The Bottineau courant. (Bottineau, Bottineau County, N.D.) 1895-1929, 1919-01-02
New Constitution Practically Is
Assured in North Dakota.
DEMANDS PROGRESSIVE
Legislation Wanted by Farmers 10
Along Lines Of Newer Economic
Thong ht-Tax Reforms Are
s. Planned In Several
Legislatures.

a. Paul MINI. - Northwestern
ptatss will have some Of the most pro-
gresave laws Of any states Of the
Union, ~ = result of the coming legis-
lative sessions, according to present
plans. Due to the influence Of the
farmers political organization, the Ma
tionAl Nonpartisan League, these In WI
have = good chance for passage. The
influence Of this organization ri felt
In various ways. ~
North Dakota, where the state legis-
nature will be under the complete con
troll Of tho Nonpartisan League farm
eEs, 10 expected to furnish the most
progressive legislation. Passage Of
amendments to the state constitution,
approved BY q referendum vote at the
recent election, also practically As
sures the state a new constitution and
makes possible enactment Of consid-
cradle OF the farmers program, which
would have been considered unconsti-
tutional under the old constitution,
framed many years ago By reaction
aries.
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In South Dakota, tho influence Of
farmers Organizing was exerted in q
different manner. In order to attempt
to split up the farmers vote, both the
Republicans, who control the state,
and the Democrats adopted platforms
which practically call for all Of the
things for which the organised farm
srs made demands. Now practically
the entire legislature, whether actual
farmers or old gang candidates, win
90 to the legislative halls at Pierre,
pledged to enact into law practically
the entire Nonpartisan League pro-
gram Whether It IN done depends
upon whether the old gang candidates
keep their promises.
OF course the reactionarfes Of the
state were scared into a]cquiescence
with the N~onpartisan League program.
They considered 1t better tor their
business interests to promise to give
tho things which the farmers demand
Cd than to make the farmers mad
enough to organize to get them. In
addition to state-owned terminal e}e-
vators, state-owned flour mills, stock
yards, packing houses, creameries and
cold storage plants, state insurance Of
some forms, and certain tax reforms
which the farmers demanded, the Re-
publicans went a step farther. They
promised, II elected, to work for all Of
these measures and IN addition to give
the farmers a state-owned cement
plant. The Democrats Just adopted
the Nonpartfsan League farmers pro-
gram, bag and baggage, without add
ing the cement plant, for which the
League farmers had made no demand.
Lahore Influence Felt.
In Minnesota, an entirely different
situation has developed. Farmers and
1aborers r working hand in hand
and they have elected substantial
blocks Of legislators to both houses.
These, however, are In the minority,
but they depend upon other progress
sives, elected in the reform wave that
swept the state when the Nonpartiean
entered It, for enactment OF a
part of the farmer-labor legislative
program. Reactionaries have openly
announced that they will stand pat,
to knife any bill, no matter what It
may be, that is introduced by the
farmers.
There remains, however, Z good
for the passage Of several pro-
.gressivs moves. Foremost among
those II the tonnage tax, which has
been q much discussed question In
previous sessions Of the legislature.
It IL q measure that would force the
Bteel trust, which has always exerted
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lisgorge. Progressives through sew
sral sessions Of the Legislature have
,een for II, while II has beer fought
y reactionarieA Ones. Il was passed
ind vetoed by Governor Johnson, and
subsequently It was defeated several
in1es by narrow margins IN the legis-
AZURE. With the farmer-1abor strength, |.
with that OF progressives ia
'oring the measure, It ID almost Ger.
ain to be enacted during the coming
pession.
Tax Reform Likely.
Two q I3X REFORMS are likely TO
% enacted. One provides for exemp-
Ion Of farm improvements from taxa
Iona measure that will sate Mime
ota farmers thousands OF dollars an
,lally-and providing for the taxation
{ mine royalties, thus lifting tax bur-
ems from agriculture. The latter
neasure especially Is due for bitter
tack from the steel trust legislators,
rho hold that mine royalties are not
roperty-merely titles-and there
pre- cannot be taxed.
State hall insurance III Minnesota
lay get across and state supervision
{ workingmen's compensation insur-
nee Is almost certain to replace the
andlinE .of this compensation 81 pri-
ats proflt-making Insurance. com
anies. The. latter re1Qem ~ one de,
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