The Bismarck tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, N.D.) 1916-current, 1933-08-14
That Special Election

That Special Election
Now that the inevitable has hap
pened and Governor LANCER has
called a special election for Sept. %,
the voters Of the state may begin to
examine the issues which they must
determine at the ballot box and de-
eide how they shall vote.
Fortunately, the issues will be as
free from personal considerations as
it is possible for them to be under
the circumstances. There will be no
candidates seeking office and the
electorate can give its entire atten-
Lion to the questions of state policy
which will be presented.
There can be no question about the
Importance Of the matters presented.
They affect things varying from the
personal rights of the people to their
pocketbooks, particularly the latter.
At the same time, even though per-
sonalities are not directly in issue,
they give the people their first op-
portunity to pass on some of the re-
cent happenings in the state govern
ment, at least by indirection. Al
though not directly involved, the
election may show, in some degree,
the extent to which the electorate
has confidence in the present ad-
n1inistration. This Is particularly
true OF those bills granting the gov
ernor the right to discharge work.
mems compensation commissioners
without cause and putting the re-
ceiver Of closed banks under his con-
troll rather than under the control
of the state courts.
The Sunday movie proposal is in
cidental, even though many persons
regard it as important. It has been
voted on before and the campaigns
which may be waged for or against
it probably will fade into insignifi-
canoe beside the fight over the sales
tax.
The decision on the beer proposals
seems q foregone conclusion, no mat
ter what stir and fuss may be made
by contending forces. We have beer
now and everyone knows it. The
election seems merely to be q for
mality designed to bring revenue to
the state. Incidentally, 1t probably
will raise the price Of beer to the
consumer as compared with the pres
ent bootleg system.
Although the major demand for an
election came from those seeking
beer. there can be no question that
the sales tax issue Is by far the most
important and far-reaching to be de-
termined at the election. In its ap-
plication it hits everyone, without
exception. With beer one can take
it or leave it alone, but with the sales
tax it is either take it or leave It via
the ballot box. If it is approved all
must obey.
1t was this issue which made the
election inevitable and which forced
the governor to set forward the date.
Examination by the state board Of
equalization has proved an enormous
sum Of money must be raised to meet
interest and amortization on state
real estate bonds. A terrific increase
in the taxes on tangible property will
be necessary to keep these securities
in good standing. Under the law, the
equalization board must finish its
work in August, but as practical
matter it always runs over into Sep
TENDER and can delay decision on
this matter until after the vote is
held on the sales tax, in view of the
date selected.
It was this situation which forced
the governor to advance the date, ig-
noring the pledge which he Is claimed
to have made to forces seeking pro-
hibition repeal-and which promise
he subsequently denied. Had the
election been delayed until Novem-
her it would have been too late to
serve his purposes.
1t is unfortunate that repeal could
not have been placed on the ballot
in order to get it definitely out Of
the way. The exigencies OF politics,
however, prevented this early deci-
sion as to North Dakota's stand on
the 21st amendment.
It is approximately six weeks until
the special election. The average
voter will do himself a service II he
takes part Of that time to study
the measures presented, weigh their
merits carefully and make his deci-
sion. + he doesn't he Is liable to
End that he has handed himself q
bitter pill Of political medicine.
Real Statesmen Needed in u. s,
and Japan