Grand Forks herald. [volume] (Grand Forks, N.D.) 1916-1955, 1918-10-19
Robinson Says Only
Three Should Be Voted
For Attack By One OF
Own Generals Has Nom
plussed League Leaders.

S0VSA VI a4OAAAp SOI1I411O0O JO6lAV0
Robinson, in his Saturday evening let.'I
ter. '.are by initiative petition, three
by the Legislative assembly. After |
careful consideration 1 do advise you
to vote, against all Of them excepting
these three:
81. The initiative and referendum
as applied to legislation.
"2 The constitutional amendments,
or the manner of amending the con-
stitution.
49,. Public ownership Of indus
tries"
The league is proposing for the ap-
prevail Of the electors at the Novem-
Der election ten constitutional amend
ments, seven Of which embody the
soul of House Bill A." the famous
draft through which the league in the
last general assembly sought to legis-
late q new constitution for North Da-
kota. These amendments have been
attacked from many sides, but the
league managers. apparently, were
wholly .unprepared for a flank attack
from n of>their own generals. who
only recently Joined in the. majority
Nonpartisan league supreme court
Justices opinion holding that these
amendments should be given a place
on the ballot. This opinion reversed
a unanimous ruling of the North Da-
kota supreme cour in 1915 holding
that the initiative amendment to the
constitution under which the league
sought to place its seven amendments
on the ballot was imperative and not
self-executing.
Judge Robinson proceeds to dis
cuss the leagues socialistic program in
his. Saturday evening letter:
Under the first two amendments
it will be much easier for the people
to make and amend the laws and the
constitution. To the first measure
there is just one objection. It pro-
vides that 1000 electors at large may
by referendum petition suspend the
operation of any measure enacted by
the legislature, excepting an emerg-
ency That makes it too
suspend the operation of nearly all
legislation. It is a serious defect
which it will be necessary to remedy
In two years.
THE public ownership amendment
Is by far the most important Of the
whole bunch. Under it the state, each
county and each city may engage in
any industry. enterprise or business.
the same as q natural person. It may
learn to make an honest existence in
stead of forever remaining q jbeggar, a
1A0A VI a ky1d1I SA66Skku6 IC1UuIO
from the people. If the state .corpor-
alton cannot learn to HIVE or exist
the same as other corporations. the
same as New Zealand-without levy
ing tributes, it deserves to perish from
the earth.
The Bonding Amendment.
1.-THE purpose of the bonding amend
ment is good and bene1cent, but it is
subject to several objections: 1t is too
vague and indefinite; its meaning is
not obvious; it's limitations are open
to dispute. 1t seems to contemplate
the mortgaging of state property and
public utilities when there is no &C.
casion for a state, county or, city to
mortgage n Of its property. It does
neither describe the bonds to be is
sued nor make them a legal tender in
payment of taxes nor exempt them
from taxation. A bonding amendment
should be in words few and precise,
and not subject to any dispute, and so
that its imprint on a bond would
make it as current as gold or legal
tender.
"And. a. the purpose Of a bonding
amendment should be to- promote
some great industry and to make it a
grand success, the voters should know
the nature of the industry and the as
eurance of success. There should be
no voting blindly or in darkness. To
make bonding pay a good dividend It
= must be done wisely; there must be
good management, a good enterprise
and good public service. Without
good service, it is vain to hope for sue
cess in either a public or private bust
ness; and, as we all know, thus far
the state public service has been very
inefficient. Such service would quickly
lead to the wreck and ruin of any