The Bismarck tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, N.D.) 1916-current, 1933-02-01
SENATE EN|BRO|LED
IN WARM ARGUMENT
ONFARMERS STRIKE
Error in Count Results in De.
claration That Measure
Had Been Defeated

claTation That Measure
Had Been Defeated
Consideration Of a measure to legal
he farm strikes and to authorize the
governor to use the militia to protect
strikers plunged the North Dakota
senate into the most heated debate
Of the session Wednesday and ended
with the bill declared defeated, but
with . majority Of votes actually cast
In its favor.
The assembly Wednesday will seek
to unravel q parliamentary tangle re-
sulting from the erroneous announce
ment OF the vote, which was Is to "a
In favor Of passage of the bill. In the
confusion following the roll call, q
tally was handed the presiding off,
Ger, Lieut.. Gov. Ole H. Olson, revers-
ing the figures so that it read Is
against and "a In favor of the bill.
The error was discovered as sena-
tors began to leave the senate after
nearly two hours of debate, and it
was decided to take up the matter
when the assembly convenes Wednes-
day.
Sen. w. E. Martin, Morton county,
q author Of the bill which empowers
"any farm organization within the
state with q statewide membership"
to issue strike order on marketing
of agricultural products when the
market price at the time is only a
fraction Of the cost Of production. ;"
The governor shall be empowered to
use such units Of the state militia
q he shall think necessary to estab-
fish order" the bill provides, in the
event riots result.
Argue Over Militia
Debate centered on motion by Sen.
J. p. Cain. Stark county, to strike out
the provision to empower the COVER
nor to use the militia. The amend
ment was defeated Is to %. 1mmedi-
ately after the vote on the Cain mo-
ton q roll call was taken on final
passage and the Is to "a vote in fav-
or Of the bill resulted, with the err
roneous announcement causing it to
b declared defeated.
On an inquiry from Sen. w. H.
Porter. Cavalier county, as to the
necessity Of the BILL" Sen. Martin
arose to explain that "the reason !
introduced it was because I watched
= strike in Iowa where they sent out
alu9gers to stop farmers from strik-
Ing"
"You will find scabbers even
among farmers" he said, land we need
this protection. The farm organiza-
lions are filling thick and fast and
when the year rolls around every
farmer will belong to the Farmers
Holiday association. We should have
the state militia behind them. This
bill = for the benefit Of the farmer"
Gains amendment was to strike out
phrases and sections Of the bill, so as
10 leave only the part that would
legalize farm strikes.
Cain said he doubted whether We
have the right to adopt legislation az
fecting the affairs of Iowa or other
states"
III this bill becomes law" he said,
sand the farmer desires to bring a
load Of hogs. sheep or other products
20 market, and a state strike order Is
issued, he would be prevented from
selling his property as he believes to
be fair. Just and proper.
There Is no limit to the number OF
farmers needed to issue state order
calling . strike. It may mean Is or
20 men would constitute an organiza-
tiou with q statewide membership,
and that organization would have the
right to call on the governor to bring
out the militia. This bill would make
It mandatory on the governor to call
out the militia.
Delegates Authority
1--WE may have ten organizations
call on the governor to enforce their
rule, regulation or order. You would
be delegating legislative authority to
the membership that might spring up
In these organizations.
1.-THE order that brings out the mil
itia Is not the order Of the governor,
but the order of an organization hav-
ing Q membership of 60, 70 or 80 men.
Il riots result, it would not be neces-
sary to have this BILL We now have
. statute giving the governor the
same authority. The statute leaves
It to the governors discretion to call
out the militia, and does not make it
mandatory"
Cain read the present statute giving
in what instances the governor has
authority to use the militia.
Let US recognize the right Of the
farmer to organize and by peaceable
persuasion to strike" Cain continued.
LET US do something to help the
farmer, rather than to cruelty him, =
he concluded.
Sen. D. H. Hamilton followed with
Z statement that Cain absolutely
misinterpreted the BILL" He declar-
ed that Gains amendment strikes
out the teeth Of the BILL" and said
there was mo such thing in the bill
q giving 50 or go men the right to
call out the militia"
Sen. G. w. Fine, Benson county,
termed the measure as having "some-
thing fundamental behind It."
Sen. J. +. Eastgate, Grand Forks
criticised Fine for the Interpretation
the latter gave to quotations read
from the congressional records. He
referred to Fines arguments as SINH
lar to agitators trying to make the
farmers 60 their way"
s'I'd sooner live in shack and be
known Is Jake Eastgate," he said,
than belong to the Farmers Union
and be known as q number.
Sen. A. r. Bonner, Jr.. Ricliland
county said he would support the
Cain amendment on the ground that
the governor now has the right to use
the militia when necessary, but add
"a that II want to bring home to
these super patriots and flag waivers
Who are always In line when anything
comes up that the farmer wants, that
IT, III wrong" He severely criticized
3agtgate's remarks.