Grand Forks herald., 1917-01-11
Coates IntcryieM.

the assembly, 40 from the house. 38
from the senate and named by the
governor.
Coates Interview.
In his interview last night. Mr..
Coates declared that the league lead
ers had given up their fight to force
through a revision of the constitution
by convention selected by them
through the general assembly and
composed Of members Of the legis-
lature.
They also have given up the demand
for the complete league program"
on which they have been so strenuous
ly at work for two weeks, rounding
up legislators of both houses.
Apparently realizing their strength
was slipping away on the question OF
revision by convention chosen by a
caucus dominated by leaders of the
compromise lines apparently with the
hope of drawing into the ranks the
members who had taken stand
against this one proposal.
While the official daily organ OF
the Non pa artisan league but a few
days ago witheringly denounced these
writings for using the reference to a
safe conservatism in legislation. and
particularly in the making Of a con-
as the real brains Of the inner circle
Of leaders gave out an interview last
evening, the first official interview
of the session from that source. In
which he declares that the Non-parti-
san revision plan is the only conserv-
ative one yet advanced.
w. d. Coates. general manager for
the league. is the author OF the inter-
view. and in making his statement he
could not disguise the fact that there
had been some startling trimming OF
the original plan Of the leaders to fit
the rather acute situation which they
now face.
He said: 1--WE have adopted a pro-
gram with a view to appealing to the
conservative element in the senate
and nothing could be safer or saner
than the scheme which we propose
Compared with it. Mr.. McBride's res
olution is radical in the extreme. Our
proposition is not difficult to under
stand. it is not unreasonable, certain
ly it is not dangerous.
-Four Amendments.
I'VE do not propose that tho
constitution be ripped to pieces
and put together again. All we
ask are probably four amend-
ments. required to enable US to
put through the program for
which majority Of North Da-
kota's people have gone on record.
i The remainder Of the constitution
would be left untouched. There is
no reason why any clause affect
Ing the trust funds Of tho state
| should be tampered with. none
why the prohibition provision
should be touched Mt all"
No Convention.
"Our idea is not to resolve the leg
lslature into convention nor to In.
veigle the senate into a joint session
where we would have control, but tt
! introduce a bill for the submission Of
our amendments as revisions Of thu
constitution. and this bill would bs
introduced in the usual way and pass
ed upon in the usual way. Nothing
! this bill contained could get by with
| out the final approval from a major
ity of the senate, and 80 long as th'
senate majority is conservative. there
| is no reason why the interests of tina
element should not be fully protect
! ed.
I'm this way. the revision Of thu
constitution would be done in th'
open, the chance Of joker to ge
through would be very slim. the peo
pie would know at all times what wa
being done, and the people finall!
would have the deciding voice, wher
the constitution. as revised, is sub
mitted to them for acceptance or re
lection.
IF we wanted to be really radical
we would insist upon this question
going before a constitutional conven
tion Of delegates elected by the peo
pie, for there is nothing more certain
than that the league, with the people
in their present temper, can elect two
thirds of the members Of such con
vention.
This would place the league in ;