The Bismarck tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, N.D.) 1916-current, 1918-12-07
LEMKE GIVES
DEFINITE HINT
LEAGUE PLAN
Declares Amendments illegally"
Carried in Face of Ad.
verse Returns
FIVE LOST SAYS STEEN
Chairman State Canvassing
Board Will Attempt to Block
Bulling Through
FIVE LOST SAYS sTEEN

"All league amendments initiated
at the recent election, with the ex-
ception, Of that changing the initla;
five and referendum, clause of the
constitution and the hail amendment,
are lost" declared State Treasurer
John Steen, chairman OF the state can
vassing board, when that body had
completed its canvass of the official
vote from So counties and the semi
official vote from the one remaining
county last night.
s"All of the amendments are un-
doubtedly LEGALLY carried" said
William Lemke of st. Paul, chairman
OF the republican state central com
mittee of North Dakota Mr.. Lemke
made this statement before the re-
canvassing board. He reiterated 1t
after the returns had been totaled up.
In both instances he emphas sized
legally" and both times he main
tanned cryptic silence when asked to
explain his statement.
Chairman Steen of the state can
vassing board was at a loss to explain
how Chairman Lemke arrived at his
conclusion. Mr.. Lemke wen so far
as to say that he did not know what
attitude the state canvassers would
take and that he made his declara-
ton without regard to the opinion OF
the courts on the matter. ''The
amendments have legally carried be-
yond a doubt. That is what l have
contended oil the time," Lemke as.
serted as a finale.
Contest May Develop.
Someone suggested that I.emke
based his statement on knowledge
that the state canvassing board, in
spite of the fact that the five amend
ments enbodying the leagues eco
nomic program all failed to secure a
majority of all the votes cast at the
recent election, would declare the
amendments carried.
"If such an attempt is made" said
Chairman Steen. II will do what |
con to block it. don't know how far
can succeed, for the league mem
bers of the canvassing board outnum
ber me. l do not know that such an
action is contemplated. Under the
wording of the law, which plainly re.
quires a majority of all votes cast, |
do not see how it can be-"
+ 4s,014 is Majority.
The whole number Of votes cast,
using the vote on governor from
Wells county, which has made no OF.
fetal returns, is 94,027. The vote
necessary to majority is 47,O14.
The vote on the league amendments
as canvassed yesterday was:
Initiative and referendum: Yes, 49,
24S; No, 32,59S; carried
Emergency measures: Yes 46,l2l'
No, 32,507; lost.
Constitutional amendments: Yes,
45.329: No, 1852; lost.
Taxation fsingle taxi: Yes, 46,S24;
No, 33,624;, lost.
Removing debt limit: Yes, 46,275;
No, 34,2s5; lost.
Public ownership: Yes, 46,S3o;
No, 32,574; lost.
Messenger to Wells
Deputy Static Auditor o. B. Lund
was named a special messenger to go
to Fessenren at theh expense OF
Wells caunty, to bring in the official
abstract of votes in that county. MT.
Lund left the capital last evening. eS-
pecting not to return until Monday.
The statet canvassing board adjourn
ed until today, with the probability
that it would be necessary to adjourn
again until Monday, to await the re-
turn of Mr.. Lund.
The law provides that state can
vassing boards may adjourn three
CONTINUED on Page Eight.)