The Bismarck tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, N.D.) 1916-current, 1919-12-09
TEACHING OF FREE LOVE MERELY AN
NDISCRETION IS MAJORITY OPINION
OF STATE BOARD OF ADMINISTRATIONS
Stangeland Dismissed Not So
Much Because He Was Wrong
as Because "Malici0us Attack
Was Made On Him BY Major
ity Members, and Corrupt
Politicians" Might Use Incl
dent to "Divert Attention"

Although some majority members of
the state board Of administration hold
that G. E Stangeland was merely IN
discreet in ordering for general cir
culation through the state library
Ellen Keys love and ethics, setting
up q theory Of free love. and Trot-
zky's exposition of bolshcvism as the
sole basis of world peace, ana works
on atheism and anarchy by other
well-knOWn authors, his resignation.
to- be effective at once, was asked by
tho state board of administration
monday afternoon in resolution in
troduced by John N. Hagan, commits.
s;oner of agriculture and labor, so
that corrupt politicians may not be
able to divert the public mind from
the great industrial program which is
being worked out in this state
The board of administration meet
ing was brief. Hagan had his resOlu-
ton prepared, and he Immediately in
troduced it, reciting that because OF
the malicious assault upon Mr.. G. E.
Stangeland by the minority members
of the house Of representatives Of the
sixteenth legislative assembly, and
because of the indiscreet judgment
Used by Mr.. Stamgeland, | move that
his resignation be asked for by the
board Of administration, to be effec-
tive at once, so that corrupt polite
ians may not be able to divert the
public mind from the great industrial
program which is being worked out in
this state.'
All of the members voted aye, but
in doing so Miss Nelson, state SUI
perintendent Of public instruction,
stated that she was glad to vote for
the dismissal of Mr. Stangeland, but
that she objected to some of the rea-
sons given for his dismssal; that she
lid not believe Mr.. Stangeland a
victim OF malicious attack, nor that
the free love episode had been used
by corrupt politicians to divert the
public mind.
CASEY CONDEMNS BOOKS.
Miss Nelson's attitude was shared
by Patrick M. Casey, president of the
Equity Cooperative Packing Co., a
former member of the state board Of
control. and an appointive member of
the state board of administration.
II am glad to vote to dismiss Mr.
Stangeland," said Mr.. Casey, "bc-
cause i do not approve OF this list
Of books, and DO not think they have
amy place in a travelling library
;Milir and Hagan voted without COM
ment, while Totten, who was in the
chair, neither voted nor commented.
Commissioner Hagan was elected a
committee OF one to notify Mr.
Stangeland that he was through.
Thus ended an investigation begun
a week ago Monday, when Represen-
tat:ye O. B. Burtness revealed in the
house chamber the contents Of a
travelling library box found in the
public library, which consisted Of
the most advanced" works on free
love, socialism, bolshcvism, anar
chism and atheism.
This committee, majority of
whose members are leaguers, has not
yet reported. 1t developed during its
Investigations Saturday that DR..
Beard, one of Stangelands balls
men, recommended the latters assist
ant.
MADE PUBLIC RECORD
All Of the evidence in the house
committees inquisition into the
state library was made public rec
ord Monday through the motion of
the committee that it be printed in
the house journal. There are hun
dred pages or more Of typewriter
manuscript, detailing the complete
proceedings of the committee in this
matter. This material will, it is ex-
pected. be supplemented this after
noon with a report of the committee.