The Bismarck tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, N.D.) 1916-current, 1919-02-01
INDEPENDENTS
RAP N0N-PARTY
AS SOCIALISM
Object to Manner in Which the
League Is Placing Pro-
gram in Operation
CENSURE FOR MACDONALD
Pernici0us Activity of Members
of Administration Strong
ly Condemned
CENSURE FOR MACDONALD

The Independent Voters of North
Dakota, in convention here adopted
the following resolutions as their ten
cts and declaration Of principles
To reaffirm our belief in the prin'
ciples of =, democracy that have OBJ
tained in the United States since the
I inception Cf'% %oUl governments. AS
American citizens imbued with the
spirit of Democracy, we view with
serious misgivings the present po.
litical conditions in North Dakota and
we condemn the actions OF few self
appointed leaders and agitators who
have fastened themselves on the
body polite OF this state and who,
through coercive and unAmerican
methods are trying to divide the peo.
pie of the state into two classes-a
dominant minority and subservient
majority. -...i:. a
We condemn the radical socialists
in the Nonpartisan league for repud-
iating the platform which won them
their election Having gained the
confidence of majority Of the voters
by proclaiming through their news
papers and public speakers that para
mount measures enacted by them
would be referred to the people for
approval. they are now attempting, ny
the arbitrary use Of the Emergency
clause to prevent vote on the most
vicious measures; measures that Will
involve the expenditure of millions
of dollars of the taxpayers @1oney.
WE believe in the eternal truth set
forth by Thomas Jefferson In the
declaration of Independence. that
governments derive their just pow
ers from the consent of the governed,
and we condemn the present political
regime of the state for enacttng iegls-
lation that Involves the expenditure
OF millions of dollars, and that may
seriously impair the states credit,
without first obtaining an intelligent
public expression by free discussion
and by majority vote. I
North Dakota's school fund, which
is larger per capita than that OF any
other. state in the union. mas always >
been a source OF pride to our citizens.
We are fully sensible to the Tact that
we hold this fund In trust through .
sacred compact with the federal gov
crnment and we are emphatically op'
posed to any legislation that will place
this magnificent fund at the mercy
of private political machine TOR
speculative purposes. .sa -. .tr.5,
We feel that the Educational de-
partmGmt of our state is one OF su-
preme Importance and that its lnflu-
ence upon the rising generation can
not be overestimated. We, there
fore, condemn the late superintendent
of Public Instruction, N. c. Macdonald,
who, while aligned with faction that
boasts of its democracy, now oostl-
nately refuses to bow to the verdict
of the people, expressed by ballot, but
who is employing the influence OF the
present state regime in an effort TO
nerpetuate himself in office; and fur
ther. We most emphatically condemn
the pernicious activity of members OF
the state administration in obstruct-
ink the work in the office OF the pres
ent state superintendent.
We further condemn the pernicious
and un-democratic method in when
the laws proposed to the .Sixteenth
legislative assembly were submitted
to and passed upon in secret caucus,
dictated to by radical Socialist lead
ers.
We further condemn and deprecate
legislation forced upon land owners
of the state, embodying the single
tax, which saddles upon the farmers
an unjust burden of taxation.
The people of our state having vot.
ed in favor of the establishment OF
a state.owned terminal elevator and
there being logic in the argument
that such elevator would be more as
sured of success, provided flour
mill were built by the state and oper'
ated in connection Herewith, we are
in favor of having established as
speedily as possible such terminal
elevator and flour mill, such indus
tries as state-owned,, being, however,
in the experimental stage, we believe
that two million dollars Is the maxi
mum amount the state should invest
therein at this time We are, how.
ever, not in favor of using the state
credit or resources for experimenting
in other state-owned industries until
such time as the stateowned elevator
and mill have been fully and fairly
tried out.
We favor the enactment of a non
partisan primary election law Tor
state. county and legislative officers.
We are in favor of amending the
law touching the appofntive power OF
the governor Too much power placed
in the hands OF ONE man is not con-
ducfve to democracy. We are in IA
yor OF having our laws so framed that
no state officer or appointee can be
summarily removed without cause.
We are in favor of putting forth
every effort to eliminate the dissen-
sion that has been created by the
preaching of class hatred and we
pledge ourselves to labor to bring
about Just dealing with a diversity OF
interests, to the end that the state
as a whole may enjoy increased pros
perity.
Inspired with a feeling Of deep
gratitude that the World War has
come to an end with victory complete
for the allied forces, we desire to ex'
press grateful appreciation for the
services of the men of North Dakota
who have so nobly and heroically done
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