The Bismarck tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, N.D.) 1916-current, 1919-10-31

While there is nothing in Governor
Frazier's message to President Lewis Of
the United Mine Workers of America
that even suggests that the state take
over and operate the North Dakota
Ignite mines until the present trouble
is adjusted, Townley newspaper organs
in large headlines interpret it to mean
that. Frazier merely suggets some
working arrangement with the miners
by which fuel can be sold only to in
dividual consumers until your diff
ficulties have been honestly and equit-
ably adjusted"
The Townley press construes this
suggestion as an offer upon the part Of
the state to take over and operate the
mines, and it carries a special under
a Bismarck date line to the effect that !:
Governor Frazier, in a telegram to
John L Lewis, president of the United
Mine Workers of America, tonight sug-
gcsted that the state Of North Dakota
operate the coal mines Of the state i'll
agreement with the mine workers pend
ing the settlement Of the strike that
has been ordered to begin tomorrow
night
"This epoch-making action in indus
trial history was decided upon by the
governor late in the day, after it had
been brought to his attention that
North Dakota miners were scheduled
to lay down their tools at midnight to-
morrow in response to the nationwide
strike order"
HAS LONG WANTED MINES
The Townley government in North
Dakota has long sought an opportunity
IT, take over the Ignite mines. Its
most direct essay to accomplish this
end was made through a lengthy reso-
luton adopted by the state council Of
defense in the early summer Of 1918,
providing for the formation of ST.
ON0,0OO holding company which would
tike over the mines, mills and eleva-
tors and operate them for the period
of the war. This holding company was
to be formed within the ranks Of the
council of defense, whose membership
Governor Frazier had recruited wholly
from the ranks Of his party or those
in sympathy with it. The resolution
vas given to, the press as having been
formally adopted. The publicity, how
ever, proved premature, and there was
so much opposition to the plan that
the resolution was rescinded and re-
sronsibility for it denied by the
council.
Public ownership IS one Of the car
dinal planks in the Nonpartisan league
platform, and Governor Frazier has
already gone on record in favor Of the
naturalization Of the mines and the
railways
MCDONALD FOR A STRIKE
s. s. Mcdonald, president of the
North Dakota Federation Of Labor, and
who has held a number Of appointive
positions with the league administra-
tion. now serving as member Of the
wOrkmen's compensation bureau, is re-
cpOnsible for the following statement: !:
'In this county the people haven't
forgotten that liberty is worth fighting
for and that the men cannot be driven
to work with bayonets,
"Organized labor all over the country
WILL SCc III VIC 6ON0AAOA . pAOpOSul "
Mr.. Lewis the effort Of government to
function as it should, to preserve the
common interest Of all the people,
rather than to invite strife by threats.
Naturally I cannot predict what the
attitude Of the United Mine Workers
officials will be. They look upon the
strike as something that cannot be en-
dangered by any weakening In the
front anywhere, have no doubt. But
then there may be national conditions
relating to the strike which we in
North Dakota know nothing about. In
any event, the suggestion Of the gov
ernor for the state to operate the mines
offers what appears to be a logical,
fair plan" n
Continued on Page Eight