The Fargo forum and daily republican. [volume] (Fargo, N.D.) 1894-1957, 1918-10-08

| what IL mas done ana promised our
ing It's short existence. AS ii has kept
or broken its pledges and as 1t has
acted wisely or without wisdom must
we measure Its present promises and
integrity.
| About three years ago new polit-
ical force came into being and began
to manifest itself in this state. 1t
grew by leaps and bounds until
some two months before the primary
election Of 1916 there were manifest
indications that 1T would become the
dominating force Of the Republican
party. 1t stood for many new ideas in
| government, and advocated changes
that were hailed on the one hand as
reforms calculated to build up the
states greatness. On the other hand
1t was commended with equal earnest
ness that they would be destructive OF
| all the states best interests and their
advent was hailed as the fore runner
OF wild cat system of combined po-
litical and economic experiment based
upon the worse features of socialism.
THE contest waxed hot and bitter
within the Republican party with the
strongest possible criticisms Of each
| faction of the party by the other. Be-
! fore the primary the counting OF the
votes showed that the new force had
prevailed and the Republican party
! control had passed to those who stood
for the new ideas. Men Of long years
Of Republican utilization did not stand
ready TO lightly sever their connec-
tions with the party, and yet, stood
aghast at the extravaganza Of the
claims advanced as to the reforms to
be introduced and the al controlling
question became whether the Repub-
licans of the defeated wing Of the
party would continue as Republicans
or would repudiate the ticket noml~
mated and support the Democratic
nominees. No one recognized the sit
uation better than the leaders Of the
new movement and to insure the cleo
ton of their candidates it was neces-
sary that the defeated wing be sat
isfied that their fears were ground
less.
For the purpose Of gaining the
confidence and alaying the fears OF |
the defeated wing of the party, Lynn |
J. Frazier, then candidate for gov |
ernor, issued through the public |
press an assurance in the following |
words:
Il expect the 1917 legislature to
pass for the first time bills for
submission to the people of con-
stitutional amendments, provid-
ing for state owned flour mills,
packing plants and cold storage
plants. These will have to be
passed a second time by the 1919
legislature before they can be
submitted to the popular vote.
Don't misunderstood me; these
progressive planks in our plat
form will not be handled hastily.
Many eyes will be watching ev-
cry thing we do and we must
move cautiously and carefully.
One by one these things will be
taken up and considered candidly
and seriously
THE proposition was so eminent
~ fair as thus put forth that no
man believing in parties and in the |
rights of majorities to dictate gov
ernmental policy could fail to meet
it half way. In response to that de-
claration of principles and purposes
thus put forth as a bid for votes the
Republicans who had supported |
Burdick and frame came into line,
supported the nominees and elected |
them by a full Republican vote.
Then The Climax.
with the converting OF the legis-
lature good feeling and harmony |
prevailed. Appropriate amendments
and bills for carrying out the league |
program were laid before the respec-
tive houses in the usual way. when
all Of a sudden the chief clerk of the
house arose and began to read a COL
luminous and complex document,
which proved to be a proposition to
bring into existence a new constitu-
ton within a few months without
formality or opportunity for deli
beration. Contrary to ordinary
rules Of bills being introduced in |
triplicatet so there might be copies
for examination by members of the |
house and for the press, this was
introduced by single copy and no
more copies available until after the
of pressure for its i'm
mediate passage was started among
the house members This was now
the infamous House Bill a. and
Governor Frazier regardless Of his
pre- election promises made spe-
cial effort to have the legislature put
it over at once.
while we were waiting for the
printed copies campaign Of vilifica-
ton and abuse was launched on all
those who could not commit them
selves to It's passage without an OPP
to study it carefully. Fin
aIly the printed copies were furn-
ished to the members and went out
to the public, and then we discovered
that in all its ramifications and COM
plexeties was never a word about |
flour mills or packing plants or cold
storage plants or terminal elevators,
but that it was all about bonds and
bonds and about Great
ing debts for the state and the town
ships and counties, and about the
school funds, and appointing officers,
and taxing railroads. Every thing
was there except the things that
were in accord with the Republican
platform and the declaration Of the
governor upon which he won his
election"