The Nonpartisan Leader Newspaper, October 7, 1915, Page 6

TR - e s — S N T B O N e e R R RSN THE NONPART THE NONPARTISAN LEADER| Official Organ of the Nonpartisan League of North Dakota. PAGE SIX A S L o O T Y O el R i P T e D S S H., E. Behrens .o i i sldol siiaaint Jaidito e ot b Editor and Manager Application made for admission to the mails as second class matter. Advertising rates on application. Subscriptions, one year, in advance, $1.50. Address, Box 919, Fargo, North Dakota. The Leader solicits advertisements of meritorious articles needed by farmers. Quack, fraudulent and irresponsible firms are not knowingly ad- vertised, and we will take it as a favor if any readers will advise us promptly should they have occasion to doubt or question the reliability of any firm which patronizes our advertising columns. Discriminating advertisers recognize The Nonpartisan Leader as the best medium in the state of North Dakota through which to reach the wide- awake and up-to-date farmers. 3 NONPARTISAN is the pelitician-—and those who help pay his campaign bills. That is the reason that they cling to partisan poli- tics—they gain by it. They don’t stick to parties from the standpoint of prin- ciples. They do it because it is profitable—to them. The elder Rockefeller is reported to have once said, “We contribute to the Republican campaign fund in a Republican state, to the Demo- cratic campaign fund in a Democratic state, and in a ‘doubtful’ state, we contribute to both.’ That was pleasing to both Democratic and Republican poli- ticians.. But wherein could the average voter gain by such meth- ods? About all the average voters get is a chance to shout over the results—if “his side wins.” ' T HE only person who ever gains anything in party politics This great truth is working its way into the brain of a lot|’ of people. The day is not far distant when large droves of aver- age voters are going to jump the political fences and scatter where they please. There is only one rule to govern the conduct of voters. And| that rule is that each voter should vote in his own interest. regardless of party. There is such a thing as a difference of in- terests. It is to the interest of the grain gambler that he get , wheat as cheaply as possible. It is to the interest of the farmer. that he:get as high a price as possible. Upon what grounds then. can the farmer and the grain gambler vote the same ticket? THE INEQUALIZATION BOARD. its duties—to the railroads. The railroads registered a kick agamst the tax as- sesstnent levied against them. The board felt the kick and promptly lowered the assessment’ to the tune of a quarter of a million dollars. For this kmdly favor the railroads will doubt- less give thanks and— ‘This is the way this inequilization board equalizes things: The state tax commission estimates. that the railroads are assessed 18.75 per cent of their actual valuation. It also esti- mates that real property is assessed at 25.36 per cent of its actual valuation. < And they call themselves an equalization board! And they T HE so-called equalization board of thls state has performed will proclaim their heart-touching friendliness to the “dear com-| mon people.” Will the people believe them? Put those figures down side by side and look at them. Railroads 18.75 per cent of their actual valuation. Farm lands 25.86 per cent of their actual valuation. And this is equalization—the kind the rallroads like. Put it this way: The increased taxes levied against the state is approx:matelj. $3,000,000. Of thls sum 10-13ths or :$2,300,000 will be borne by the farmers. Does it pay to own and control public officials. The - rail- roads think so. The figures prove it:- Suppose the farmers try it? AFRAID TO GO HOME IN THE DARK among soldiers in the ranks, what is the reason that it is SO rare among men in-public 11fe'7 : : : Yet there is no other place where cowardice is commoner fulness. Look at Theodore Roosevelt One great reason: for hls ‘tre- mendous hold upon his fellow countrymen is that ‘he never is| ———————-———.-—-—' afraid and all men know it. ‘Whether they agree with h1m or| not they see and admire hzs courage. ; together unless the sheep were msxde the wolves'? & ISAN LEADER : Today against the preJudxces of the great majority of the people ‘he is trying to bring home to them what he believes are the disagreeable facts about their situation, upsettlng all thelr previous beliefs and fancied security. It takes courage to do that; scarcely another public man would do it. : Yet what is there to be afraid of? If Colonel Roosevelt is wrong the people of this country will never adopt his plan. and how can we know whether his plan is right or wrong unless it is announced and discussed? What'’s the use of being a white rabblt when you can just as well be a man and-walk uprlght‘? i : IS THIS BUSINESS? the state press last week, which should provoke a few, __questions. So far it has slipped by without any very, great embarrassment. The pith of the:dispatch is that the State of North Dakota receiver. It is not making running expenses. Indeed the ex- penditures for the first eight months of 1915 exceeded by more than 21 per cent that of the first eight months of 1913. And this has happened under a “wise and economical busi- ness administration” too. This has happened with a banker—a successful banker—in the governor’s chair and many lawyers, bankers and busmessmen in the legislature and other state of- fices. Of course, none but successful businessmen can nge us “wise, safe and sane, economical administrations.” Without doubt the slogan for the next state campaign will be “retrenchment and economy.” USE PLENTY OF SALT. followers when it becomes known how large a proposition the Nonpartisan League is. Even at this stage of the game there is a large aggregation of state papers, of all classes, colors and complexions, that are doing considerable damage to the inside of partisan pasture. But it is well to look for the lariat ropes that have those fellows staked down in the gang-pasture. "Vultures follow the battles for the carcasses they may pick. Munition manufacturers shout for war for the same reason. Her- maphroditic politicians follow the big crowds for a like reason. Keep a weather eye on the fellow who has a sudden and alarming change (?) of heart. It is more than hkely that he is fakmg He may be ducking the hail storm. ~These things happened in the palmy days of the Populist movement. Ringed; streaked, striped and speckled politicians flocked to its ranks—and then gently but firmly led it back to the slaughter house. As the late lamented Progressive party izathered momentum the rich and powerful donned the masque of the moose—then suddenly answered the trumpetings of the elephant with a rush that would make a' Texas stampede look like a sack race at a country Fourth of-July celebration. So, Leaguers should keep a large chunk or rock salt in a handy vplace. = When they see a -gushy editorial in a wobbly paper, singing a serenade to the Nonpartisan League, just pul- verize a hunk of the aforesaid-salt with a spike maul, make a brine of it that will float a double-yolked goose egg and soak said editorial in it for a fortnight, and then it will be safe reading. Let those who care to, climb aboard, provided they pay the fare, but assign them a seat in the steerage. -Don’t let them mon- key with the steering gear nor fiddle with the pilot wheel. Keep a close watch on your chart and remember the rocks on which other crafts have hung up. Stop your ears to all seducing appeals, hints and suggestions and glue your eyes to your own J{ port of entry. The waters are infested. with submarines and’ planted with torpedoes Once you lose your courage your barque : _ ‘ will become disabled and you will have to be towed to an unknown' i HEN courage has been demonstrated to be so common |harbor. " w “Sit tight” and go dead deaf to the siren call and stone blind to the brilliant signal. Your course is straight ahead. Once you‘ lose your courage you will drift into the Sargasso sea of pohtlcal« or where it wrecks so many careers and destoys so much use-|Wreckage and the political pirates will glomm the spoil annd ; much guffawmg and merriment. “Sxt tlght” ‘and remember the salt: Who ever heard ‘of wolves and sheep lymg dOWn pea E NEWS: dispatch with a- Bismarck date line appeared in. is busted. As far as its strong box is concerned it is ready for a~ I T Will be interesting to watch the wild scramble of the camp their pant legs by hobbling along a-straddle of the barbed-wire fence.” It looks good over in‘the grassy meadows of the Non-