The Bismarck tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, N.D.) 1916-current, 1927-02-17

nority report recommending defeat
was accepted. 40 to 40.
c. V. Freeman, Grand Forks coun-
ty, explained that the elections COM
mittee had introduced the bill with
out binding any member to vote for
it in order to bring the matter to
the attention of the house. 1t might
be novel in the way of legislation,
he said, but pointed to the fact that
one of the greatest evils experienced
in government IL that failure Of the
| people to vote. The proposed enact
ment. he said, would have the effect
of driving them to the polls.
r. O. Signalncss, Mckenzie coun-
| ty, who had introduced a similar bill,
declared non-voting to be the big
gest curse the nation has today" and
urged support of the measure.
Some members objected that the
clause which provides rebate of
taxes would not operate in the case
of persons paying no taxes and Rich
| ard Bubcl, Oliver county, declared
his belief that the "bill goes too far
| in the matter Of law-making."
Military Training Beneficial
Opposing the bill to prohibit mill
tary training at state supported edu-
cational institutions, L. w. Sperry,
| Burleigh county, said he knows of
no experience which benefits young
man more than military training and
averred that military training to the
| extent now practiced should be con-
tinued.
II. +. SWEET, Kiddcr county, pointed
out that 90 per cent of the federal
taxes are used to pay the expenses
of past, present and future wars"
and declared that it is time to spend
the money in teaching the arts of
| peace.
u. L. Peters, Pierce county, point
ed out that the United States is one
of the richest and most populous
countries and needs protection. No
matter how it wishes for peace it
may be drawn into Il war and in such
event should be reasonably prepared
he said. Declaring that military
training does not cause people to
wish to go to war, he said he would
favor military training for high
school boys.
NJ. H. Lynch, Richland county, and
Walter Tester, Stark county, world
war veterans, urged defeat of the
bill. Lynch pointed out that the
best assurance Of peace is a we'll
trained citizenry able to protect the
nation from aggression and averred
that the bill is contrary to the ma
tional defense policy and ster
backward.
M. T. Lillchaugen, Walsh county
author Of the measure, made his first
speech Of the session in its defense
America was Mortified at the Ger.
man system of training it's children
for war, he said, but now it is doing
the same thing and intensifying its
efforts. Militarism brought Europ,
to ruin, he said, and warned against
United States. The effect of tn,
military program is to increase al
ready heavy taxes, he said.
Suggests 1t BE Made Optional
Twichell cut into the argumen
with the demand for a vote to "fin,
out who are pacifists and who ar.
not" and Burkhart, who signed tn.
minority report of the education
committee, said he did so in order tC
bring the matter before the hous
and suggested that military training
at state-supported institutions b,
made optional with the students. H,
is not opposed to either prepared
ness or reasonable military training
and is not pacifist, he said.
Little debate marked the passag
of the Fowler bill to change tn,
election laws. Pointing out that tn
matter had been discussed Tuesda,
in great detail, Speaker Carr aske
the members to be brief in their dis
cussion.
Burkhart charged that the bill
would rect against the farmers VIII,
would find it difficult to atten,
county and state meetings during tn
planting season and would result il
! giving the cities control Of politica
parties. Others objected on tn
ground that the people have learne,
to use the primary system now ant
that it is poor policy to change
Some charged, as they did Tuesday
that it is an attempt by the major
ity to override the minority.