New-York tribune., 1919-03-16
North Dakota's New
Laws Assailed bv
Rebellious Group
Non-Partisan League Lead
ers Criticised as Four
State Officials Head the
Move to Kill Measures
Spcc:al Correspondence

FARGO, n. d. March 15.~Four
Non Partisan League state officers to-
day threw down the gauntlet to the
leaders of that movement when they
declared themselves opposed to GER
tain laws sponsored by the league and
enacted by the State Legislature,
which adjourned recently, and worked
OUT programme Of state owned indus
tries. II Is The drs. material break
Of any consequence that has occurred
during the leagues four-ycar period
Of ascendancy in North Dakota
Attorney General William LANCER
condemned and urged the repeal of the
education bill centring control of all
educational facilities in the hands Of
He also condemned the ''printing" Bills,
by which every class OF official and
legal printing would be given to news
papers picked by an administration
board, the latter measure involving
hundreds of thousands of dollars worth
Of business annually. which would be
taken from independent newspapers
and given to papers favored by the
administration.
State Treasurer Obert Olson con-
demned the same measures, as did
Other Bills Attacked
State Auditor Carl Kositzky went
further however, and attacked not
only those two bills, but also the
judicial redistricting BILL providing
for three new State judges and the
industrial programme laws as they
relate to the expenditure of public
moneys without an audit by State
officers.
The officers urged repeal of the
laws they condemned in the forth
coming referendum election for which
the people are petitioning under the
referendum section of the State con-
stitution.
The rebellion creates an interesting
situation that may influence the cleo
uon, which is being petitioned for
under direction of the North Dakota
Independent Voters Association II is is
proposed to refer for revision virtually
every important industrial bill spon-
sored by the league.
III is proposed to abolish the State
Dank and the industrial commission
winch would, under the present scheme
ne IN cnarge of every State-owned in.
dustry that is to be "socialized."
Other Changes Urged
Instead of spending s5,OOO,oo0 on
nour mills and terminal elevators. the
independent voters ask that only 50
ooo,oO0 be spent and that the money
De handled by a special commission.
while the necessary bond issue to cover
the operations would be handled by the
state treasurer. The $4,000 900 bond
issue. which is to be used in 1yru canl
1tallzing the state bank, is to be vetoed
while the 100000 bond issue for
financing farm mortgages is retained
put its administration would be shifted
from the Industrial Commission to the
State Board of School and Uniyersitv
Lands.
State Auditor Carl Kositsky. in serv.
ing notice on the leaders of the league
that ne will not abide by their decision
with respect to important league bills
said: ''-''
Ut is inevitable that any movement
which has attained the success of the
Non-Partisan League shall attract ia
itself horde of self-seekers. men NOT
IN sympathy with the movement. but
who see in it an opportunity to enrich
themselves. We have such men at
tached to the league to-day, and unless
we drum them out of camp. the day is
not far distant when we will all have
cause to regret it."