The Fargo forum and daily republican. [volume] (Fargo, N.D.) 1894-1957, 1917-01-27
bilI-Allen.

Against bill-Allen, Blanchard,
Carignan3s Carr. Divet. Ebel, Everson,
Geizler, Hanson. Hendrickson, Kelly.
Isaak, Knox, Lang, Mackoff, Moen of
Rott, Schick, Smith, Stinger, Myhre,
son, Turner. Wiley, Wilson, Myhre,
Meyer.
Absent and not voting - o'Connor,
Grand Forks; Wright. Weld OF Wells,
and Lathrop.
During the closing two hours of the
debate, the Nonpartisan leagues side
Of the issue was presented to the
house more Complementary than ever
before. Through the medium Of a
group Of speakers who devoted them
selves to various phases Of the ques-
ton, and through the attorney gem
erals opinion, the leagues side Of the
question was discussed quite
thoroughly, after the majority had
practically concluded its attack upon
the procedure. ...
In response to Representative
Divet's address, early in the afternoon,
as having declared, before the election,
that the Nonpartisan league program
would be carried out by the passage
of constitutional amendments in this
and the next succeeding legislature,
and then go to the people for a vote,
and that 1t was the purpose to carry
out the program features one by one,
Representative Maddox made q reply.
Representative Divet also asked if
'the lash in the masters hand had
been applied to Fraziers back?"
Representative Maddox. in his re-
Spouse, insisted that the lash had been
laid; that 1t was the lash Of the peo-
pies will. and that it was a lash to
which the governor would ever re-
spond. Maddox said that no doubt
Mr.. Divet intended to indicate that the
lash was being applied by A. c. Town
ley, but that was challenged by Mad
dock.
Representative Church Of Benson
county presented to the house a care
fully prepared statement covering
legal phases Of the issue. In this
statement Mr.. Church declared that
there was ample law to uphold the
procedure, and he pointed to expert
ences of several other states.
It was pointed out that the social
ed Indiana case covered a condition
that does not prevail in North Dakota.
The Indiana constitution was framed
on a basis that doesn't permit OF Its
revision by the legislature, while no
such condition Is set forth in the
North Dakota constitution.
REPRESENTATIVE Stair Of Bottineau
county made striking plea for the
passage of the measure. He quoted
from q statement by Abraham Lincoln,
when the martyred president spoke OF
the right Of the majorities to- change
their government. RepresentaIlVe
Stair also declared that the people OF
the state had voted very emphatical-
ly for changes in their constitution
that would make possible the pro-
gram Of the league. He defended the
procedure as employed, and declared
that If it had always been case OF
looking for presidents, Christopher
Columbus would never have discover
ed America.
Mr.. stair spoke of the conservatives
of old-the merchants. the lawyers.
the teachers, and maintained they
were still the conservatives OF this
day, and always would be.
Mr.. Stair declared the people back
in Bottineau county knew his gram
mar wasn't very good when they sent
him down here. but they knew MS
heart was right-and ne INTENDED 10
stand by the league plan.
II Abraham Lincoln was here TO-
day. Stair said, he would declare. go
to it boys"
Representative Church, In his
declaration, set forth his belief, when
he came to Bismarck. that 1T would
reouire considerable time to work out
the program, but he was now convinc-
ed that the plan presented to the
house was thoroughly legal and well
founded. and he went into details on
the proposition, reading at length
from an article setting Eortn tnc
M Church. said Governor Frazier
had indicated what the people expect
Of the legislature, and he was ready to
stand by.
Representative Cole. of Cass county,
also discussed the question. He main
tanned that he was well satisfied with
the leagues plan for bringing about
constitutional revision, and he was OF
the opinion that 1t would prlng
beneficial results.
Representative Cole said that the
people of the state have directed that
thew wanted certain things, and he
proposed to aid them in the accom-
plishment Of such objects.
In explaining their votes, Mr.. Carr
of Barnes county said he was opposed
to the twenty fourth section as re.
lates to public utilities, insisting that
If was too sweeping, and would be the
means of plunging the state into
tremendous debt. He favored. he said,
terminal elevators. packing plants and
mills: but not in the manner proposed.
Mr.. Hanson, of Grand Forks county,
said he wasn't sent to the legislature
to adopt a new constitution.
Hoare. OF Williams county, said he
had been sent to the Legislature to ac-
compIish certain things, and he ex-
pected to accomplish them by his vote
for the bill.
Kelly, Of Ramsey county. made an
extended explanation, setting forth
the opinion that the procedure was
illegal, and the plan faulty.
Kunkel, Lowe, Meyer. Peterson of
Towner, Stair. also explained their
votes. Mr.. Peterson said he thorough
lv understood that his people wanted
this new constitution. while Mr.. Stair
talked somewhat along the same line.
And now IFS mp to the senate.