The Bowbells tribune. [volume] (Bowbells, Ward Co., N.D.) 1899-1969, 1919-07-25
new \ ROCKFORD Al: 4
..' TER STATE CAPITAL

$i3$S New 4 HookfOrd, N. D., July 24.--
New Rockford is starting u another
campaign for capital removal af-
ter a hiatus of nearly three years. !:
5tE The bustling little metropolis of
Eddy county broke into prominence
in 1915 when its citizens began an
agitation for removal Of the state
capital from Bismarck to New Rock
ford People laughed at it as a
Joke. at first, but before long it was
realized that the "small town. folks
were in deadly earnest, and that
they were covering the state in a
systematic and business-like man
ner. The yellow stickers with the
slogan "Let the People Vote on It Il
conld be seen everywhere. and the
petitions were generously signed.
{5SS Sss The New Rockford boosters were
we'll organized. n They brought out a
ublicity expert from Chicago to di-
rect the campaign. ana later start
ed q daily newspaper to help in the
4 boosting which newspaper, The
New Rockford State Center, is still
published. II 81. 3. ..s:.., " @ s.33s;,s
&s7 i. Advance Many Claims
They made the claim that; New
! Rockford was nearer to 80 per cent
of the population and assessable
property valuation or the state; that
they had better railroad facilities;
that the present capitol building
! was past it's useful days and must
1 soon be replaced; and that the cap
4 ital had been placed at Bismarck
( before North Dakota had emerged
from the chrysalis stage and present
day demands required not only a
new building but a more convenient
Il site. :. X g,5 fzis .5sa Il.
They secured nearly $4,000 sigma.
lures to a petition that was the first
( to be presented under the Initiative
and referendum amendment to the
constitution. Bismarck attacked
the petition on the ground that the
initiative section in the amendment
to the constitution was not self-en.
acting, and the supreme court ruled
in their favor.
Beaten, But Not Vanquished
The New Rockford people were
beaten In the first round, but they
i were not Yanduished. They just
stored their records and publicity
matter until later supreme court
reversed the decision IN similar
/ case. oneNof the items Of which wal
an amendment to the constitution
simplifying future amendments
This section was approved by the
people IT the election last fall, sant
was ratified by concurrent reaolu
a ti0n OF the house. and senate sthi,
last winter. New Rockford people
got busy. ss ! sssssssz 4
Then came the referendum OF Ger
tain laws passed BY the last legisla
4! ture. and IT. was determined to wal
until the problem was out OF til,
y way at the election OF June 26.
Announce Plan Today
a In the meantime preparation
were going on for a resumption o
the capital removal campaign, an.
{ 1t was sprung today with an an
: nouncement that petitions unde
s the new amendment are being cir
culated, and determined night will
Ill be made to get the issue on the bal
lot at the next general election. Th
New Rockford people say that al
the old arguments are available
81 and53a lot Of new ones; and the,
firmly believe that, II the question
Il had gone to a vote in i 91o. q ney
capitol would be building at New
& Rockford today. .>{ ;,s5y,. ,5,s .=jy.