Grand Forks herald. [volume] (Grand Forks, N.D.) 1916-1955, 1918-12-14

Justice Robinson's letter in full
follows:
December IA, 1s1s.-During the
first week of December our court
heard debates on fifteen cases, and
since then we have busted ourselves
in writing decisions. On Tuesday of
next week we commence the hearings
Of debates on fifteen other cases. All
Of them we purpose to consider and
aim is to dispose Of thirty cases a
month, and in that way to catch up
with the work during the nex year.
Now. every day, the judges are on
time to a minute, but on Thursday
Judge Bronson went to Grand Forks
to bring here his family and Judge
Birdzell went with him for company,
and, as I guess, to meet some ,old-line
friends. We regret this loss of time.
are counted, and those who win
laugh. What are the results and the
leshons? The state officers are elect
ed by votes as follows:
Governor Frazier ......... $4,000
Thomas Hall, secretary Of
state $4,000
Carl Kositzky, state auditor. $4,000
Obert Olson, state treasurer. $4,000
William LANCER. attorney gen.
c1dl O0,VVV
S. A. Olsness, insurance COM
missioner Commonwealth. $1,000
Bronson, supreme court $500. $4,000
Miss Nelson, superintendent Of
The total votes for GOVERNOR nS,uop
Frazier and Mr.. Doyle were but 91,-
$50. The total vote for attorney en-
eral,i 1890. The total number of
votes cast at the general election vas
94,055. For the initiative and refer
endum the votes were 47,447; for hail
insurance, 4s,S7S. Neither or n
other five league amendments re-
ceived' "a majority of all the votes
cast at the general election though
each received "a majority of all the
votes severally cast for or against the
same" By the express words of the
18th amendment the latter vote is
sufficient when it is given or the pas
sage of mere laws. But when the vote
is on a constitutional measure, then,
by h 18th amendment, it is ap-
proved only when it receives a ma
jority. of all the votes cast at the gen.
eral election" Now it seems there is
a loubt and the doctors of law and
professors differ as to what is meant
by "a majority of all the votes a at
the general election" That is a mis-
fortune. because though our good
A>oAPuA IAooAA SOuIS may SuSldiIl I'LL lIlc
amendments, in four years hence.
when we shall have walked the plank,
u successors may nullify the deci-
sion just as we nuliified the decision
Of the former judges in the New
Rockford case. In this age of prog
ress, the opinion Of a court, a legal
oraile or a law professor settles no
principle Of law unless it is right. We
no longer hesitate to disregard any
erroneous or.rotten decision. The re-
suit is that a purchaser of state
bonds or any person acting under the
questionable amendments will have to
be wary and take his own risks, re-
CARELESS Of any decision.
The initiative and referendum
amendment has been we'll approved
and 1t is by far the most important
OF the whole bunch. Under this
splendid amendment, "ten thousand
electors at large may propose any
measure by Initiative petition, dom
tanning the full text of the measure.
and file the same with the secretary
Of state not less than ninety days be-
fore the general election. Then
1.-The measure must be submitted to
the voters at the next statewide gem
erAl election and ut shall become a
law-when approved by q majority OF
the votes cast thereon" The several
proposed measures must be printed
lin the state publicity pamphlet and q
copy mailed to each registered voter.
lUnderSt this splendid amendment twill
be al easy matter to secureSaS vote, on
measures to suppress the flu, to sup-
4 % -anU't .r.BE- n