The Bottineau courant. (Bottineau, Bottineau County, N.D.) 1895-1929, 1917-09-27
D0NCS AT STATE CAPITAL

OrkS Is reported TO nave said
"These pacifists are men without
principle and without backbone and
the state has been adversely adver-
tised because Of those in authority
who have raised their voices in de-
Tense of the peace council and the
'pacifists have not raised their voices
in behalf of such great work as that
of the Red Cross Society,""
Just how Mr.. Bangs arrived at the
conclusion that the state administra-
tion has not raised their voices in be-
half Of the work Of the Red Cross So
ciety is something of a mystery to
any one who is in touch with Cover
nor Frazier and his fellow state offic-
ials. The fact is that Governor Fraz-
ier has not made a single speech
since the Red Cross drive for funds
commenced in which he has not ex-
tolled the work Of that Society and
urged the people to donate as liber-
ally as their means would permit.
He Spoke to the assembled state Of
ficials and employees when the Red
Cross drive was on in Bismarck and
not only urged everybody to give lib
orally but headed the subscription
list with generous donation himself.
The same thing is true of all the state
officials as far as I know except
Judge Robinson, who offered SUBJ
scription which the committee con-
sidered insignificant and which was
rejected. That the state officials did
their share is indicated by the fact
that during the fifteen minutes of the
meeting addressed by Governor Fraz-
ier twelve hundred dollars was raised
among them.
The canard which is being circula-
ted and which has gained considerable
credence is to the effect that Cover
nor Frazier instructed Attorney Cen
eral LANCER to go to Fargo and ar
range for meeting of the Peace
Council in North Dakota and to see
that they were protected. AS 'Gener-
al LANCER said in a speech at La
Moure recently he was sent to Fargo
by the Governor not to see that the
Peace Council held meeting or were
protected, but if they held a meeting
to secure evidence that any traitorous
or seditious speech might be punished.
Attorney General Langer's instruc-
tions from Governor Frazier were to
go to Fargo, secure stenographers
and witnesses to make a report OF
their utterances during the council
and if they came within the sedition
law to prosecute the official to the
|uttermost, also to direct the attention
of the United States District Attor-
Iney General Hildreth to this meeting
and ask his cooperation in suppress
sing or Furnishing traitorous or Sc
ditious speech.
Governor Frazier never invited the
Peace Council to North Dakota anc
only assured them that the Constitu.
ton of the United States has not beer
suspended. AS matter Of fact this
was the only lawful reply the Cover
nor could make to their inquiry. Nc
one can suspend the Constitution ir
America except the sovereign people
Even the suspension Of the writ Of
habeas corpus as exercised by Presi'
dent Lincoln during the Civil War was
held by the Supreme Court OF th<
United States to be an extra legal ex'
lercise Of power. Had Governor Fraz
lier exercised the power invested II
him as commander in chief OF tn
militia and suspended the Constitu
tion, he would have been subject y
Impeachment and removal from h
lofPica.