The Bismarck tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, N.D.) 1916-current, 1918-12-09
FEDERALC0URT
MAY BE ASKED
T0TAKEHAND
Probable That State Courts Will
BE Ignored in Enjoining
TOwnley
PROPERTY IS JEOPARDIZED
High Handed Action Proposed
By Lemke Would Be of
Interstate Interest
PROPERTY is JEOPARDIZED

1t is regarded probable here that an
effort to enjoin the league from pro-
ceeding under the constitutional
amendments which the state canvass
ing board today declared carried,
in spite of the fact they did no. secure
majority Of all the votes cast in the
recent general election, will be init
lated in the federal courts by foreign
corporations which have large
amounts of capital invested in this
state. Old line life insurance COM
panies alone are said to have sixty
millions loaned on farm morta ages il
North Dakota. John J. Hastings, H.
nancial secretary of the league, stat
ed in a recent interview that at least
$50 100000 is invested in North Da-
skota securities, by Twin City. banks. -
The league action, it is believed,
will be attacked on the alleged ground
that the plan Of removing all limit for
bonded Indebtedness, the attempt 10
authorize the states guaranteeing
bonds Of public and private utilities,
industries and enterprises for any
amount up to ten million in the case
Of each enterprise, and the single tax
idea, imposing all burdens of taxation
upon the land, would jeopardize for
eign property interests in the state.
Until Friday evening, when Chair
man Lemke of the republican state
central committee declared all of the
league amendments "legally' carried
in spite of the fact that the five en-
bOdying the vital portions IF the
leagues economic program clearly did
not have majority of all the 7otes
cast November 5, it was not known
how the league purposed - proceed
to save its amendments from defeat.
AS late as November 2 the Nonparti-
san Leader carried war"lng to vot.
ers that votes not cast fer the amend
as much as under the constitution the
amendments required majority OF all
the votes cast. Prior to that time at
least two warnings Of similar tenor
had been issued by President Town
ley; one by the republican state cen
tral committee, in a pamphlet en-
titled "Truth," and number through
the columns of the NOnpartisan Lead
er.
It is expected if Attorney General
LANCER, State Superintendent of Pub
lie instruction Macdonald and State
Auditor Kositzky, the league major
ity on the canvassing board, force
through a resolution declaring the
amendments passed, Secretary OF
State Hall, a Lacquer, and State Treas
urer Steen, who opposed Governor
Frazier for denomination last spring,
completing the personnel of the board.
will join in a report holding that five
of the amendments did not carry.
Theodore G. Nelson of Dunn Center,
manager of the joint campaign COM
mittee which conducted the fight
against the league amendments before
election, was in Bismarck when the
prospective action of the canvassers
was announced, but he withheld COM
ment. The board adjourned aSturday
ment. The board adjourned until
Monday to await returns from Wells
county, which can in no way affect
the result. but which must me in be-
fort the board can complete its Ia
bors.
The vote on the league amendments
was as follows:
The vote on the league amendments
was as follows:
Initiative ard referendum: Redu-
cling number of electors required to
initiate to 10000 at large; number
required to refer legislation to seven
thousand at large; number required to
refer legislation carrying emergency
measure to thirty thousand at large:
Yes, 49,24S; no, 32.59S; carried.
Emergency measures; Providing
manner in which act may be given
immediate effect by vote Of two-thirds
members present and voting in each
house: Yej, 1921; no, s2.5o7.
Constitutional amendments: Redu-
cling number of signatures required on
petition to initiate amendments to
twenty thousand electors at large;
providing such amendment shall be
approved by a majority of votes cast
CONTINUED on Page Three.)