The Bismarck tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, N.D.) 1916-current, 1932-05-09
LEMKE NDORSES
POPULAR VOTE ON
PROHIBITION LAW
Congressional Candidate Favors
Right Of People to Pass
on Question

mission of the 18th amendment to 6
vote of the people was advocated BY
William Lemke, Fargo, Nonpartisar
league candidate for the Republican
nomination for congressman, in ar
address here Saturday night.
Lemke gave strong approval to the
Frazier farm relief bill pending in
congress, and expressed himself in IA
vor Of an income tax which exempts
small incomes and makes liberal al
lowanceS for heads of families. He
favored limiting the amount of in
come any one individual may receive
in one year.
Lemke called attention that he was
author of the provisions in the North
Dakota constitution giving the people
the right to initiate and refer laws.
Il have defended, regardless of sub
ject matter" he said, practically
every initiated or referred measure
contested in our supreme court.
Therefore, favor the right of the
people OF every state, and Of the
United States, to pass upon any law
or constitutional provision, including
VIC AOVAA VI oily OlllC1
amendment. I feel that there can be
no difference of opinion on that ques-
ton in a government of. for and by
the people. I hold that any person
who has sufficient judgment to pass
upon my candidacy has sufficient
judgment to pass upon any law or
constitutional provision, state or fed
eral.
Backs Will of People
Il therefore favor the resubmission
Of the 18th amendment to the people
for their approval or rejection. be-
lieve that II this is done and a ma
jority are in favor of it, it can be en-
forced. If majority are against 1t,
it cannot be enforced and should not
be part of our fundamental law. I
believe that our whole system of gov
eminent should once more be made
responsive to the will Of the people"
He declared himself as first, last
and all the time for the Frazier farm
relief BILL" the provisions of which
he explained. The bill. he said. pro-
vides that the United States govern
ment shall refinance the existing farm
indebtedness at IL per cent interest
and l " per cent principal on the am
ortization plan, not by issuing bonds,
but by issuing federal reserve notes
secured by first mortgages on farms.
This BILL" he continued, tasks the
government to do for the farmer what
it is doing for the large banks. insur-
ance and railroad companies through
the Reconstruction Finance corpora
ton. It demands that the admins
tration keep its platform promise and
put American agriculture on basis
Of equality with other industries"
Put Money in Circulation
when this bill becomes a law it
will put from two to three billion dol
lars new money in circulation among
the people; it will loosen the frozen
assets; the unemployed again will be
able to get work and eat; the price Of
agricultural products will 60 up; the
starving of millions will end business
will again be general.
Even at IL per cent interest, if
the government will refinance the en-
tire farm indebtedness it will make a
profit Of over $6,345, 900, 900 out Of the
transaction in AZ years, while the
$500 100000 it has given and the
81 500 900, 900 bonds it has guaranteed
for the reconstruction will in all prob
ability be a net loss That is why
Uncle Sam is having such time in
getting his budget balanced. He has
handed billions to the international
bankers and Wall Street, but so far
hesitates to refinance the farmers at
profit"
Lemke expressed himself in favor of
the Thomas-Swank bill providing that
the farmer receive the cost of produc-
ton for that part of his products that
is consumed within the United States.
S1.19 for Wheat
IF this law had been in effect last
year." he said, "the farmer would have
received $119 per bushel for his wheat
and a like increase in price for his
livestock and other farm products.
This is simply giving the farmer the
advantage of the tariff. and as long
as we have tariff the farmer is en-
titled to the same protection as other
industries.
The nations wealth, Lemke said.
must be redistributed land be kept
redistributed if the government Of, for
and by the people is to endure"
Complete reorganization of all de-
partments of the federal government
was favored by Lenke $50 that the
tax burden may be reduced and the
parasites and lame ducks who do not
perform useful labor may be elimi-
mated"