The Devils Lake world and inter-ocean. (Devils Lake, N.D.) 1915-1920, 1917-03-01
FROM BISMARCK
By Special Correspondent
For Devils Lake World

Dy DpGCldl ~
. For Devils
The correspondents for the N. P'.l
League papers II making extensive
use Of the word ".joker, in their eff:
forts to shiold the League members
Of the legislature On their attitude en-
several bills. The joker Of jokers.
however, is the house resolution cali
ing for an Investigation of alleged
lobbying by railroad attorneys and
agents. AS a matter Of fact, the rail-
roads would be going to unnecessary
trouble and expense to maintain a
lobby here. Not since statehood have
the railroads felt so secure from adj
verse legislation they do at this
legislative session. The order of the
League bosses, "don,t harm the rail
roads,, works like charm in the:
house. The railroads feel secure but
the adoption by the house of a reso-'
luton calling for an investigation: of:
alleged railroad lobbying, might serve
to allay-or' divert suspicion.
And the Townley papers r giving
the resolution all the publicity that
they possibly can. But the deception
can only succeed temporarily, if at
all. No permanent benefit can result
from such tactics. The attitude Of
the house on railroad legislation is
nothing short of discreditable. The
majority of the members who stayed
with the Townley program Of no rail-
road legislation realize now that they
have some explaining to do. And
they will soon realize that the cry of
"joker" will not serve as a shield.
Every bill Of merit that the League
bosses have, opposed, has been report
ed as having joker in it. The alb
surdity of that contention must be
apparent to all who know how the
house is constituted. The League has
an overwhelming majority. If a bill
is right in principle, but contains a
joker, the eLague members have had
joker, the League members have had
it right in their power to eliminate
such joker and h.en pass the bill: Any
house member who tries to excuse his
stand by crying "joker," will make
himself ridiculous. Nevertheless, the
joker cry is being worked to the limit
by the League newspapers.
The efforts of the League bosses to
play even with the small country news
papers that refused to be muzzled, has
SO far, proved Unsuccessful. Several
spite bills were introduced in the
house, and, of course, had no trouble
in getting thru that body But these
have. been killed by the senate. It
does look a little inconsistent for Lea
que members of the house who were
elected to fight big Business" to line
up in an effort to legislate out Of
business the small country weeklies,
but at the same time, refused to pass
q single bill which might adversely
affect the railroad companies.
All is not harmonious in the Town
ley camp. Twice while he has been
absent, efforts lave been made to
wrest the power from him, but he
was able to block the game both times.
A few, however, refused to become
reconciled, and r after Townley's
scalp. At a session the other night,
however, Townley had himself endors-
ed and all his methods approved in q
suitable resolution adopted at the Sc
cret caucus. This resolution was not
kept secret, but was published broad
cast over the state. However, the
Townley publicity bureau was mot
working overtime in sending out re-
ports Of the secret caucus when it de-
cided to 60 body and brooches into into + the
railroad camp. But it is being 'aadver-
tised, nevertheless. Ard It Win be
more and more az the weeks pass on
in spite Of all the efforts Of the L.
que papers to minimizAt1se injusticeo Of
the course the League legislative
members have taken on the bills NJ
.fectihg railpoads. Soma. Of tie mem
bers realize this and fell anything but
good over questions that; viii b4sasfed]
them when thsy mses their constitu-d
sea&s. And while the nj 1E1ided. mem