The Oakes times. [volume] (Oakes, N.D.) 1906-current, 1918-12-19
NONpARTYLEADERS
REVERSE SELVES
in ORDER TO PUT OVER THEIR
AMENDMENTS
Voters Told Before Election by Town.
ley That Majority Of All Votes
Were Necessary

Bismarck, N. d., Dec. l3.-Ihe state
canvassing board by vote of three
to two today declared carried the
constitutional amendments initiated
by the Nonpartisan league and voted
on at the general election.
State Treasurer John Steen and
Secretary of State Thomas Hall, a
Nonpartisan Lacquer, voted against
the action of the board.
1t is understood that Hall, backed
up by State Treasurer John Steen,
will file minority report, holding
that the constitution provides that
the amendments needed a majority of
all the votes cast in the state to be-
come laws. Five amendments were
beaten on the total vote basis.
The boards action sharply contra
diets the position taken by the league
during the campaign. 1t then was
asserted that majority of all votes
cast was necessary for the adoption
of the program.
Langer to the Rescue
When the socialists who dominate
the Nonpartisan league and control
the official acts of practically all
members of the present state admin
istration decided that they would
have to override what they have de-
fined as the constitutional require
ment that an initiated amendment
must have majority. of all votes cast
at the general election, in order to
put such amendments into the con-
stitution and carry into effect their
program of state ownership of varied
industries, they had long way to go,
particularly in view of the pre-elec-
tion declarations by President IA. B..
Townley, by Chairman William Lemke
Of the republican state central COM
smittee and member of the league of
executive committees, and by the
league newspapers.
A study Of the prediction cam
paign literature is particularly en-
Tightening at this time in view of the
St. Paul inspired opinion, produced
by Attorney General William LANCER,
after it had been held in allegiance
several days in the vain hope that it
would not be necessary to resort to
its use, the league socialists having
hoped, even up to the last moment,
that by some magic the figures would
reveal actual majorities for their
amendments.
What Constitution Provides
The provision, contained in Section
202 of the state constitution, govern
ing in. the case of initiated amend
ments to the constitution, reads: "a
majority Of all the legal votes cast at
such general election are necessary
to adopt an amendment" this is the
provision that the attorney general
has construed as not requiring a ma
jority of all votes cast in the election,
but merely majority of the votes
cast upon each individual amendment.
The words of President Townley
himself, addressed to the Nonpartisan
league members just prior to the
election, are at complete variance
with the position now taken by his
servants in this state. In a letter ad-
dressed to the league members, and
published in the North Dakota Lead
er. issue of Oct. 26, over his own
signature. Mr.. Townley' said:
TownIey "eefore Tai<ina'
$50 the first thing you do, if you
want any state elevators, flour mills
and banks, is to vote yes and pass
these 10 amendments. It's hard
fight because more than half Of all
the votes cast for governor must vote
yes on the amendments. That is, If
$1,000 votes for Frazier, and $4,000
vote for Doyle and 10000 vote yes
on the amendments and 10000 vote
no. the amendments would not pass.
All those who voted for Frazier or
Doyle, but didn't vote at all on the
amendments, will be counted no. or
against the amendments. That would
make the vote on the amendments
10000 yes and 10000 'no;' though
only 10000 voted no and the amend
ments wouldn't pass and the league
program couldn't be carried out. So
you must vote yes on the amend
ments or you will be counted against
them. All you have to do to vote
against the amendments is to stay at
home"
Mr.. Townley. under date Of Oct.
%. in personal letter written on
tho National Nonpartisan league
letterhead. aid circulated by the Non.
partisan league and through the re-.
publican state central committee by
William Lemke. again calls attention
10 the constitutional requirement that
his aids have today overridden. He
ssayssd f. his personal letter Of Oct. 3: