Grand Forks herald. [volume] (Grand Forks, N.D.) 1916-1955, 1919-05-14
The Herald Mail Bag
Editor Grand Forks Herald; city.

Editor Grand Forks Herald City.
Dear Sir: In view OF the5fact that
we will soon be in the midst of one
of the most important, political cam
paigns the state has Y known. I
take his opportunity. before the cam
nj connection with two late. political
actions. both Of which I consider Of
such a nature as to deprive the people
Of the opportunity Of deciding their
own questions and both Of which
bea~ too much the ear.marks OF
politics.
I refer first to the action started by
certain taxpayers in the federal courts
to declare unconstitutional the league
program as enacted into law at the
last session of the legislature. While
fully admitting the right Of these men
to start this action, il they felt 1t the
proper course to pursue. I cannot help
but feel that they acted unwisely, un-
fairly n in a thoroughly undemo-
with the legal phase of the situation
at this time. That is quite beyond the
issue. Had the action beensaSin the
nature IT only a temporary restrain
ing ORDER until after the referendum
election, it might have been justified.
but being permanent in nature it ap-
pears like an attempt to head off the
olAN .- A1C Guy ETp ICVcIlL luGH
people from determining their ownN
course of procedure through exercise
Of their privilege to vote on these
measures. II the majority of the
people should vote against the meas
ures referred the whole matter would
be settled and.t the action unneces-
jority should endorseethe bifs. refer
red. then would be the timeAto start
an action to determine the. Aonstitu-
tionality of the bills SO endorsed, pro-
vided, of course that -the<legal. stu
alton is such that an action 7of that
nature would be necessary. This is
a case where the voice Of, the people
should nave been heard before resort
was made to the courts In my
opinion, the action was premature,
%uncalled for and unfair to the people.
and j am sorry It was started. = =
!. I refer secondly to the action taken
by Governor Frazier the other day
when he took technical advantage Of
allow the people the right Of the in
|itiative4 election. I consider, his ac-
ton on par wtthsthe one above cited.
Againathes legal status isaforeign to
\ sisells * essyital. point y ,that he
has refused the. people the right to
forth forte I'm in the the1 iSatissss. E pssifI5Ss s as set
by around thirty thousand voters. The
fact that he may think they will be.
come confused in voting has not the
slightest bearing on the issue. The
people did not elect himN Is their
guardian but rather as their servaht,
And as their servant hershould fol-
low their expressed wishes and de-
mands as specified in their Detitions.
The-fact that he had the legal right
to refuse their demands does not
justify hts action in the SleAst. nor
does it minimize the fact thai he, has
broken faith with these people, as,
we'll as all others who might want the(
opportunity to express theiEF choice
by voting On these measures.gg
1t is to be. regretted that either
side should resort to such tactics and
that theyI persists in applyinga techni-
calities Of law rather than meeting
the, issues fairly upon their merits.
Old time methods and procedure do
not harmonic with present day spirit
and conditions. North Dakota seems
lost in the Dismal swamp Of politi-
cal turmoil and the road that will lead
us o. will be paved, not with legal
technicalities. jealousies and L, hatred.
but rather with; understanding, OPEN
minded reasoning and fair play.
Very truly yoursM
| .."r ILL. ~ ..F',. E+r-ATKY ~ HRsIN~. -L