The Daily Missoulian. [volume] (Missoula, Mont.) 1904-1961, 1918-02-23
ASK RESIGNATION
OF JUDGE BOURQUIN
House Hears Resolution to
Request Action at Once.
Continued From Page One.h

Continued From Page One.b
court for the district of Montana has
been such as to practically render i'm :
possible a successful prosecution of a
violation of said section; and,
Whereas, 1t Is considered by the
SUBJ committee of the senate judiciary
committee of the national congress
that the existing law of the United
states is amply adequate and suffi-
cient for the successful prosecution of
all offences and that further legisla-
ton upon this subject is unnecessary
upon the part of the congress, for the
reason that proper Interpretation of
the above mentioned act will afford
an ample remedy in all cases; and,
Whereas. unless persons guilty of
making false reports and statements
for the purpose of interfering with the
successful operation of the military
and naval forces of the United States
or guilty of making disloyal, seditious
ana reasonable utterances are prose
cuted in the courts and dealt with as
Justice and the purpose and intent Of
the laws demand, the people of the
state will become a law unto them
selves and commit acts of violence and
destruction without the fair and i'm
partial trial guaranteed by our consti-
tuition. Now, therefore, be it
Resolved. by the Fifteenth legisla-
tive assembly of the state of Montana,
1
that the judge of the United States
district court for the district of Mon
lana be respectfully requested to re-
sign, In order that offenders against
the laws and the dignity of the United
States and those giving aid and com
FORT to our enemies may be prosecuted
and dealt with as justice and law de-
mands, to the end that the honor and
dignity OF the people of the state of
Montana and of the United States
shall be preserved, or that the federal
judge for the district of Montana
may be transferred from this judicial
district. And be it further
Resolved, that a copy of these reso-
lutions be transmitted by the secretary
of the state of Montana to the depart
ment Of justice at Washington, D. c.,
and also to the Judge of the United
States district court of the district of
Montana"
There was no disposition to r,sl,
away as it had been finished, though
Mr.. Blodgett of Silver Bow moved
that further action be indefinitely post
poned. To this there arose a storm of
opposition. Representative Belden being
the first to oppose it. He spoke as fol-
lows:
II want to say" Mr. Beiden an
nouneed. that | am very much in ia
Nor of the spirit of the resolution, for
l believe the criticism when il voices
Is very well founded.
Is Spirit OF Montana.
But do not want to be put in the
position of being in contempt in the
federal court, though think that tho
idea of resolution is the spirit of the
whole state of Montana at this time,
1 believe we should not disregard the
resolution, but that we should give
1t every consideration. 7 think we
should go just as far as we are able
w 49, onu am WILING To- 20 tnaf TAR,
but ! don't want to find myself in a
federal jail"
Oppose Motion.
Frank Carl OF Yellowstone also
spoke against the Blodgett motion. az
a1d Holt of Cascade. who suggested
Ihe action later embodied in the Bel
Gen motion for an appeal action bv
w hceier. Mr.. Blodgett. thcreupon
Withdrew his motion and moved that
the matter be referred to a standing
committee of the house.
Dr. CARL suggested the committee
DC the committee OF the whole house.
while Mr.. Mcmahon of Silver Bow
suggested the resolution go to the law
yers OF the house. Mr.. Belden opposed
Mr.. Mcmahon suggestion and urged
that the law minds" of the member
snip also be consulted.
One after the other then, the chair
men Of the four standing committees
OF the house arose and asked that the
resolution be sent to one of the other
three committees than his own, but
the speaker finally sent it to number
!, doubtless because of the fact that
buell. Of Gallatin is a member OF that