The Hope pioneer. [volume] (Hope, N.D.) 1882-1964, 1917-02-01

Bismarck.-Thoug half the adult
people Of the state have been poten-
TALLY "enfranchispd" within the past
two weeks; though the state budget
commission has completed it's delib-
erations after wrestling from unwil-
ling institutions something like Il
million dollars Of the appropriations
they desired: and though Governo.'
Frazier is still fitting the toboggan
slide which is expected to let the
members of two prominent stats
boards permanently down and OUT
wi'hstanding all these facts the
Nonpartisan leagues proposed new
state constitution still continues to
hold the chief place in public atten-
tion here and elsewhere.
Not that the public knows so much
in detail about the new bill Several
hundred copies of it were stolen re-
Gently. but the average citiZnc didn't
get his. and is mostly trusting to
luck and his representatives as to
the correctness of the final action
upon it. Those who don't implicitly
trust either Of these are sitting down
to write to the latter at Bismarck
perhaps to the senators chiefly-and
tell them what to do. At any rate
it would seem SO from the pressure
that is being brought to bear from
J the people back home.
The fight has resolved itself into
one Of organization and leadership
mostly. and in these elements both
sides appear well equipped. The
| house, which had staged the princi-
| v,oJ ,fnrt to f~,x Il T.
! among it's active Nonpartisan de-
/ tenders men like Representative
| Walter Maddook Of Mountrail coun-
ty, now a recognized floor leader;
| A. NJ. Hagen Of Bottineau county.
who introduced the famous "House
Bill 44;" r. A. Bowman of LaMoure.
once prominently mentioned for the
speakcrship; and Anthony Walton
OF Ward county. who is head of the
house appropriations committee
REPRESENTATIVE c.. r. Peterson OF
Towner county is also highly re-
garded among league men and is a
floor leader who has the confidence
of the rank and file of those who
acknowledge allegiance to that or
| ganization. Representative Ed Cole
is credited with giving the league
much aid and comfort by his sup
port Of its constitutional program.
TO-. which it is expected he will be
duly rewarded at the proper time II
within the power of the members Of
the league.
Among anti-league men taking
part particularly in resisting the
Nonpartisan program for legisla-
tive revision of the constitution were
Representatives A. G. Divet. elected
from Rchland county. Messrs
Blanchard and Mackoff from Stark
Staale Hendrickson of Divide. and
B. G. Tenneson Of Cass. This group
Of members led fight upon certain
details of the constitutional draft,
and in general for more time to con-
slider the proposed measure. This
effort was not permitted by the ma
jority to extend beyond one or two
sessions of the committee of the
whole. and was designated in league
quarters as a filibuster against the
bill Little discussion was engaged
In by League members on the consti-
tutional draft. and no inroads were
permitted to be made upon its prov
isions except one or two slight
amendments under direct sanction OF
leaders of the league. "Sit tight and
watch for motions by Maddox" was
chara cteristic slogan in Nonparti-
san circles. and the manner in which
it was lived up to was revelation
of efficient leadership.
Divct Wants Special Court
One result of the controversy over
the question of the correctness OF the
Nonpartisan plan for revising the
constitution was the introduction OF
a bill by Representative Divet pro-
posing to provide a special court
composed Of all members of the
present supreme and district courts
to pass upon the legality of the plan.
The bill proposed that this special
court should he convened at once,
to the exclusion Of all other
duties of the respective judges. and
that their expenses he allowed in
travelling to and from Bismarck. An
appropriation Of 81 900 was attached ID
to the bill to provide funds for this
purpose. This bill has been adverse
ly reported by the majority of the
house judiciary committee. and a
minority report has been made in Its
favor. throwing it into the commit