Emmons County record. [volume] (Williamsport, D.T. [i.e. N.D.]) 1884-current, 1920-01-22
League Gets Knock Out Blow
Four of the Five Supreme Crur Justices Vote Head Off
Towney Strong Arm Methods

was put to sleep last Saturday by the
supreme court. Every justice except
Robinson voted to nullify the effects
of the bill.
The action Of the supreme court is
the most serious reverse ever exper-
fenced by the Townley ring. Had
the court put it's stamp of approval
on H. B. 60, several new laws would
have helped the Townleyites in the
coming primary election. No one of
the laws opposed by the independents
in the special session will be operative
in time to help the lcaguers in the
primary election battle.
The new radical absent-voter law
will not help the league salt away
votes any time thirty days before
election.
Fay Harding and his four pals will
not be able to get their hands on the
$4,000 appropriation for campaign
fund.
The governor will not have his state
sheriff and his state constabulary. 1t
will be impossible to appoint every
league organizer a deputy sheriff.
The appointing of Langer's deputies
will not be turned over to Emperor
Frazier.
The insurgent state officials will con-
tinue to act on the various boards as
in the past, and their appropriations
for help will not be taken from them.
None of these things can happen
until after July /. 1920. The primary
election-that will decide the future
of ths state-will take place in June,
before the new laws take effect.
Unless referred. these various laws
will come into effect July 1st. But,
if the ]eagua wins in June, it will
make little difference what they do
in the future. And, if they lose in
June, the people of the state can stand
their worst for the remaining six
months of this year. !
The decision Of the court practically
nullifes the effect of the special ses-
sion so far as political and spite meas
ures are concerned. Only such meas
ures as the minority agreed to, and
which secured a two-thirds vote in
each house. are imediate1y effective.
The constitution of North Dakota
provides that other than emergency
measures become effective July 1st
following passage. The league was
unable to muster sufficient strength
to make emergency measures of any
of their pet laws. just before the
close of the session. they tried to ov-
ercome this situation by Introducing
H. B. 60, which declared all measures
passed to be in effect ten days after
massage. The minority fought the
measure. and nointed out that the bill
! flew directly in the face of the pro-
visions of the constitution. The COM
!, mittee on delayed bills first refused to
II admit the measure. Speaker Stair ad-
io1rred the house for short recess,
and Lemke cornered the league mem
hers of the committee on delaved bills.
y It. was thus while onenlv lobbying.
that Kositzky demanded that Frazier
u o.arrest Lemke for such lobbying. When
the house resumed it's work, the league
members of the committee on delayed
' bills had switched, and the bill wss
admitted and passed. The senate al
so passed it. But in the house it
failed to secure twe-thirds. Thus, it
could not be declared an emergency
measure under the constitution.
In view of the fact that four of the
five members of the supreme court
+ were leaguers. and that four were re-
puired to vote against allowing the
measure to become Immediately op-
erative. the league bosses had high
hopes that they had accomplished
their purpose in spite of the constitu-
tion.
But the ATTEMPT was too raw for
even three of the four leaeuers. Rob-
inson only stood for it. Birdsell,
Grace and Bronson were the league
supreme court members who voted
against the proposition. They held
that the bill itself was not in effect
until July 1st, and therefore could
not place any other law in immediate
effect.
! This decision is of the most far.
reaching importance. The usual fair
primary election is now assured. The
effort to Immediately treat LANCER
Hall and Kositzky as Miss Nelson has
been treated is defeated. They will
continue to function as of old until
July 1st next. By that time the big
fight will be over s I:
Continued on Page. Five)