The Nonpartisan Leader Newspaper, January 27, 1916, Page 8

EIGHT Will B. Crafty’s headquarters was colsed so tight that not a ray of light entered and not a breath of fresh air penetrated. A round shade caused the single electric drop to cast a lurid disk of light squarely upon the boss’ desk. Two bulky forms sat, one on either side of the desk, partialy in the bright disk and partly in the shadow. The two forms leaned across the desk and two heads almost met at an_apex. i There was a low mumbling of voices—so low that at times they were merged into a whisper. Start the Dictagraph Suddenly Slipry’s voice rose strong enaugh to vibrate the dictagraph: “But Craft, listen to what I ’m tellin’ you,” Slipry urged punching his puggy finger against Crafty’s large chest. “When it comes to ex- Eerience in this game I'm willin’ to and it to you. But I'm gona insist that I've got a better line-up in the present situation in this state than you have.” Crafty flushed slightly, drew down his brows and bit his lip. “I've been out over this state for two months now and I'm tellin’ you it’s the bluest lookin’ proposition I ever went up against. Of course I’ve tried to throw punch and ginger in- to Dodger an’ the rest of the boys, but I'm tellin’ you there ain’t noth- ing to punch an’ nothin’ to ginger.” “What the devil is the matter?” exploded Crafty in a huff, while Slip- ry’s cone shaped head bobbed with emphasis. “The matter is just this,” continu- ed Slipry, still bobbing his head, while the short thin hair stood up like stubble, “the matter is just this; the farmers of this—” “Dan the Farmers” “0, dam .the farmers,” snorted Crafty, straightening up while his 'THE NONPARTISAN LEADER Crafty Gets the Cold, Hard Truth From Slipry Heart to Heart Talk Between the Two Politicians Shows That Banker Has Lost His Hold On the Far- mer, the Country Newspaper Editor Is Waking Up and the Business Man Slipping. By N. P. DICTAGRAPH beady eyes. snapped and his lips formed a cynicle curve. “I said cut out the farmers, I said forget the - farmers, I said go after the business men and the bankers and now here you come sniffling around here about the farmers again.” Slipry waited in confidence and perfect poise. When Crafty had subsided he proceded in the same forceful manner. “Exactly so,” he said, leaning far over the desk and looking Crafty square in the eye, “exactly so Crafty, but you’re assuming that the busi- ness men and the bankers hold the whip hand ever ‘the farmers as they one time did. But I'm tellin’ you that they don’t. I'm tellin’ you that the farmers will not listen to the bankers as they once did. Not only so, but the banker an’ the business men are not so anxious to apply the pressure as they one time were. On the con- trary they are inclning to the side of the farmers. Especially is this true of the country newspapers. These men will swear that they would like to do just as we say, but will shrug their shoulders and add that they cannot afford to split with the farm- ers. Their very existance depends on the farmers and the farmers have got this into their nut an’ by the eternal it begins to look like the farmers held the whip hand.” Will B. Crafty’s face during this recitation had cl{anged from a florid to a dark purple, then to a deathly white and finally for the first time in the long career of the big boss as- sumed an expression of puzzled per- plexity. Farmers’ Know Enemy “Now, here’s an example,” went on Slipry,- still leaning across the desk, while great drops of prespiration stood .out like dewdrops on his long, sloping forehead. “At one place I visited this week the editor of the local paper told me, almost with tears in his eyes, that some time ago he took a shot at this new farmers or- ganization. No sooner was the paper out than in came a farmer with fire in his eyes and terror in his voice. He did not say much, but what he did say went home like cold lead. ‘How much do I owe you on this sheet? he asked pulling out his wal- let. The editor told him and he planked down the money and then said, ‘Now you can stop the durn thing,’ and walked out. In a little while another came in and did the same thing, and still another, and an-- other, and some phoned in and order- ed the paper stopped, so that by the end of four days more than a dozen of his old friends and patrons had cut off their subscriptions.” While Slipry paused to mop his prespiring forehead, Crafty sat en- shrouded in gloom, while his fat fin- gers plucked at the corner of his drooping mustache. “Now that fellow,” went on Slipry, “has got every bit of the fight squelched out of him. He wouldn’t fight a rabbit. In fact he is inclined to try to patch up matters a little by siding with the farmers. An’ can you blame him? Do you expect him to take the very bread out of his own mouth?” “Bread, thunder!” roared Crafty. “We’ll furnish him bread and cake too, if he wants it. What does ten or twelve subscribers amount to? Noth- ing, I tell you, not that!” and he snapped his finger a fat, weak snap. Slipry was patiently waiting and breathing hard. Waking to Politicians Game “But that don’t last year in an’ year out and, from campaign year to cam- paig year, an’ he knows it. To tell you, the cold ‘truth these little fellows are comnig to realize that they get very little for supporting our men, They even charge that the big papers cop off the coin and they are suppos- ed to do the office-boy stunt for noth- ing—just for old party sake. As one fellow told me, the bulk of their support comes from the local busi- - ness men for advertising, who in turn - depend upon the farmers for patron- age. “And Crafty,” he said firmly, tap- ping gently on the desk with his knuckles, “if these three fellows find out (that is the country editor, the little business man and the farmer); I say if thse three fellows find out that their interests are interlocked and bound up together, I’ll tell you Craft, we just as well go to Hot Springs an’ get it boiled out of our systems.” Crafty put out his hand and Slipry leaned back till his head was just out- side the light disk. “You make me sick, Slip,” said Crafty, pushing back his chair. “It’s a sickly proposition,” replied the suave Slipry, “but I can’t help it.” Crafty put on his soft, felt hat, opened a cigar case, passed it to Slipry and they both lighted cigars. “Well, stick to the ship, Slipry,” said Crafty. with a sickly grin, “till I see you. again,” and he turned out the light. Progressive Democrats Attending Equity Meeting Pass Ringing Resolutions The progressive democratic mem- bers and stockholders of the Equity Cpoperative Exchange, which held ses- sions in Fargo during the Tri-State Grain Growers’ convention, held a meeting, elected officers and passed a set of ringing and progressive reso- lutions. The permanent of the league are: Chairman, J. C. Crites, Lisbon, N. Dak.; Secy.-Treas., A. H. ¥reie, Berlin, N. Dak. The committee on resolutions were: L. L. Stair, P. M. Casey, J. E. An- derson, A. E. Raney and J. C. Crites. The resolutions follow: We are in favor of legislation by the Congress of the United States that will protect the producer of agricultural products against the evils that now surround and domin- ate the grading and marketing of the products of the farms and ranges of the country. We, therefore, demand that Con- gress accord to the farmer and pro- ducer the same privilege, aid and Pprotection that is now accorded to the financier and banker, under the rovisions of the regional reserve anking laws. The government has wisely assum- ed the burden of lending its aid and credit to the financier. We demand khat laws be enacted that will give financial aid and backing to the farmer in the marketing of his grain, to the end that he be emancipated Jrom the clutches of the professional gamblers who have organized and con- irol gigantic combinations commonly known as Chamber of Commerce, Board of Trade, and various other high-sounding names. - We, therefore, demand that the credit of the United. States govern- ment be used to enable the producers of non-perishable farm products to obtain warehouse, shipping and mar- keting facilities for storing, grading Bnd marketing their produce. Let fhere be issued four per cent (4 per cent) bonds guaranteed by the gov- ernment and secured by a first lien upon the warehouses so acquired. Let these bonds be available to any asso- ciation of producers that shall com- ply with regulations similar in prin- ciple to the regulations governing the control of the regional reserve bank, hut applicable to the market- ing and storage of farm products. That Congress establish a “national commission whose duty it. shall be to ‘formulate standards of grades, weights and measures and that legal tender government notes be author- ized and loaned direct to the producer apon the security of stored nonper- ishable farm products. We stand ready to secure our loans upon the most stable and liquid form of security, to-wit: of life, against the commereial paper officers The necessaries. offered by the banks. We demand that the limit placed upon the postal savings depositor be removed and that the Postmaster General be authorized to invest the postal savings funds in the bonds provided to finance this mnational warehouse commission, and also in first mortgage farm loans. That we call upon all farmers’ or- Notice of should own and operate merchant an end to the vicious and evil system that now controls the marketing of farm produce. Further, that we believe that the government of the United States vessels to carry the produce of the industries of the United States to all ports of the world in times of peace, which ships in time of war Precinct Conventions YOU are hereby notified that on February - . 22,16, at 2 p.m.,members of the Farmers Nonpartisan Political League will hold a meet- -ing in each voting precinct in North Dakota fo' Legislative and State . elect delegates to the Conventions. These precinct meetings will be held at the regular voting place in each voting precinct, unless members of any precinct arrange to hold the meeting in a more convenient place. busy and agree upon every member to come. work begins. Watch the Leader Get a meeting place. Urge Here is where your for further notices. A. C. TOWNLEY, - President. For further or special information, write Campaign Secretary, Fargo, N. D. ganizations to pring the influence of their organizations to bear upon all political parties and that:they gledge all candidates for the Senate and Con- gress to the ‘enactment of such laws as will be most speedy in' procuring the enactment of laws that will put Nonpartisan League, should be converted into auxiliary cruisers and, armed for the protec- tion of our country.. We believe that the first requisite of preparedness for war is to thoroughly equip the indus- tries and the carrying trade of the nation, Let our forts be converted into industrial military academies de- voted to the industrial development and, training of our young men, under military discipline and training. Let the government through these acae- mies manufacture all munitions and ships of war. e believe that Congress should levy an export duty on all muni- tions of war in order to make up the deficiency in the national revenues. That the income tax be levied so as to fall heavier on the swollen in- comes and that a graduated inherit- ance tax be levied on all inheritances of five thousand dollars or more. We_ believe that the government should own and operate the railroads, -"telegraph and telephone systems of the country. CLASSIFIED ADVERTISMENTS both sex; pedigree furnished; John II;IIoeres, Grand View Farm, Jud. spected by Prof. Bolley and guar- anteed free from quack grass. Geo W. Mills, Hannaford, N. 4-10t FOR -~ SALE—Timothy and Broom Grass seed, at farmers prices. For sample and prices, write J. L. Eas- _ ton, Glencoe, N. Dak. 4-2t FOR SALE CHEAP—2 registered Berkshire boars, good breeders, Min- netonka Prince a 2nd No. 194,- 258, and Bisbee Star No. 202621; also have some gilts for sale. - F. L. Brauner, Box 194, Bisbee, N. D. draft mare, in foal; 5 years old; black with star; weight about 1900 Ibs. M. N. land, N. D. 1-4¢ e R G e e e T SR e FOR SALE— Pure-Bred M. B. Tur- keys and ' B. P. -Rock Cockerealsy stock as good as the best, Ma: pleased customers in the past; same in the future is my mottos Also one Ped P. China Boar. Toms $3.75;. hens $2.75. 25c returned on _ receipt of 'empt'grcraté‘ Cockerals $1.00. L. P. Andrews, Pekin, D. D. R I B S 5 P e 5 - FOR: SALE-—Two registered Percher- on Stallions 'also three registered - mares with foal.—H. A. ‘Hoffman, Lisbon, N. D, 32t FOR SALE—One four bottom self- lift, heavy duty J. I. Case Engine plow; new last fall; the plow for 0. 'McDowell; Igafili < stony land.: C. stad; Minn, At . Gulleson, owner. Rut- _ ‘ a ] S R 5 | i | e | oav i { | | v o A 2 = L ~ > L2 V.Y (3 R} - ,:7/ e 2 . » are NS