The Bismarck Tribune Newspaper, November 28, 1923, Page 1

nt ‘Indéed, some contracting 1 WEATHER FORECAST i’ Generally fair tonight and Thursday, Somewhat colder. ESTABLISHED 1873 “SITUATION IS » HELD BETTER Difficulties in Some Localities Not Indicative of Gen- eral Situation RESERVE AGENTREPORTS Crop Movement Effected Wéthout Heavy Soil on Fed- eral Reserve System / Minneapolis, Nov. 27.—The crop » movement in the Northwest has been largely effected without heavy calls on the Federa] Reserve System by Northwest banks, according to the niontbly report of J. H. Rich, federal reserve agent for the Ninth district, Generally improyed banking condi- tions are reflected in the summary, which follows: “The credit situation as reflected by the condition of banks operating in this territory has apparently reached a turning point, The cus- tomary increase of loarls and de- posits; and Federal reserve note is- sues, incident to crop moving, has taken place. However, both country artd city banks were less dependent upon this Federal Reserve Bank or their other correspondents for loans or rediscount accommodation during October and the early part of No- vember. A large part of this im- pfovement was effected by city banks through the sales of security holdings while‘the country banks ap- parently were obtaining genuine li- auidation. & ‘That credit conditions have reach- ed a turning point is also indicated by a special survey made by this bank and completed this month cov- ering all beaks in the four compléte states contained in this district on comparable dates since 1919. Depos- its have been rising steadily since June, 1921, and loans, have been de- clining since Juné, 1920. However, some of the earning assets have been shifted to/rgal estate and other in- vestments. Nevertheless, the ratio of total invested funds to total de- posits has nearly reached par, there- by placing the operating banks in this territory in a better: statisti position than they have held at any time since 1919. The steady trend of deposits upward which lasted for about two years has finally influenc- ed the course of total invested funds in the same direction. Must View All “The fact that banking conditions in some localities have not been al- together satisfactory does not de- tract from the conclusion that the credit situation in general has im- proved. These isolated instances,of banking difficulties are typical sym- _ ptoms of the final stages of liquida- tion and the carly stages of loan ex- pansion, The fact that. substantial improvement has’ taken place is commonly overaeres for a time by the majority of people because their attention is distracted by more spec- tacular events of a docal character. “Business activity iu the cities of “this district during October as re- flected by individual debits at, banks, iucreased 10 per cent’ as compared with September and maintaiyed the levels of October a year ago, The increase during the month is to be accounted: for largely by a. heavy movement of livestock, improved re- tail trade in the citios, record-break- ing shipments of linseed products, a substantial westward movemeat of coal on the lakes, and well sustained output by lumber manufacturers. This improvement is noteworthy be- cause flour production in Mianeapo- lis reached the lowest point in any October since 1910, iron ore. mined declined 10 per cent, retail trade in country districts incréased less tham ‘a seasonal amount and fell 17 per cent below a year ago. while wnole- sale trade decliged in all lines ex- cept hardware and dry goods. Building Unchanged “Prospective business activity, as reflected by building permits grant- ed in the important cities of this territory, remains practically un- changed. As compared with last month there was an increase in the number of permits ‘and a decrease in the total valuation. This indicates an increasing proportion of smaller pro- jects, which reduces slightly the average building permit. To some extent this change is due to the pre- vailing. custom of planning. anore building projects at certain seasons of the’ year,than at others. This sea- sonal character of the construction industry should be modified consid- erably, both in the interest of social economy of our labor power and bus- ii equipment, and also in the financial interests of the builders themselves. Careful investigation shows that construction’ labor of all kinds is much more easily obtainable in the winter months and a selection of the more efficient igborers is care of all orders promptly without exacting premiums and ~architects and contractors are able to devote more time and attention to such pro- rms are eginning to quote a, preferential rate for -work arranged to be done in the dull months. ment to divert ‘all possible’ construc (Continued on Page 3) Such a move-) an ell percent and the fourth group spént 5 Officers of the Company Are BISMARCK, NORTH DAKOTA, WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 28, 1923 LIGNITE CASE CARRIED TO CONGRESS W, TABERT FAMILY IS PAID $20,000 Lees BY PUTNAM LUMBER CO. T0 SETTLE SUIT GROWING OUT OF BOY’S DEATH Exonerated in a Statement Issued by the «Father of the North Dakota Youth Flogged to Death in Sauthern Lumber Camp Langdon, N. D., Nov. 28.—Payment of $20,000 has been made by the Putnam Lumber Company of Wisconsin to the family of Martin Tab rt of Munich, N. D., who died in a con company tham, “whipping boss.” ‘Nixig payment has been accepted of its claims against tthe lumber avict labor camp conducted by the in Jlorida, following a flogging given by Walter Higginbo- by the Tabert family as settle:nent company, doing away with any necestity for court action, according to an announcement made today by: States Attorney G. Grimson of Cavaler county, who was instru mental in haviug Higginbotham brought to trial and convicted 01 | charge of second-degree murder and who has dince been representing nily on the negotiations with the Putnam the Tabert fa Compuny. The settlement will in no way af- fect the handling of the case of Hig- ginbotham, who ifas appcaled to the! Florida supreme court to have the! verdict of second degree murder found against hith sct aside. This! appeal will be strongly resisted, Mr. | Grimson said. | In a statement made by Benjamin ! Tabert, father of the flogging victim, | the president, director and other high officials of the Putnam Lumber | company, are exonerated from hav- | ing any wilful participation or guilty knowledge of Martin Tabert’s death. | Martin Tabert was arrested in Flor- | ida in January, 1922, and was farmed | out to the Putnam Lumber company under the convict leasing system then | in practice in a number of Florida | counties. He died in February, 1922, Nearly a year after his death ; his family, living near Munich, N. D., | received a letter from Glenn Thomp- son, a fellow prisoner, charging that | Tabert’s death was due to ill treat- j ment. | MILLION AND HALF DAMAGE DONEBY FIRE Six-Story Building Among Those Destroyed in De- troit, Michigan | Detroit, Mich, Nov. 28—Fire! starting from an overheated. stove in a watchman’s shanty early today de- stroyed the Detroit and Windsor Ferry Company docks housing Unit-) ed States emigration and° customs offices, spread to the six-story Mun- ger building which was burned to the ground and then destroyed a four-story warehouse and _ several smal] buildings on Woodward avenue and Bates street. When the fire was brought under control a few minutes after five o'clock this morning the total loss was estimated at $1,500,000. The warehouse of the Finsterwald Furniture Company was consymed by the flamgs, fanned by a brisk eas- terly breeze. The fire-swept section at the foot of Woodward avenue was one of the oldest in the city and some of the buildings burned had been standing fifty years. Three persons were injured one probably seriously. ' 6 ARRESTED Lumber ee LAWLESSNESS IS ASSAILED BY ATTORNEYS ays Nation-Wide Soirit of Disrespect For Law Calls For Stern Action RESOLUTIONS ADOPTS Would Have Conference of Peace Officers on Enforce- ment Throughout State The state’s attorney's conference called by Attorney-General Shafer early this afternoon adopted resolu- tions assailing a “nation-wide spirit of lawlessness and disrespect for the law” and urged that annual confer- ences be called hereafter by the At- torney-General. The resolutiens, reported by a committee headedby States Attorney Wineman of Grand Forks county, fol- low: That we highly commend Governor Nestos and Attorney-General Shafer for calling this conference and re- commend that # similar conference be held annually upon the call o the Attorney-General, That the present nation-wide spirit of lawlessness and disrespect for law and order is a challenge to America that demands action and attention by all good citizens and we emphatical- ly approve. the recent message of President Coolidge to the Conference of Governoysyat Weehington and en- dorse the “sentiments of Governor Nestos expressed to this conference on law enforcement and we heartily endorse the plans of Gevernor Nes tos and Attorney;General Shafer of holding conferences of states attor- neys, sheriffs and peace officers throughout the state in the interest of law enforcement. That no permanent organization be effected at this time but that in lieu thereof the Attorney-General appoint a legislative committee of five states attorneys to, make recom- mendations te the next conference of state's attorneys, |.” re That we highly commend and. ap- prove the splendid effort of the Fed- cral Prohibition @fficiala in North Dakota in thetenforcgment of the FOR ROBBERY New York, Nov. 28.—Six additional arrests of men suspected of partici- pating in the slaying and robbery of two Brooklyn bank messengers on November 14 were made today. Five were taken in a raid on, an apart- ment in the Bronx while Anthony Pantano accused of being the “tip off’ man for the gunmen was arrest- ed at his Brooklyn home, Barlow and Joseph Darmand, brothers, al- ready are in custody charged with murder and robbery: Trading in dog skins is-4 big en- terprise in Mongolia and Manchuria, —_— ‘ Fargo, N. D., Nov. 28:—Eight hun-! dred four dollars represents the to- tal cost of board on the averuge. North Dakota farm home during the year 1922, according to ~statistica ,compiled by Ruth Kennedy Willard, state agent in home management at jthe North Dakota Agricultural col- ' lege. Of this amount but 61 percent was produced on the farm, while 39 per cenb was purchased from grocery stores, meat markets or similar es- tablishments, The grotery bill vai ies. greatly on the different” farms from which costs were compiled, but 39 percent is the average amount ‘epent for this part of the total board | The farms) wereydivided into four ‘groups and it was found that. one ‘group spent 28 percent for groceries, Fr spent 36 percent, another 46 jpercent, making # grand average prohibition law and: that we assure the Federal Prohibition Officials of our hearty cooperation. i The morning session .was devoted chiefly to discussion of routine mat- ters which come before states at- torneys, punctuated . with. explana- tions by Henry Rende,, fire marshal, and Dr. A. A.- Whittemore, state health officer, of methods. by. which their edeinante and state’s attor- Neys can cooperate. Prohibition and the anti-cigarette law were discussed only incidentally as a part of the routine work of the attorneys. States Attorney Allen of Burleigh county declared that since cigarettes may not be sold in North Dakota but may be imported, the conference ought either to urge the (Continued on Page 3) AVERAGE ANNUAL BOARD BILL OF ‘DAKOTA FARMS IS SET AT $804 of 39 percent spent in cash outlay for eatables for the farm, table. These figures show that $312 went off the average farm toward the board bill, while the farm itself con- tributed but $492 to the table ex- pense, Of this $492 or 61 percent of the total, 16 percent or $79 is es- timated ias the Worth of the potatoes and similar vegetables raised on the farm; eight percent or $37 is allow- ed for the cost of beef used; 46’per- cent or $227 went for daify pro- ducts; 13 percent or $67-is allotted for perk and pork prodtcts coming from the farm; 17 percent or $85 is the value of eggs and poultry that the farm supplied to the table. The farms in some sections of the atate are growing but 47 percent of their eatables while in one other section of the state, 77 percent is raised on the farm. ,These differ- ences show that diversification in some sections of tHe state has not yet reached the point where it coul easily go, thinks Mrs. Willard. W.H. WEBBIS RE-ELECTED AS HEAD.OP A. OF C. Directors Name Other Officers to Carry on Association Work During Year BIG MEETING PLANNED, Great Civic ‘Gathering Is to’ Be Held on December 5° By Association W. H. Webb was re-elected presi- dent of the Association of Commerce in the annual meeting of the board | of directors held late yesterday. The re-election by the directors was us a result of the successful leadership of the organization during the past year by Mr. Webb, who was the first president of the new orgunization, ; Dr. N. O. Ramstad was clected first vice president, Burt Finney, second vice president; Edward B. Cox, treas- urer, and A. F. Bradley, secretary- manager. The directors, at their meeting, took action to turn a part of the an- nual meeting to be held on the even- ing of December 6 to the discussion of lignite coal and its future. A big program of speakers is plan- ned for the annual meeting, includ- ing Governor Nestos, former Gover- jnor L, B. Hania and Major Stanley Washburn, president of the North Dakota Lignite Coal Operators’ as- sociation, = It is planned to hold the annual meeting of the association at the city auditorium. It will be made a big civic meeting, with the general | public invited. Representatives of the press from Minnesota, South Da- kota and North Dakota will be invit- ed, and it is expected that represen: tatives of thé Tignite industry wit! be present from various parts of the state. It is planned to make the meeting one of the big civic events of the year. JUDGE YOUNG'S . | WILL FILED IN CASS COUNTY | Value of Estate Is Placed Not * to Exceed $300,000 in Petition Fargo, Nov. 28.—The will of .the late Judge N. C. Young, former chief justice of the North Dakota supreme court and petition for the appoint- ment of executors as provided for in the will‘were filed in the Cass coun- ty probate court today. Mrs. Ida V. Young signed the peti- tion which asked for the appointment of the First Nationa! Bank of Fargo, Horace Young and Clas, W. Spauld- ing Jr., as executors. The petition places the valuc of the state at not to exceed $300,000. Under the'terms of the will a trust fund of $150,000 is established, the income to be used by Mrs. Young during her lifetime. Bequests are made to several brothers and sisters of Judge Young. The residue of the estate is divided cqually between the children of Judge Young. MORO REVOLT IS BROKEN UP [Five Are Killed in Clash with Constabulary in Philippines Manila, Nov, 28.—(By the A. P.)— four Moros were killed in a clash with a constabulary detachment near Bayan in the province Lanao on the Island of Mindanao, according to a dispatch received here from the gov- ernor of the province. There were no casualties among the constabulary forces. The red flag, moral symbol/of unrest, has been raised in several sections of the province of Lanao. VESSELTO. BE RESTORED Jacksonville, Fla., Nov. 28— Judge Arthur RoWerts Call of the U. S. district court §n an opinion ,down today upheld the contention of members of the crew of the British auxiliary schooner Louise F. that the ves- sel was brought within the three mike limit against the wishes of officers. His. opinion says he will restore the vessebto its owners without bond under. writ which will follow. Federal agents had instit- uted proceedin, inst the ves- eel, cavars "Ehat she had deliv: ered liquor to Flerida coast. ~ Canads today sts of more thin 1000 fur farms.) bi J. D. of Europe Henry H. Deterding, director-gen- eral of the Royal Dutch Petroleum Co, often called the “oil king of Europe,” is in this country, It is not known any industrial significance. ’ LODGE, MAGNUS: MEET: PRAISE BACH OTHER nus Finds Him “Fine Fellow Is WALLACE CHALLENGED Washington, Nov. 28 — Senator Magnus Johnson of Minnesota called upon Senator Lodge in'com- pany with Senator Smoot. The two talked about genealogy, his- tory and pol for half an hour, although policies which divide the conversative Republicans and radi- cals were not referred to in the conversation. Senator Johnson told the Senate leader that he had always been a Republican, but that the Republi- cans in his State were not respon- sive enough to tht needs of the masses, and that he had.joined the Farmer-Labor Party. Incidentally, he revealed a conniction with New England through his wife, who is a lineal descendant of General Put- nam. As to his Republicanism, Senator Johnson assured the Republican leader that he had served “two ferms in the Minnesota Senate as a representative of that party, and was a delegate to the Repubjican Convention in 1916, where hé en- joyed Senator Lodge’s spgech very much, . A Happy Meeting Apparently, it was a very happy meeting. Senator Lodge said he was “greatly impressed” with his visitor, and the caller was equally complimentary, asserting that Sen- “fine gontle- The East and West, two’men ex- treme in politics and training, met, became better acquainted, and en- joyed meeting each other. TH meeting also knocked into the dis- card the ancient New England lyric to thé effect that while “the Low- ells talk te the Cabots, the Cabots |talk only to God.” Senator Johnson told Senator Lodge that he desired to be of ser- vice and to help in committee work so far as he was able. Senator Lodge then offered, on behalf of. the Republican organization, to provide committee places from the publican quota for Senator Johnson and his colleague, Senator (Continued on Page 3.) Union Services Will Be Held Here Tomorrow There will be a Union Thanksgiving Service at , the Presbyterian church at 10:30 a. m. Thursday, it was announced today. by Rev. S. F. Halfyard, who will preside. The program’is as fol- lows: : ' Hymn. Prayer, Dr. Ryerson. Solo, selected, George Humphreys. Scripture, reading. Offering. Reading of the Procla- mation, Rev. C.F. Strutz. , , Sermon, | Rev. L. R. Burns. . . y » Hymn, ‘America. ' Benediction. - &: . The pastors of the sey- ; on yy copeee ing in the program invite, all their, members, and - the general ‘public, to participate. responsive whether his ‘arrival has} KLAN FORCES FACE FIGHT IN — LEGISLATURE Having Taken Steps to Un- mask Klan, Legislature Con- siders Other Action ROLL PUBLICITY ASKED Senator, Admitting Self Mem- ber of Klan, Says no Fur- ther Legislation Oklahoma City, Nov. 28.—(By the Associated Press)—Having taken de- finite steps to unmask the Ku Klux Klan in Oklahoma, the upper house of the state legislature prepared to consider again today the bitterly contested question of membership in secret organizations. Action is ekpected on a motion presented by opponents of such leg- islation to eliminate from a propos- ed anti-Klan bill a section compell- ing officers of all secret organiza- tions in the state to file their names with the constituted authorities This clause represents the last of their sponsora’ proposals for a pro- vision to invest. stringent regulatory powers in the act by requiring ail such orders to reveal their complete membership rolls for public inspec- tion. All of the others have been defeat- ed by the concerted attack of the so- called “Klan faction.” It was said this condition prompted §enator Harry O. Glasser of Enid, a leader of the anti-Klan ferces, tovdeclare yes- terday ae convinced that the pre- ‘ sent tempter of the senate will not permit the passage of adequate anti- Klan legislation. In defending the organization in a brief speech just before adjourn- ment of yesterday's session, Senator Clyde Nichols of Eunatla, admitted he is a member of the Ku Klux Klan at Muskogee but declared that his oath to the Klan did not conflict with one to support constitutional gov- ernment, WALTON CASE CONTINUED Oklahoma City, Nov. 28.—(By the Associated Press)—Arraignment of J. C. Walton, former Governor, on six #hdictments charging diversion of public funds and dispersal of a meeting of the state legislature was continued today until Monday. The deposed’ executive was to have entered pleas this morning and the continuance was taken by agreement after it was found that four jury trials were docketed for today. GOLDEN RULE DAY ENDORSED Self-Denial to Aid Near East Relief Is Proposed Golden Rule Sunday, ‘sect for De- cember 2, was endorsed today by Governor Nestos (u a letter to A. J. McDougall, state director of Near East Relief work. The Governor id: ‘It gives mé genuine pleasure’ to endorse the proposal to observe Sun- day, December second, as Golden Rule Day and to urge upon the people that they evidence the spirit of thanksgiving by remembering those who are, in distress and more especially the hundred thousands Christian orphans that your, great organization is sheltering, clothing, and’ feeding in the Near East. “We need to have the Golden Rule brought to our attention with gxeat frequency. I am confident that if our people and our officials would make the Golden Rule dominant in their thoughts, words, and deeds that it would not only helpfully trans- form the lives of the individuals but it would do more than anything else to~restore industrial and ecdnomic peaee at home and insure peace and progress in international affairs, The-| universal observance of the Golden Rule alone can secure and insure the prosperity, happiness and welfare of our people. “May the day be generally ¢éle- brated and your labors for the suf- fering and down trodden be crowned with great success.” BRADDOCK _ STORE ROBBED $500 Worth of Merchandise, Some Cash Is Obtained Braddock, N. D., Nov. 28.<Automo- bile robbers entered the store of the | L. M. Doerschlag company, bone of the largest general stores in Em- mons county, last night, worked the combination on the \safe, got about $30 in money and hauled away about $500 worth of merchandise, according to J. D. McCusker, manager, . The robbery was not discovered until this morning. Robbers, it is. believ- ed, effected entrante witha skeleton key through the main entrance. — * NEW PRESIDENT } dent of the George Washington Uni- v Washington, D. C. Many prominent government offici: oducators attended his inductio to office. UTILITY RATE REBATE MAY BE ORDERED HERE Additional Importance At- tached to Hughes Electric Case as Result of Delay BOND WAS’ REQUIREP Utility Required to Put Up $10,000 Bond when it Stop- ped Hearing by Injunction Additional importance to consum- ers attaches to the hearing by the railroad commission on the rates, charges and practices of the Hughes Electric ‘Company of this city, sét for December 17, because of the fact that consumers may obtain rebate of any charge found to have been ex- cessive during the past year, in the opinion of officials connected with the case. The petition for a reduction in rates was filed a year ago. An junction was obtained by the utility to prevent a hearing before the rail- road commission which ordered a hearing to determine whether or not the rates were just and fair to on- sumers. The court required a bond of $10,000 from the utility to protect the consumers and to repay them any excess charges found to have existed from the time of issuance of the in- junction. The case, which involved the valid- ity of the public utility laws, went to the supreme court and the court upheld the laws. Subsequently the injunction was lifted in district court. The ,mattes is now ordered for hearing. Whether the bond con- inued beyond the time of the dis- ing of the injunction is said to be in debate. The practice followed in‘ previous cases in Grand Forks and Fargo was that rebates were ordered over a ¢ siderable period, when the rate he ¢ was tied up in court for a con- siderable period, Commissioner Mc- Donnell of the railroad commission said today. In response to inquiry on behalf of consumers as to wheth- er or not it is necessary to file a protest against rates, or a demand for a rebate, in order to get it in the event rates are reduced, Commis- sioner McDonnell said this was not necessary. The railroad commission’: order would cover the back period. It is possible that the rebates order- ed might exceed the bond of $10,000. The case is expected to be hard fought both by the utility and on be- half of the consumers, involving the testimony of experts for the com- pany and the report of accountants and engineers for the railroad com- mission. BANK CLOSED. St. Paul, Nov. 28,—The First State Bank of Moorhead was ordered closed today by the state banking depart- ment it was announced, ~ The bank which had deposits ag- gregating $400,000 at the time of closing ‘had a ital stock of $60,- 000. Frozen as: and depleted re- serves were given as the reason for the closing. . PIONEER DIES. Fargo, Nov. 28.—Joseph Mcintyre, a resident of North. Dakota since 1876, died at his farm home at Maple- ton last night. Death was due to a stroke of paralysis ywhich occurred last Friday. Mr, McIntyre was born, on*May 24, 1847, in Welland county, Ontario. “He was 29 years old when he came to Cass county. , . NO TRIBUNE " THURSDAY Thursday being. Thanksgiving Day and a national and state holi- day, “there will be no iaitiee of The Tribune ui ‘ PRICE FIVE CENTS PRESIDENT IS ASKED T0 AID LIGNITE FIGHT Requested by Governor to Urge Congressional Inves- tigation of Rate Boost ’ SEEK MOTIVES FOR IT Telegram Asks Investigation to Uncover “Mysterious Influences” at Work President Coolidge was asked by Governor Nestos, in a telegraphic statement last night, to urge a con- gressional investigation of the at- tempt of railroads to boost lignite coal rates 45 to 65 per cent. He de- elared the question was more far- reaching than lignite rates merely, involving the economic future of the state and the determination of whether or not it can be halted at any time by pressure of eastern in- terests to raise freight rates to check the lignite industry. The governor Géclared that the sit- uation constitutes “an emergency vitally affecting the industria] future of the state and for this reason hv deems it his duty to place it béfore the president, ~~ ‘ The railroads, he said, had declined to withdraw the new lignite tariffs which they filed and which were sus- pended temporarily by the state rail- road commi: n and Interstate Commerce Commission pending hear- ings. He cited the telegram of one traffic manager of a Northwestern road to the effect that the increas« was’ made because of .“instructions from “our connecting lines.” “The promise apparently is thal rates must be fixed to enable cou/ coming ‘from twelve hundred or two thousand miles to. compete with 1 home product which-in the case of the Twin C: travels only five hun. dred miles. It seems to us of the Northwest that this action in regard’ to rates is taken chiefly to protect the market for. eastern coal of which- there is nearly twelve million tons at the Duluth docks being a surplus of nearly five .million tons above the five yédt average and that such course, is unfair to the people of, North Dakota who are seeking to de- velop one of its natural resources and unfair also to the Northwest which needs our coal. It is clear while lignite coal is being sold in the Twin Cities in carload lots between five dollars and six dolars a ton that it is impossible for eastern coal in- terests to advance their prices above the present range which they might do if this competitor were destroyed by excessive-freight rates. As I have stated the Interstate Commerce Com- mission has suspended these rates. The péople of the Northwest have an implicit confidence in the character and fairness of thls board and doubt not that we will secure justice through this medium. It is because we believe, however, that there,is a great and economic principle involved more far reaching both as to North Dakota and the nation than the rates on lignite coal that on behalf of my s citizens, and this industry I respectfully urge the wisdom ‘of a congressional investigation to ascer- taih, first, who are these mysterious ‘connecting lines’ who have the pow- er and authority to instruct. our Northwestern roads to institute a rate which if sustained would. end the development of one of North Da- kota’s greatest assets, and secondly, what mysterious influences are at work in the east or elsewhere which by forcing high freight rates on North Dakota coal can exact from the people of the Northwest one dol- lar to two dollars more per ton for their Goal. It. must be apparent that no for- cign capital will be invested in North kota coal development or any other industry based on coal while the bellef prevails that the moment, any industry created in North Dakota begins to grow it ‘can and will be strangled by rates arbitrarily fixed at the bequests of mysterious forces as soon @§ the product of these in- _ dustries threaten losses to any east- ern competitor such increase of rates may suddenly. deprive North Dakota f inheritance in natural re sources and its geographical location in regard to its own markets. If the Dakotas and eastern Montana, under whose prairies live one-third of the total coal areas of the United States, are not permitted to supply the Northwest, then the advice from our eastern friends to diversify is large- ly a hollow. pretence and = mockery, It is because I deem fairness in com- petition to be a vital facter in es- tablishing @ permanent prosperity not only in North Dakota but. throughout the West that I presume to ask you as chief executive of this great nation td Urge Congress: that ac ional committee be ap- Pointed to determine how such: con- ditions as these described above can be brought: aboat and to devise-ways and mesus to enable the Northwest to gather the fruits of its natural in- heritence: within its natural:markets without, molestation by © interests whose headquartérs are two Sighcor oi : the lems. railroads and the difficulties. which they.| have. labored. “We. have tried to ¢liminate unfair <critt- ciam ond unfsir action toward them, (Demunued on Page 8). =