The Bismarck tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, N.D.) 1916-current, 1919-03-10


noon, will include those author
izin9 the state industrial commits
sion, the state bank, the commits
sioner Of immigration, the public
printing, the educational bill by
which contro! Of public schools,
educational and penal institutions
is centered IN one board, and judi
ciaI redistricting bill authorizing
the appointment Of three judges.
That acts essential to the carrying
out Of the league program upon which
the political campaign was made in
North Dakota last fail are to be let
ures upon which the people have not
previously had an opportunity to ex-
press their opinion are to be refer
ended seems to be the prevailing atti-
tude among directors of the Independ-
cnt Voters association.
This is the tenor Of advice which
comes from the home Of the organiza-
ton at Fargo, where a meeting was
held last Saturday to consider def
nitely measures enacted by the Six
teenth assembly which would be sub
mitted to a referendum.
There is no question that the news
paper bill which gives printing COM
mission of three members authority
to appoint all Official newspaper in
each county in the state and to dis
tribute among the SO newspapers so
named more than $500 900 per annum
in patronage. will be referred, although
there are some who doubt the poll
tical expediency of such step. The
newspaper bill is considered private
matter between J. W. Brinton and
A. c.. Townley, and it is not con-
strued to be in any sense program
measure"
The same is true of the board of ad-
ministratiOn bill, which abOlishes the
board Of control, board of regents and
board Of eudcation, and establishes q
new commission which is to exercise
all the functions now performed by
these boards. An attack may be made
on the one man tax commission bill
and upon the Immigration commission
bill. Aside from these four. measures,
it seems to be doubtful whether the
Independent Voters association will
receive any general encouragement in
it's referendum campaign. The cry is,
Hands off the program bills; let the
league, unhampered,s put it's program
through. II it succeeds, all we'll and
good; if it fails do not give the lead
ers an opportunity to say that failure
was due to interference from the op-
position"
May Go to Courts
Reports emanate from Fargo to the
effect that the "Tri-State Grain Ship
pers' association" whose secretary, J.
II. Adams, has an office at No. 2, Old
Colony building, Minneapolis, is seek
ing support in North Dakota for
plan to appeal to the federal courts
for protection from the league pro-
gram. Mr.. Adams states that the asso-
citation is purely country grain ship
pers' organization whose members
hope to get into the federal courts
because of interstate interests.
The grain shippers are asking North
Dakota elevator owners and managers
to line up with them in an attack on
the mill and elevator bill, which the
association says will put country ele-
vators out of business and send their
managers seeking new jobs. How
much encouragement. this organization
is receiving cannot be determined.
Meetings Continue
First in the field as usual, the league
is continuing it's ratification meet
ings" with a good average attendance
of farmers and business men. Walter
w. Liggett, st. Paul newspaper man
who is understood to be slated for the
agricultural cOmmissionership, has
been added to the leagues staff OF
speakers, which includes many organ
izers who have been withdrawn from
other states as we'll as new material
turned out of the speakers school,
conducted by Walter Thomas Mills
during the last session.
BY the time the Independent Voters
association launches its referendum
campaign, the date set for (which is
said to be March lS. the day upon
which township elections are held, the
these meetings in every county in the
state. Organizers also are at work
quietly, urging league members to de-
cline to sign any petitions, insisting
that the referendum of any of the
bills, and especially of the Brinton
newspaper act, the board of admin
istrati0n measure and the immigration
commissioner law, will be dangerous
to the movement.
After Enterprises
In the meantime every city in North
Dakota has erected its lightning rods
in the hope that it may be selected
for one or more of the proposed league
enterprises. Fargo and Grand Forks |
have been especially active, but all of
the municipalities are in a receptive
frame of mind. IF we must have 'em,
have 'em here" seems to be their
line of reasoning. Bismarck is under
stood to be generally favored as the
location for the Bank of North Da-
kota, whose operations must be very
closely associated with the Office of |
the governor and the state treasury. |
The bank, in fact, becomes bureau
Of the state treasurer's office and
necessitates constant exchange of
transactions. 1t is understood that
the governor, Commissioner Hagan
and Attorney General LANCER of the
industrial commission and State Treas
urer Olson all feel that the bank |
should be st the capital.