Grand Forks herald. [volume] (Grand Forks, N.D.) 1916-1955, 1919-11-28
FRIpAr EVENING, NOVEMBER q, 1913.


There has existed a general tmprepsion that a.state
lsstaasure existed fol. the purpose Of enactine laws
which would b beneficial to the stAte. The North Da-
ksta tsshaatnre has had assigned 70 It the task Of serving
= "a instrument BY means Of which Mr.. Towntsy and
III aselitss may reward tnstr friends and punish those
wis have offended them. ,y
We had an Illustration Of this lsst winter in the on
aetnaent Of what is known as the administration bill. the
notorious House Bill ls4. state superintendent ldacdon.
aid had been dsfeatsd in the fall election. His disaster
WAS ~ absoiute az that OF Hunpty-D umpty. But. while
the>Townley maDasers may have had no great love for
Macdonald they could not remain passive under the loss
q prestige involved in the signal defeat OF 4 candidate
to whom they had given their undivided support.
The bossss decreed that under no circumstances
should Miss Nelson be permitted to perform the, duties
to the Office to which the people had elected her. Tho
first move was q clumsy one. 1t consisted In an effort
to hold the supertntendency for Macdonald by main
strength. The courts were asked to assist. They re-
fused. They found that Mias Nelson had been regular
j. elected, that che was properly qualified, and that she
WAS entitled to the sAtce.
Then recourse WAS had to the LEGISLATURE. 1t be-
Ing impossible to Dust Miss Mission from her once. it
wss determined TO accomplish the same thing in effect
By denaturins the oncs. Every shred of real authority
WA to be taken from her by throwing All the educa-
tionaf work into one sack. shaking it together and put
ting It in charge OF a board Of which the state superin-
senQenE snould be & zone minority MEMBER.
Plans for this ware we'll under why when it APP
peaxed THAT the board Of control nesdeA attention. It
Was not sufficiently responsive 10 the orders Of Town,ey.
snd It was determined to get rid Of it's uhcUntsoilabie
members by wipins the board out Of existsnce. And
X ws 50. The necessary bl was prepared. ana the leg
isiastre swallowed II, hook, line and sdnhsr.
New We have entered on ano<hsr chapter. The At.
tsrnsy general, the stste auditor and the secretary Of
atAts have shown fnccnventent' signs OF independence.
Thsy have told Tuwnaey TO 20 chase himself. There
fes~ OF with thsir heads! There has been some. doubt
- - The bssE way to proceed. Indictment has been dis
Cursed, hut conviction undar indictnnsnt requires . two
thirds majority, and thA& 81 not always sasy to ret rms
gsvsEnor suggests Investigation BY coannnittss, and II this
worked smoothly it might lead to indictment. But the
whsae thiAs b uncertain. The Accused ofaeilas, either
- MdgAt tsA sonns truths uf Z very tnconvsnssnt M.
omA snA IN an taronsonisnts va5s They 4how ~ ftsons
tAsAsnv not 10 take their punishment lying Down. :
Halt, Il \ frontal attack docs not appear promising
pdAG1aS ves5 effective xsssats may b reached BY Z flank.
ING nnovs1aent. Therefore the legislature II to be used.
Il Il WI consent. to carry out the msthods employed IN
connection >sith the Office of state superintendent. II
naay be poadble to withdraw from thsse men such pow
erss 40 hnve heen conferred on them BY statuts, and exi.
IDENTIFY that process is to be used rs faf u & can bet naal
tuy vsork. ft5af,
sene day the legislature OF North pAkotA win de-
. p~oltfsoA1 scrap.