The Bismarck tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, N.D.) 1916-current, 1923-02-02
ANTI-KU KLUX
BILL SOON TO
BECOME A LAW
Passes House by Large Ma
jority; Governor Expected
TO Sign Bill Soon
HAS THE EMERGENCY
Several Representatives Ex-
press Themselves on Klan
In Passing Bill
HAS THE EMERGENCY

The anti-mask, or so-cailed anti
Ku Klux klan bill, will be written
into law.
The bill, senate bill No. IA, pass
ed. the house of representatives late
yesterday by a vote of 92 to ID,
with three absent The bill had
passed the senate, 40 to 6.
1t is we'll understood that Cover
nor R. A. Nestos favors the bill,
and is expected to get it for sigma
ture within two or three days. The
bill carries an emergency clause
which will make it law upon sig-
nature by the chief executive.
The bill provides that "any person
or persons over the age Of Is years
who appears outside Of any building
in the state of North Dakota wear
ing a mask. regalia, or other head
covering so worn as to conceal tho
features and prevent recognition of
said persons or persons, is guilt!
of a misdemeanor." The penalty for
violation is fine of $25 to 500, 10
to 80 days in Jail, or both.
Of the 18 house members who
voted against the passage of the
bill 16 were Nonpartisans and two
Independents. The league members
who voted mo" were Anderson of
Divide, Anderson of Sargent, Brats-
berg, Cart, Mrs. Craig, Fedge,
Haughland, Hempel, Jones, Levin,
Oberg, Guam, Shurr, SWEET, and Vo'
gel. The Independents opposing the
measure were Reps. Cole of Sargent
and Root of Dickey. Three members
of the house were absent.
Rep. Dell Patterson Of Renville
county spoke against the bill from
the floor Of the house but votes
"aye'' on ti.- roll call.
Raps ifu Klux
..Dado Walker of Mercer, Non
partisan opened the debate on the
measure following it's third reading
this afternoon.
81 believe this is a time wher
every real man must stand up anc
p be counted" he said. 81 intend tt
vote for Senate Bill ID; realize
that It cannot prevent crime.
question the wisdom of its introduc
ton for l know that the Ku Klu,
Klant is apt to thrive on Legislation
directed against it.
However the bill is before US
and i intend to take this oppor
tunity to register my protest agains
cowardly methods of attack, and be
cause 1 believe the Ku Klux Klan t
be unsocial, immoral, unChristian
and unAmerican.
Dell Patterson of Renville immc
diately took the floor against tn
bill. "If this bill passes it will le
down the bars to attacks on man!
innocent people," he said. Under thi
bill if farmer covers his face will
shawl in cold weather he Nigh
be arrested, and there are peopl
who are just small enough to arres
him.
Rep. Patterson declared that tn
occasion for the Klan in the sou:i
and elsewhere was in his opinio
the failure Of officials to enforc
the law.
Rep. Cart also took up the cudgel
against the bill which he declare
was an attempt to stir up religion
strife, and thus take the minds Q
the people off their more seriou
economic wrongs.
Refuses to Bow
It remained for Rep. Sathre Q
of Griggs county, to sum up tn
case for the passage Of the measure
II believe it is time for ever
American to show where he stands,
he declared in ringing tones. ~ to
one refuse to bow the knee to tn
Invisible Empire. am for this bill.
The roll was called and it imme
diately became apparent that ther
was a landslide in favor of the mes
sure. Several members state thei
reasons for favoring or oppos!n
the bill, and asked that their II
marks be recorded in the hous
journal.
Many of the members of the SCI
ate left their seats when it ws
learned that the bill was up IL
passage in the house, and crosse
the lobby to watch the battle.
Asks Bonus Support
Rep o. M. Martin introduced
concurrent resolution endorsin
Congressman j. H. Sinclair's soldis
compensation bill pending in the nj
tional house Of representative
which provides the governme'
would buy silver bullion at q fixe
price, coin it, and retain the diffe
ence in value between the bullie
and coined silver.
The house also killed house bi
No. 116, providing for appointme'
Of speciai assistant attorney-gel
eral to represent the railroads con
mission, after jockeying between Il
+ Nonpartisans and Independents. II
railroad commission had asked SUI
provision be made and the state .
fairs committee recommended pas
age Of q bill permitting the attp
@ ney- general TO engage an assistal
at $500 . year to handle the raj
road commission legal work.
Rep. Walker, Nonpartisan, soug
to amend By providing the appoin
]. ment should Be with consent Of &
Confined On Pags Thrssl
r