The Nonpartisan Leader Newspaper, February 8, 1917, Page 17

Serve, Not Bind, the People Farmers’ Club Sends Letter to N. D. Senate— _ Want New Constitution Now McHenry, N. D., Jan. 26. Editor Nonpartisan Leader: Inclosed please find an open letter to the senate from the Colvin Farmers’ ‘club. You can publish this. :We have submitted a copy to the senate. If you think it worth publishing send copies to friendly papers and give it what publicity you can. : H. J. TRELEASE, For Colvin Farmers' Club. To the Senate of North Dakota: The members.of the Colvin Farmers’ club urge the senate to heed the popu- lar demand for the passage of House Bill 44, A free democracy should be gov- erned by the collective wisdom of its people. The citizens of North Da- kota, after intelligent thought and study, have decided to effect certain necessary changes in government busi- ness and their representatives will bring about the changes demanded or be false to their trust “All governments derive their Just powers from the consent of the governed, and the people have the right to alter or abolish their gov- ernment and te institute a new government, laying its foundation on such principles and organizing its powers in such form, AS TO THEM SHALL SEEM most likely to effect their safety and happi- ness. The government of North Dakota has been in_the interests of non-resi- dent lndustr}al pirates; .the people have' been systematically robbed and the thieves have been protected by the administration. . Broad daylight = rob- beries and the grossest exactions have been sanctioned by the law and the constitution. So much the worse for the law and the constitution. ECONOMIC JUSTICE IS AIM OF PEOPLE The" peéple of this state want to es- ~ tablish a business system founded on social and economic justice and to free themselves from the system of legaliz- ed robbery that has hitherto prevailed. ‘With this end in view, we (the peo- ple of the state) have organized poli- tically to carry out a program of re- form. Our candidates stood .on this ° program, and the result of the election showed plainly that the state of North Dakota is overwhelmingly in favor of the change. ‘We want economic justice. It is our right: But the constitution denies our plea. This instrument, devised by men of a past generation, lies athwart the road of progress. .It bars our way. This constitution may have suited the times for which it was framed, but its framers knew nothing of our needs or our problems and we refuse to be dictated to by men who are dead and gone and who knew nothing of the great issues that confront us. A constitution should not bind, but serve the people. Our constitu- tion binds us to the past. We want one that is elastic enough to serve us in all emergencies and such a constitution—the only one for a . free people—should plainly express the will and purpose of the people. It should be made easy to change 8o that those governed by it can readily accommodate themselves to new conditions; easy to change - &0 that one generation may be pre- wvented from imposing its judg- ment on a succeeding and more en- lightened generation. . ‘As our. present constitution is out ®f joint with the times, we must frame ® new one to meet modern needs. This §s logical and right. MUST SERVE, NOT BIND THE PEOPLE Cravens and backward-looking men - with a traditional worship for prece- dents and constitutions, -may draw back if they choose, but the farmers of North Dakota, red-blooded men with faces resolutely set forward and - up- ward will frame a constitution in har- mony with the times. Angd this constitution shall not bind but shall serve the people. The fiat has gone forth. Honest public servants will grasp the op- portunity for real service. They will carry out the mandate of the people. They wijll enact the League program inte law. This program can not be carried out without changes -in the constitution. But when the people by their ballots authorized the League program they at the same time sanctioned the constitutional changes neces- sary to the carrying out of that program. Inexorable logic leads to, this conclusion. Only political tricksters, reactionaries and mental perverts will object. False public servants will seek to de- feat the popular will; “crafty” argu- ments ‘based on half-truths and false- hoods will be offered; all the resources of the unscrupulous big business ma- chines will be employed, but all to no purpose. The people will win. By in- telligent massed action with right and justice on their side, they are bound to win. S LEGISLATORS OF NORTH DAKO- TA! CHOOSE YE THIS DAY WHOM YE WILL SERVE. Your attitude towards the popular demand for the passage of House Bill No. 44, will show in which camp your tent is pitched. Are you with the peo- ple, or with the people’s enemies? The next few days will show. By your acts we will judge you. THE COLVIN FARMERS' CLUB > By JOEN LEHNER, Pres. MARTIN GUDMUNSEN, Secy. Bills Passed by Both Houses (Continued from page 8) the county in which such bank or trust company is located. Senate Bill 29, by Nelson of Grand ° Forks, adding farm bookkeeping to the courses that must be taught in the common schools. Senate Bill 33, by Drown, providing that school district boundaries can not be changed by boards upon petition as now, but only after a vote of the qualified electors in favor of such change. ‘ House Bill 1, by Walton, noted above. House Bill 27, by Church, noted above. : { 3 House Bill 30, by Rott, noted above. Special motors with opposed cylindi vu':zrp,. no fuel pump, no cutside are the only make havinga. 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