The Ward County independent. [volume] (Minot, Ward County, N.D.) 1902-1965, 1919-12-04
Discovery of Works Of Trotsky and
Ellen Key for Circulation ArOuses
Ire in Legislature-Inves-
tigatiOn Begun.

Bismarck, N. D., Dec. 2.-State
administration circles are split over
the "love and ethics" incident. In
secret conference today George
A. Totten, president of the board of
administration, stood out against an
edict from the office of Governor
Frazier directing that Librarian C.
L. Stangeland must go. Totten, it is
said, defended Stange1and and the Sc
lection of radical books in the circu-
lation library. R. 7. Muir, another
member of the board stood with Tot
ten, while J. N. Hagen and P. M.
Casey took the governors attitude.
Totten, it said, threatened to re-
sign. Miss Minnie Nelson, state
superintendent, and the only indie
pendent on the board, was invited
into the conference.
Bismarck, N. D., Dec. Books ex-
tolling the principles of "free love"
are about to be handed to citizens Of
North Dakota in their travelling libra
ries, when they make requests fo1
works on "social problems" to read in
their homes. This wwas one of the
startling facts discovered by the
special committee of the house nam
ed to investigate o. M. Burtness'
charges against the state library com.
mission.
Legislators AstOunded
! The charges made a profoundet
impression, and there could be NJ
question about them except on the
matter of responsibility. Mr.. Burt
ness displayed one of the books, Ell
len Keys "Love and Ethics," bearing
the label of the state travelling libra
ry, and the copious extracts he reat
from the little book made sober mer
of family fairly gasp.
The introduction to the book refer'
to "Ellen Keys starting views on th'
marriage relation" in "Love and Mar
riage," former work. Here are som,
of Miss Keys latest announcements
SIN Love and Marriage pointet
out that those who insist on monog
amy, that is, life long love relation
ship between the sexes, disregard tn
inevitable consequences of such al
ethical standard, namely, the vast
of large amount of splendid lif
energy which, if utilized, would pro
duce fine offspring. Under present
social conditions this standard o
morality would hinder the improve
Iof the species.
! . Sex Problems Discussed
'"The modern sex problem consist
in finding the proper equilibrium
between von the one hand the re
quirements for the Improvement
of the species, and on the othe
hand, the increased de m nd
Of the individual to be happy il
love, whereas formerly the problem
was only between society's demands
for fixed marriage forms and the in
diviual's demands to satisfy his Sc,
life in any form. The sex ethics tina
proceed from this new equilibrium will
be the only true ethics.
"Of all social conditions to be de
manded, the most essential is. tina
the standard by which the moralit.
Of parenthood is measured should b.
not the marriage rite but the will O
two human beings to assume the re
sponsibility for their children, not tn
!. legitimacy Of their children, but tn
kind of children they are"
In an addition to the latest edition
Miss Key takes UP DR.. Foerster's cri
ticisms of 'sfree love" and says tina
"in the ascetic conception of life,
they are natural.