Jamestown weekly alert. [volume] (Jamestown, Stutsman County, D.T. [N.D.]) 1882-1925, 1919-01-16
REP. ]. U. HEMMl
PLAYS IMPORTANT
ROLE AT CAPITOL
Supports Hon. J. F. T. 0'Con-
nor-Would Have Militia
Revert to Former Status.

cial. 1.-The independent minority
in the house won its first important
concession from the league majority
Saturday afternoon when 1t secured
the adoption of motion introduced
by Rep. J. F. T. O'Connor of Grand
Forks that resolutions introduced by
the majority ratifying the seven
amendments to the constitution init
lated by the league in the recent gen.
eral election be considered by the
house in committee of the whole.
Rep. John U. Hemmi Of James
town spoke in behalf Of O'Connor's 9
motion declaring that the minority
should have the privilege Of telling
on the floor of the house why they
are opposed to some of the league
measures, while approving others
He declared that If the league men,
bers of the house voted for all Of
these amendments they would be vio-
lating their oats as legislators. Hem
mi recalled the fact that he had
worked in the interest OF the farmer
in organizing equity societies long
before the league came upon the
scene and he declared there was
much of the league program with
which he was thoroughly in sympa.
thy He insisted, however, that the
Nonpartisans would make a grave
mistake If they forced their program
without giving the minority an op-
portunity for full and free discus
sion.
The vote on O'Connors motion wis
70 aye, "a nay and 10 absent.
Rep. Burtness of Grand Forks then
offered a motion that the league a.
mendments be made special order
of business for Monday, Jan. &c.
which he stated would be only six
days after the question Of the legal.
ity 6f the state, .canvassing boards
action in declaring five of these a.
mendments passed would have been
laid before the supreme court.
There is doubt as to these five
amendments. 1t is improper for vi
to discuss what the court may hold
in this matter. II the legislator,
proceeds to act in advance of a de.
cision from the supreme court, it will
be an absolute insult to the members
| ~ tho hiUhoof %rjhuro1 e. 49,. .A.A
I merely ask that action be delayed
until Jan. 20. 1t is the only decen,
thing to be done. Bills can be in.
troduced and referred to committees
Delay in ratifying these amendments
will not obstruct our deliberations
but may facilitate matters. Are yo:
ready to insult Chief Justice Christ
ianson, your own venerable justice
Robinson and Justices Grace, Bird.
zell and Bronson, all of whom were
elected by the same party which con
trolls this house?"
Rep. Walter j. Maddox, league
floor leader, argued there was M
connection between the Legislative
and judicial functions of the state
government, and that the legislature
would be under no obligation 4
apologize to the supreme court fol
any action which it might take. He
urged the defeat of Burtness' mo
ton, and Rep. Gidell Patterson. ReD
Hoars and other leaguers spoke in
the same tenor. The Burtness mo.
tion was defeated by II nays, "a ayef
and eight absent and not voting.
Resolutions opposing universal
military training and insisting tho.
the national guard when mustered
out Of federal service should be re-
stored to its former status as state
militia were introduced by Rep
Hemmi of stutsman county and re.
ferred to the committee on military
AFFAIRS.