The Nonpartisan Leader Newspaper, December 30, 1915, Page 9

e e e e i i i | { i <& by e e A'moval Association has confidence "in ok DO YOUR OWN THINKING Bismarck Lopes to keer: the people of North Dakota from thinking for themselves. Bismarck’s mouthpiece says it is “unfortunate” that the people have won, after long years, the privilege of voting on constitu- tional changes by means of the ini- tiative and referendum. This is an insm“:l}} intelligence of the rpio- ple of our !state. Will the people be dictated to as in the old political days?-Mr. Voter, the Capital Re- your ability to decide this constitu- tional question on its merits, there- fore we expect to prove that: 1. The removal of the state capi- tal to New Rockford is for the bene- fit of all the state because a big ma- jority of the people will be better served by central location and un- excelled ‘railroad facilities. 2. That it will not' cost the tax- payers any additional taxes but, on the contrary, will save them millions of dollars. 8. That the state will derive priceless free advertising—a most needed benefit, as the increase in ropulation in the state in flve years was only 58,271. Newcomers will help every man’s business and in- crease land values all over the state. In order to make this change the law provides that a petition must be signed by the voters. So you see we are dependent on you to get this question on the ballot so an expres- sion of opinion can 'be’ registered. We rut our case in your hands and appeal to your broadmindedness and love of fair play to “‘let the people vote on, it” by signing and circulat- ing the_ petition among your neigh- bors. - REMEMBER YOU ARE NOT UN- DER ANY OBLIGATiON TO VOTE FOR IT WHEN IT COMES UP, BUT YOU ARE GIVING EVERYBODY A CHANCE TO VOTE ON IT. Jor®, EHL INITIATIVE PETITION UNDER SECTION 202 OF THE CON- STITUTION TO AMEND SECTION 215 OF THE CONSTI- TUTION OF THE STATE OF NORTH DAKOTA, TO CHANGE THE SEAT OF GOVERNMENT FROM THE CITY OF BISMARCK IN THE COUNTY OF BURLEIGH OF EDDY. STATE OF NORTH DAKOTA COUNTY OF ... 8. We, the undersigned, being first duly sworn, each for himself, deposes and says that he is a resident of the County of and State of North Dakota, and a legal voter thereof; that he personally signed -thereof, and does hereby petitio and propose that Section 215, Article 19 of the Constitution of the State of North Dakota be amended in accord- ance with the provisions of Section 202 of Article 15 of the ‘Constitution of the State of North Dakota as amended and now in force by adding to the first sub-division of said section' the words, “UNTIL JULY 1st, 1922, OF EDDY, ON AND AFTER THAT DATE", so as to read. as fol- lows: “FIRST. THE SEAT OF GOVERNMENT AT THE CITY OF BISMARCK, IN THE COUNTY OF BURLEIGH UNTIL JULY 1st, 1922, AND AT THE CITY OF NEW ROCKFORD IN THE COUNTY OF EDDY ON AND AFTER THAT DATE”, so that said section 215 will thereafter read as follows: I TO THE CITY OF NEW ROCKFORD IN THE COUNTY his name to this ifitiative petition knowing the contents and purpose AND AT THE CITY OF NEW ROCKFORD, IN THE COUNTY b THE NONPARTISAN LEADER Voters! This Is Your Fight Decide the Question On Its Merits—--That's Fair Why New Rockford Should Be the State Capital APPEAL TO YOU FOR HELP We appeal to every voter in the state of North Dakota to be true to the principles of government by the people and allow his neighbor to vote on this important issue by sign- ing the petition. We cannot get this question before the rrople with- out your help. When your representatives passed the initative and referendum laws, it was for the purpose of giving every voter of the state the right to pass on questions which are of inter- est to the whole state; and the means adopited was to permit any represen- tative body of North Dakota citizens " to circulate a petition acking that the Secretary of State place on the ballot the peoples’ wishes, and by that means let all the voters express. their opinion as to whether they O longer does the want that wish made a law. Now, N shrewd politiclan isn’t that fair? have the power, as Suriposing you saw some wrong shown in this cartoonm, t0 which you wanted to be made right, gl&ttethtrl:)%:l?l:;l:so?({ t;t’e_ or supposing you had some construc- litical machinery. The tive legislation that you wanted all people’s will can nuw be the people to pass on, wouldn’t you expressed through the Ini- feel that all your neighbors ought tiatlve and the R=feren- to give the question some thought dum. USETHESE meas- 554 then meet the requirements of ures NOW, or the pollt'i- law by signing your petition? That can will say you dowt : 1 want to govern yourself. is all we are as}nng. Let the people vote on it. Give us a square deal same as we would expect to give you when you come to us. You are not under any obligation to vote for it when it eomes up for vote. You are simply showing your broad-mindedness and your love of fair play (the greatest of all Ameri- can principles) . when you make it rpssigle for your brother voters to expre:s their opinions by signing the petition. This request of ours is not to sat- isfy a hobby or a selfish motive—IT IS 'FOR ALL THE STATE—and it will benefit you. Read all this state- ment and you will see our claim is true. Remember, it is for the whole state, so sign the petition yourself 5 . and get your neighbor to do the same. AMENDMENT. Artide 19, Section 215, of the Constitution of z] State of North Dakota is hereby amended to read as follows: Article 19, Section 215. The following public institutions of the State are permanently located at the place hereinafter named, each to have the lands specifically granted to it by the United States, in the Act of Congress, approved February 22, 1889, to bé disposed of and used in such manner as the Legislative Assembly may prescribe, subject to the limitations provid- ed in the article on school and public lands contained in this constituiion: First. The seat of Government at the city of Bismarck, in the county of Burleigh until July 1st, 1922, and at the city of New Rockford, in the county of Eddy on and after that date. Second. The State Unifersity and School of Mines at the city of Grand Forks, in the county of Grand Forks. Third. The Agricultural College at the city of Fargo in thg county of Cass. Fourth. A State Normal school at the city of Valley City, in the County of Barnes; and the legislative assembly in apporti_oning the grant of eighty thousand acres of land for normal schools made in the Act of Congress re- ferred to shall grant the said normal school at Valley City as aforementioned, fifty thousand (50,000) acres, and said lands are hereby appropriated to saild institution for that purpose, Fifth. The school for the deaf and dumb of North Dakota, at the clty of Devils Lake, in the County of Ramsey. = tSixt.h. A State Reform School at the city of Mandan, in the county of orton. Seventh. A State Normal School at the city of Mayville, in the county of Traill; and the legislative assembly in apportioning the grant of lands made by congress, in the act aforesaid for state mormal schools, ghall as- sign thirty thousand (30,000) acres to the institution hereby located at May- ville, and the sald lands are hereby appropriated for sald purpose. Eighth. A state hospital for the insane at the city of Jamestown, In the county of Stutsman. And the legislative assembly shall appropriate twea- ty thousand acres of the grant of lands made by the act of congress atore- said for “other educational and charitable institutions”, to the benefit and for the endowment of said institution, and there shall be located at or near the city of Grafton, in the county of Walsh, an institution for the feeble ming- ed, on the grounds purchased by the secretary of the Interior for a penitenm- tiary building. - And that such proposed amendment be published and placed upon the ballot to_be voted upon by the people atthe nextgeneral election for ap- RSl ISR