussion it. is stated Of the
entire constitutional convention sit
uation took place, the cause declar-
ing it was absolutely aoainst the nro-
nosal contained in Senator McBride's
bill introduced yesterday.
Following is the resolution s.donted
at the caucus last evening":
"Resolved, That it is the sense Of
the moetino that the present legisla-
t,'ro should submit to the people a.
draft of constitution for their adop-
ten or rejection which will allow
carving out Of the league program
and thus avoid the GREAT expense of
a special constitutional convention
and not wait two years MS would be
necessary under a concurrent resoIu-
ticn introduced this day II the state
senate by Senator McBrir'a.'
p
Marriages
Oscar Knutson and Emma Tosteg-