The Nonpartisan Leader Newspaper, January 27, 1916, Page 4

\ ot e e T e 3 Marking another year of exception- al progress and prosperity, the:stock- holders of the Equity Cooperative exchange met in ammual conhvention in Fargo last week. Outstanding features of the big meeting were the reelection of all officers' and direct- ors whose terms of office had, expir- ed, a vote of confidence and en- couragement for those directing the destinies of the organization, a decid- ed stand against preparedness-for-war programs now advocated, indorsement of the Farmers’ Nonpartisan Politi- cal league, its program and its offi- cial organ, the Nonpartisan Leader, and a demand that the national ad- ministration fulfill its preelection pledge to stop gambling in and: other vicious gmctices concerning the hand- ling- and marketing of the products of the soil. Equity farmers took Fargo by storm and with hundreds of other farmers in the: city for the Tri-State Grain Growers’ association conven- tion, held at the same time, taxed the capacity of hotels. Officers Reelected: - The Equity reelected; J. M: Ander- son, president; Magnus Johnson, vice- presidernit;-and, G: A. Thiel, secretary- treasurer. Directors: reelected were Louis Noltimer of Valley City, J. C. Leum of Mayville and Nels Magnu- son of Sowuris: - The presence of George S. Loftus; salesmarager for the Equity, was the occasion of a great ovation. Mr. Lof- ‘tus’ health broke down several months: ago and for weeks: his life-was des- paired of.. Hailed as the greatest fighter the Equity ever had he was the subjeet of a special set of resolu- tions of encouragement and indorse- ment adopted by the stockholders. Mr. Loftus was able to take no part in the convention, as he is not fully recovered from his .illness and his trip to the floor of the convention taxed his strength:. He spent most of his time in Fargo in:bed at the Gardner hotel, continuously the cen- ter of a reception line of admiring friends and Equity workers. The main feature of President An- derson’s report reviewing the year’s work and outlining activities of the future was the statement that he Equity Exchange now has assets of over $1,000,000. The resolution denouncing prepar- €dness was couched in no uncertain: words. =~ The stockholders believe frenzied preparedness is what caused the great European war and think that military and naval expenditures: of the past in the-United States will give ample preparedness for this country if economically and wisely expended. Indorse LaFollette The candidacy of Robert LaFol- lette_of Wisconsin for president of the United States was indorsed, his name being presented by Former ‘Congressman g neapolis, attorney for the American Society of Equity. A committee was appointed to canvass the delegates for contributions to a fund to boost LaFollette’s candidacy in North Da- kota and over $500 raised and turned over to William Langer of Mandan, secretary of the Progressive-Repub- lican league of the state. Resoultions were passed, favoring William Olson of Valley City as demo- cratic national committeeman and William Lempke of Fargo as republi- can national committeeman for North Dakota. The other resolutions adopted were as follows: - ) Praise Loftus . “Resolved, That our trials and e successes during the past year have - -strengthened our faith in ‘the prin- g:lple of cooperation. We are winning: in a hard centest not yet::concluded. We are proud of our position now: .an‘(‘l confident of success in the future. . ‘The only thing that mars our per- fect satisfaction is. the absepce from _qur deliberations of George S. Loftus. When our difficulties were most crush- ing and: our future ve dark he gave his strength and, :K)quence in -such. unstinted - measures . that his health broke and he went down on the firing line and. for many weeks was very close to death. ‘He is gain- 'ixlligtstrength and all of us rejoice in “that, 9 : “When. Loftus was stricken with- -out notice and' at' a critical hour for the company, a: stupendous burdem was suddenly thrown upon our presi- dent, J. M." Anderson. He had to ‘meet new and unexpected = duties: ‘He had to carry burdens of business -every' day increasing ‘because of the great. campai of ‘'shipments: that had, been made. As never before, -J.-M. Anderson justified his place as president. He made good. But the ; - ~campaign of Loftus and the work of ‘Anderson‘ could not have succeeded bad. not_each and every point been - sustained by a loyal and determined Jboard of direetors. When the company THE NONPARTISAN LEADER State 'Equi'ty Holds Big Convention in Fargo Nonpartisan League, I?_"dj)érfand Program Indorsed-- Old Officers Reelected--Preparedness for War De- nounced--Demand Made On United States to Abate Gambling in Foodstuffs, Eic. was in danger, these men did not hesitate to throw in the hazard their property and reputation. Credit to Directors “They gave their credit as well as their time unsparingly and un- grudgingly. As stockholders we know. we can never pay Louis Nolti- mier, F. B. Wood, Magnus Johnson, *Nels Olson uson, J. C. Beig, O. M. J.. C. Leum and J. F. Kelly for their service to us. “Nor shall we forget that men who for war for their own greedy ends. ‘Therefore, Be it resolved that we record our unequivocal and unalter- able condemnation of the big busi- ness of enterprises an jingoes who ad- vocate enormous expenditures of the ,people’s money for thir own private gain, and further “Be it resolved, That we oppose the expenditure of more money than has heretofore annually been expend- ed for the maintainance for our army and navy; believing these appropria- ames Manahan of Min-- were: not. officers or directors, like tions to be: abundantly adequate if Equity Stockholders Take Frim Stand Extracts from resolutions adopted: by thé- steck- holders of the Equity Cooperative exchange at tonven- tion in Fargo: s it “We heartily endorse state-owned terminal: eleva- tors, single tax on land, state hail insurance at cost and: state rural credits as advocated by the Farmers’ Non- - partisan Political league of North: Dakota and its offi- ~_ctal- organ, the Nonpartisan Leader, which: we heartily commend for its intelligent and courageous.stand against Special plivilege.” “We call upon the national administration to make good its preelection promises to eliminate gambling in foodstuffs and other vicious practices of the Minne- apolis: Chamber of Commerc and we condemn in the strongest terms the refusal and failure of the attorney general of the United States to take action to abate said vicious monopoly.” “We oppose the expenditure of more money than has heretofore annually> been expended for the main- , tenance of our army and navy, believing these appro- - priations to be abundantly adequate if economically ~ used, and we commend the stand Congressmen Helgesen, Norton and Young for their position on this question as well as on grain legislation.” “We are heartily in favor of national constitutional prohibition and will do all within our power to secure the adoption of an amendment to the constitution for- ever prohibiting the sale, manufacture for sale, trans- portation for sale, importation for sale and exportation for sale of intoxicting liquors for beverage purposes in the United States, in accordance with the joint resolu- tion introduced in the United States senate by Senators Morris, Sheppard and Jacob H. Gallinger, and in the house by Representatives Edwin Y. Webb and Addison Smith.” “We stand together for the selection of a platform that will make cooperation succeed, regardless of our personal politics or friendships; the cooperative move- ment is of more importance than any individual and on it rests the fututre comforts of our farmers and their families.” ; L4 Bill Olson, who pledged their for- tunes to the credit of the company.” Commend Herald economically and - judiciously used, and we commend the stand of Con- gressmen Helgeson, Norton and, Young “Resolved, That we commend the fearless attitude of our official or- gan, the Cooprators’ Herald, in its _splendid fight against greed and priy- ilege in favor of open markets. It has earned the right to the fullest confidence of the- farmers and pro- ducers of the Northwest and should be read by every farmer. We pledge our hearty support to any legitimate means of increasing its circulation and influence.” Support League “Resolved, That we favor public ownershi of pulic utilities and that we %eartily endorse state-owned terminal elevators , single tax on land, state hail insurance at cost and state rural credit as advocated by the Farmers’ Nonpartisan Political league of North Dakota and their official organ, the Nonpartisan Lead- er, which we heartily commend for its intelligent and courageous stand against speecial privilege.” Oppose Preparedness “Whereas, the war in Europe with all its carnage, strife and bloodshed is a.shock to civilization and contrary to our desires for brotherhood and humanitarian instincts, and “Whereas, we believe the irepared- qess of European nations ‘has been responsibe for this stupendous catas- trophy: which has torn the world with: the. plow-share of .disaster, and “Whereas, certain powerful finan- cial influences in the: United States whose . business: is the manufacture of arms and ammunition and other commodities of war, seems to have caught the spirit, and’ are clamoring for their position on this question, as well as on grain legislation.” Score Gambling “Whereas, mitted to the attorney general of the United States showing that the-. chamber of Commerce of Minneapolis and its members were in wanton and flagrant violation of the Sherman anti-trust law, and “Whereas, the extortionate and un- lawful practice of the grain trust has been unbearable, and “Whereas, ~ by an order effective January 11 said Minneapolis Chamber in effect prohibited any member of its association under' penalty of ex- pulsion from buying and handling any grain consigned to the Farmers' Cooperative market -of St. Paul, thereby attempting to restore ‘the complete monopoly once enjoyed:ik said association in handling graim:iat Minneapolis, ¥ ! “Be it resolved, That we call upen: the national. admistration to make good its preelection promises *“to eliminate gambling in foodstuffs and other vicious practices of said; Cham- ber of .Commerce, and further that we condemn in the strongest terms the refusal and failure of the attor-~ ney general of the United States to said vicious ) That we call upon said: officials to abandon'the present pre- tended investigation policy and ‘de- take action to abate monopoly. lay and to take action at once.” Appreciate Service “Resolved, That we greatly more than two years.. % ident. ago full and complete proof was sub- oar, president, "lutions consisted of E. ‘ by their ER preciate the efficient” service of tll:e_ Equitable Auditing company to our organization, and wish to call spec- ial attention to the competent and fearless manner. in which Mr. That- cher, its president, conducts his work.” . Approve “Dry” Nation Resolved, That we are in hearty favor of national constitutional pro- hibition and we will do all within our power to secure the adoption of an amendment to the constitution for- ever prohibiting the sale, manufac- ture for sale; transportation for sqte, importation for sale and exportation ‘for sale of intexicating liquors for beverage purposes in the United States, in' accordance with the joint resolution introduced in the United States. senate by - Senators Morris; Sheppard and Jacob: Gallinger, and: in the House by Edwin: W. Webb and Addison’ Smith.” Elect' Committee “Resolved, That the committee, consisting of J. E. Kelly, Pierre, S. D., Magnus Johnson, Kim- ball, Minn., D: H. Mahoney, Ciroqua, Wis., M. ‘P.. Johnson, Tolley, N. D., H. G. Solem, Baltic, S. D., and J.. M. Anderson, St. Paul, Minn,, be elected for two years.” ; Endorse Society “Resolved;. That insofar as the Equity Coeperative exchange. has ac- tually obtained: more profitable prices for the producers:of grain, we hex:eby endorse: the efforts of the American Society: of Equity to establish a di- rect marketing and buying depart- ment whereby moré equitable prices are to be obtained: to' both vroducer and consumer in all agricultural pro- .ducts.” legislative Boost State Union “Whereas, the . now prosperous ° Equity exchange is the outgrowth of - the life work of the State union of the American Equity and its local union, e “Be it resolved, That it is l?:he duty of every Equity man to assist in rebuilding the State Union that it may initiate more enterprises. The men here should follow the recommen- dations of the union, as only by in- creased strength can we accomplish “thé ‘best results.” Stand By Agencies “Whereas, the marketing of live stock is a very important factor in the profits of the Northwest farmers,’ “Be it resolved, That we stand by our authorized representatives at the. live stock markets until we have es- tabiished marketing machinery through racking houses and selling agencies of our own.” ETh ey For Cooperation “Resolved, that we stand together for ‘the’ selection of a platform that will make cooperation succeed, re- gardless of personal polities or friend- ship; that the cooperative movement is of more importance than any in= dividual and on its rests the future comforts of -our farmers and their families.” . Against Storage Charge 3 “Resolved, That we condemn the proposition initiated by the Grain Bulletin of the Chamber of Commerce of Minneapolis to compel elevator companies in the state of North Da- kota torcharge a rate of storage or- dered by the railroad commission of the state of North Dakota, for the reason that we believe each farmers’ elevator is capable of conducting its own business and hereby suggest that J. M. ‘Anderson, ap- “point a committee of three to wait on said railroad commission to protest agaist the establishing of any rate by said commission.” : On Committee The committee which drew up reso- Bowman, chairman, Charles Arlt,.John Havren, N. O. Hagen, William Lempke and M. P. Johnson. ; = 2 i Dividend Declared An accumulative dividend of 8 per cent was announced, by President An- derson. The accumulative feature means that all stockholders on rec- ord up to August 1, 1915, will share in the profit .on thes stock from its date of issue, some of it dating back to 1911. The dividend amounts to: $9000, it is understood. President Anderson announced a net surplus: of $63,000. Dividend checks will be dis- tributed February 1. PARTY FIRST, IS MOTTO The' Grand "Forks Herald asserts editorially that ‘those not satisfied with. belonging. to the republican; democrat or cocialist parties should - organize a party of their own and not attempt to spoil well laid plans. nohpartisanship. = Party. first is the motto of every political machine.—Powers ‘Lake Echo.