The Bismarck tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, N.D.) 1916-current, 1933-09-25
The Next Step


All rights OF republication Of oil other
matter herein are also reserved.
The Next Step
Any consideration Of the results OF
the election last Friday must show
that, in most important matters, they
were negative in result.
The good sense Of North Dakota's
citizens saved the state from further
domination by q self-seeking politi-
cal regime which had set out to Tam
manyize the commonwealth. They
rejected the idea Of one-man control
Of all state enterprises, quite obvi-
ously because they feared the char
acter of the man who sought to en-
dow himself with these wide powers.
To do this they voted mo-
The two constitutional amendments
which won approval mean little, on
the face Of them, to the average citi-
zen. The law affecting county Of
ficcs and providing for consolida-
ton of duties In the smaller districts,
applies to q problem Of organization.
It may or may not affect the
workings Of the offices in such q
manner as to bring the change home
to the average citizen, favorably or
otherwise.
The amendment providing .
change in the legislative process Of
handling bills directly affects only
the legislature, although the result
may be seen later in legislation even
more imperfect than that which we
already have had. Depending upon
the spirit In which the legislature
makes use of its new authority It
may or may not prove to be bene-
fit. But to the average individual,
interested more in results than in the
processes by which they are attained,
it is not a matter Of real Importance
now.
dTllis, then, leaves only the initiated
beer and Sunday moving picture
measures as affirmative conclusions,
and the latter still is in doubt.
The beer bill Is Of real Importance.
It will put under some sort Of re-
straint traffic which now IS carried
on openly in violation Of the law. It
provides beginning on the pathway
from prohibition, but 1t Is only a fall
tering step.
AS already has been pointed out,
the bill enacted by the electorate is
an Imperfect one. It permits OF
abuses which were strongly con-
demned in the days before prohibi-
ton. AS never before it links the
liquor traffic with politics. Its his
tory shows that such state control
as may be exercised will be directed
toward political ends.
Because Of its defects, its operation
must be closely watched and every
effort made by right-thinking citi-
zens to see that it is fairly and hon.
estly administered. The fact that
the provisions permitting abuses were
put there at the insistence Of those
who will administer the act makes
this all the more necessary. At the
same time, preparations should be
made now to change this law when
the legislature meets again and OPP
portunity offers. The revisions which
must be made are obvious to anyone
who takes the trouble to study this
enactment.
AS q result Of this action by the
people, city commissions and council.
throughout the state will be callee
upon to pass ordinances licensing anc
regulating this traffic. It Is In these
municipal laws that the people hav'
a fine chance to express their will OF
this important subject. It Is one de-
serving the best thought Of city com
missioners and Of citizens generally,
Persons interested in the sale o
beer have drawn up what they hop
will be q standard ordinance
throughout North Dakota. Presum
ably they have given careful study t
the question In an honest effort :
provide practical and sane regula
ton, though It's terms have not "
been made public.
This ordinance, II and when It
presented to Bisnarck's city commits
sion, should be given careful scruttn.
II they feel the nsed for public adyis
and they should tho commissioner
should call ! public hearing on th
question, permit Ill classes Of cit
sens 70 b heard. Ths matter Gel
tainly = not one to Be considered 3
to besr trade alons.
And once the rules have bee
made, they should be risidly er
forced. The beer now permitted !
to an intents and purposes. > %
driulk. but . start should Be mad
now on the pathway Of regulation !
establish Z precedent which may |
followed when harder spirits becon
leeal, = they almost certainly win
Tho most enthusiastic opponent
~ eighteenth amendment must az