The Fargo forum and daily republican. [volume] (Fargo, N.D.) 1894-1957, 1918-01-14
Revision of Absent Voter
Act Required to Per
NIT Soldiers to Vote
EXPECT FRAZIER
TO APPROVE TT
Governor Anticipates Sup
port for Prohibition
Amendment
CBY HI. d. PAULsoN)

Revision of the absent voters act
to permit soldiers in foreign service
to take advantage of IL, probably VIII
be urged upon the North Dakota
legislature when it meets in Bis
marck on Wednesday. Jan. 2S.
Governor Lynn ]. Frazier has not
vet indicated that he would take
this issue before the legislature
since the call for the assembly mas
been made, several have called the
attention of the governor to the need
az amendment OF the absent voter
act If the states men in the service
are to have a voice in state affairs.
Fully $500 North Dakota men are
now in France, and by the time the
lime primaries are held addltlonal
North Dakotans will be on Frencn
soil. Still further additions to North
Dskotass representation abroad may
be expected by the time the general
elections are held in Navember,
Several Fargo men who are inter
ested in the amendment OF the alb
sent voter act declare that marked
departures from the present act will
be required.
Under the present absent voter
act. each voter must make applica-
ton to the county auditor for a ball
lot. The ballots are distributed to
the voters only a short time prior
to the election, and must be return
ed to the auditor and by him for
warded to the board Of elections in
the voting precinct where the absent
voter holds residence. The ballot
must be on hand election day.
In advocating amendment it is
pointed out that some plan whereby
the soldier ballots may be forwarded
direct to the county canvassing
board would meet the situation, the
ballots to be opened when the can
vassing board meets. A later date for
the canVassing board meetings also
would be required, both for the pri-
mary and general elections.
Governor Frazier has already de-
clared that he very likely will ad-
wise the adoption of a moratorium
for soldiers, and his advisers are
confident he also will take up the
absent soldier vote question.
Action on Prohibition.
Governor Frazier expects the
forthcoming legislature will act fav-
.orably on the federal prohibition
amendment. The prohibition forcesI
of North Dakota have declared it isl
their purpose to ask approval of the
federal amendment, and Governor
headquarters of the organization
that Is supporting the adoption Of
the amendment has indicated his be-
lief that the amendment will pass.
The prohibition forces take thel
position that the failure of the North
Dakota assembly to pass the amend
ment would be mIsconstrued outsidel
the state while IT'S passage would
give the prohibition movement real
Impetus in the country at large.
Asylum Needs Big.
According to statement by p. M.
Casey, member OF the board Of con-
troll, the asylum for the insanel
finances are in such condition that
relief to the extent of about 100000
may be required,
The program will be mapped out
at a meeting i'm Bismarck on Fri
day Of this week.
Leaders Plans Unknown.
So far il is not known locally
whether or not the Nonpartisan
league leaders who were so promin-
ent in the regular session Of the as
sembly last year, win be present att
the special session.
william Lemke, one OF the leadingI
league men, was in Bismarck several
days before Governor Frazier issued
his call for the session. The attitude
the league leaders will take toward
the Nonpartisan members in the
coming session is matter for gem
eral comment locally, but nobody
around the capital city. pretends tol
know anything Of their plans. The |
fact that they have their headquar- |
ters i'm Minnesota has served to de- |
tach them more or less from the |
state, and outside Of league circles. |
little is known Of their operations.
One point that is coming in for |
consideration is the league /
secret caucus, which was a material
factor in the last assembly. TheI
league leaders may seek to hold thet
league members Of the assembly to
pledges they made at the opening of
the regular session, or they may OBJ
tain new pledges.