The Bismarck tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, N.D.) 1916-current, 1920-06-21
FOUR MEASURES
BEFORE VOTERS
FOR APPROVAL
Patriotic Organizations Behind
, Anti-Red Flag Bill to be
Voted on June 80
THE SMELLING COMMITTEE
II is Before Voters, Along With
State Sheriff Act Giving
Great Power to Governor
THE SMELLING COMMITTEE

-Four. measures vitality important to
the welfare Of North Dakota are to be
voted on in the primary of June 30.
Though submerged by the intensity
of the political campaign. these issues
now are attracting the attention of all
thoughtful voters.
One of these measures has the back
ing of all organizations of war veter-
ans and thousands of other patriotic
people are urging its passage. It is
the anti-red flag bill The question is:
Shall the initiated measure become
law? The patriotic organizations
urge that the people vote Eyes" on this
measure. "t
The other three measures are being
opposed by independent voters. They
are denounced as measures which
would put autocratic power in the po-
litical group in control. They are:
The investigation, or smelling COM
mittee act; the amendment to the alb
sent voters act including women, and
he acted providing for a state sheriff
and state constabulary.
savor Of Autocracy.
The last three named measures are
creations of the Nonpartisan league
Legislature. but the smelling commit
tee act and the state sheriff's act are
so evidently designed to make the gov
ernor and his political adherents more
autocratic than the most Prussianized
regime that many league members are
openly against them.
Judge Robinson, OF the supreme
court, elected with Nonpartisan
league endorsement, has announced
his opposition to the measures. The
Independent Voters association is op-
posed to them.
That Smelling Cor,ni"te
The notorious smelling committee
act. on which people are urged . vote
no" would create a committee of two
senators and three representatives
who would have power to inquire into
me business Of any Individual. Off
cial or firm who are srsriCioned by
the committee or anyone else who
makes complaint Of "consDl1ing to in
jure the reputation Of any individual,
firm, or any state official or state en-
terprse. 1t would be empowered to
''interrogate witnesses; to compel pro-
ductiOn of books, records, letters, etc..
of any person, committee or corpora
tion."
1t would give the committee fright
Of access to, and right to copy any
document. any evidence of any person.
or corporation, or any state officer
investigated or proceeded against
Yes, It's Town|ey Creation.
The instrument, the creation OF
TOwnleyism. would be an instrument
through which any person or business
in North Dakota might be prosecuted
by the committee. 1t is said that no
civilized state in the world grants
such power to any body of men.
The state sheriff and state constabu-
larry act would authorize the govern
or to appoint a state sheriff, who
would have power to call upon all sher-
ifs and deputies to form a state con-
tsabulary. to act under his direction.
His salary would be $4,000 a year, he
would be appointed by the governor
and could be removed at any time by
the governor. His work would be un-
der thee direction Of the governor. He
would be permitted to file charges
against any person or individual un-
der the direction of the governor. 1t
would give him unlimited power to
employ special agents. This measure
is regarded as Second only to the
smelling committee in it's Prussiansm.
It would be a great power with which
any governor could persecute any per-
son or firm.
Would Cost Money.
The amednment to the absent vot-
ers' act would provide that "such abb
sent voter expecting to be absent from
the county on election day, or if wo'
man, resisting one-halfs mile or more
from the polling place. may have to
assist him or her in the preparation
and marking of his ballot, one person
who shall not be an official represent
ative or a member of any committee
Of any political party having cam
didate in such election" This act,
too. it is held, would be great power
in the hands OF unscrupulous politi-
clans, permitting notary public to go
round the country picking up votes.
The acts provide an appropriation
of $25,OOO for carrying out the smell
ing committees work and $4,000 for
carving out the state sheriff's act
provisions.