The Bismarck tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, N.D.) 1916-current, 1923-02-19
PARTY LINES
DRAWN CLOSE
IN THE VOTE
Three Measures Are Recon-
mended for Passage With
out Much Debate
Bill LIS ATTACK ED
Leaguers Make Furious AS
saults on Measures, which
Are Defended by Others
B l. LIS ATTACK ED
The house passed 8. Il. 233,
So to IS late today.

Three election bills--the non-partv
state election bill, the presidential
primary bill and the state commit
tee organization bill--were pushed
through the house of representatives
sitting in committee of the whole in
quick order today.
Independents dispensed with do
bate, Rep Jackson, chairman of the
elections committee in charge of the
measures making few remarks only
for the ma jority, which had the ma
chinery well oiled for the action.
Nonpartisans bitterly criticised the
measures, especially senate bill Nc
233. the non-party election bill.
1t was considered likely the bills
would be reached on the calendar
for passage late today.
Jackson's Statement.
Rep. Jackson, making a statement
on senate bill No. 233, said former
Governor Frazier recommended
non-partisar election law on Jan. 3,
1917, and that the league members
changed because what was good
medicine at that time is not good
medicine now, they feel" He as
serted national and state issues
should be voted on separately so as
not to confuse voters. He said an
extended statement was not neces-
sary because all were familiar with
the bill.
Rep. Patterson, attacking the bill,
said the Legislature did not follow
out Mr.. Fraziers suggestion. He de-
clared this and other measures show
"a cunningly conceived plan to give
the bosses control IN the state" and
to "hood-wink the people in the great
Republican and Democratic parties"
Rep. Vogel declared with respect to
Rep. Jackson's REMARKS that the In
dependents did not intend to go into
extended debate on the measures was
because the measure will not stand
debate"
He asserted th.t pressure has
been brought to bear as never before
in the history of Ihe state on men
to vote for this measure who in their
own heart know it is vicious"
He declared they dare not show
he relationship between this bill and
the league election bill of 1917.
Before any man can be Il candidate
for governor he must get signatures
of 5000 or 5000 people, he asserted
Every one of the amendments on
this bill was forced on the bosses
of the Independent Voters associa.
tion," he declared, and declared that
"Townley in the hey-dey of his pow
er never used such methods"
He asserted four or five members
of the house who would not stand
for the bill as originally drawn
forced the amendments
Perpetuates League, He Says
Rep. Walker, Nonpartisan, declar-
ed he was a Republican, asserted
that the Nonpartisan League began
to disintegrate in 1919, after fulfill
ing its purpose of reform Of the Re-
publican party and that "the Non.
partisan leagSa would have been
thing Of the past today had it not
been for the fight made by the In.
dependent Voters Association"
He asserted the Nonpartis;ln
league was temporary in character,
and declared that this bill seeks 10
perpetuate those factions (NonpartI-
sans and l. V. Az and destroy pa--
ties"
The vote was So to 55 in favor of
recommending passing of the bill,
the division being on strict party
lines except that Rep Rabe, Stark
county, voted against the bill.
Rep. Jackson, explaining H. B. 2s5,
said the purpose was to save for the
Republicans and Democrats control
of their parties in national affairs
and prevent a minority from con-
trolling and destroying the parties.
H. B. 2S2, providing the new ap
portionment on the state committee,
also was recommended for passage,
81 to SO.
The house committee on tax and
tax laws today voted for Indefinite
postponement of Rep. Watts bills
providing for luxury taxes" on
tobacco ,theaters, etc.