The Nonpartisan Leader Newspaper, February 10, 1916, Page 2

=5 TwWo Notices had been sent .out ‘to = dozen representatives of ‘the large corporations in the state, as well as some without the state, t ‘doing business in the state, that there would be a meeting of special im- Bortance at Crafty’s headquarters, ickem hotel, Skinnersville, North Dakota. Crafty had taken not only the us- ual precautions with reference to secrecy, but had on hand a plentiful supply of cigars and also an ample quantity of wet goods. Chairs had been arranged around a long table and on the table was a full box of black cigars, thirteen glasses and several bottles of the blue ribben brand. The Clan Gathers Down in the hotel office the “lit- tle boss” had been stationed and as the conferees came in he directed them at once to room 13, the place of Crafty’s headquarters. As they came in by ones and twos, Crafty greeted them with a vigor- ous handshake, a broad grin and a pleasant word. Upon entering each one presented, his “invitation” to Crafty, who scanned it carefully and then filed it away. By 3 o’clock the full number had arrived, several bottles-had been tap- ped and the cigar box had made its second, round. Crafty sat at the end of the -table. He quietly arose, drew from his inside coat pocket a typewritten doc- ument and proceeded to unfold it with calm deliberation. The mumble of voices ceased and all eyes were turned towards him. Crafty Makes Report “Gentlemen,” began Crafty, in a well modulated tone, “I have called you here to present to you a matter of the most vital importance. I sup- pose that you are aware that the situation in this state, at this par- ticular time, is a most unusual one. Our candidates and canvassers all over the state have been making some very discouraging reports. In- deed, I must confess that for the first time in a quarter of a century I am a little perplexed, not to say disconcerted.” He then shifted the first page of THE NONPARTISAN LEADER Crafty Raises Coin to Carry on Political Fig ht , The Big Boss Holds a Conference with the Representatives of Big Business, Makes His Report, Explainsthe Situa- tion, Silences Objectors, Shows the Need of More M oney and Gets the Coin. By N. P. DICTAGRAPH the manuscript to the back, indicat- ing that he had finished the page. This “report” had evidently been ge- pared -by an attorney, as_the lan- guage was not that of Will B. Crafty. He Couldn’t Believe It After a moment’s pause he pro- ceeded with the next page and con- tinued reading for ten minutes, which completed the manuscript. “Now,” said Crafty, straightening up, folding the manuscript and re- turning it to his pocket, “that is the situation, gentlemen. At first.reports I had doubts about this damn farm- er’s organization. Nothin’ like it was ever heard of an’ T couldn’t believe such a thing was poessible. But after a most thorough investigation I find that there is somethin’ to it. I find that not only are these fool farmers organized but they have thrown a scare into ‘a good many of the poli- ticians, the newspapers, the bankers and the businessmen of the state. In fact many of ’em are panic stricken right now. They are ready to de- sert our ranks at any moment an’ climb on the bandwagon of this bloomir’ Nonpartisan League.” Seakem Butts In At this point I. Will Soakem, at- torney for the C. H. & R. (Catchem, . Holdem and Rcbbem) railroad com- pany, excitedly rose to his feet. ““Wktat the devil have you, fellows been doin’ up here that you have allowed such a condition as this to come about? Have you been asleep? Whatda ye think we are payin’ you for?—to sit around here and let a thing like this grow up under your very noses?” he spldttered as he shook a nervous finger at the unper- turbed Charfty. Several other members looked frowningly at the big boss, who stood before them as undisturbed and ap- The League and Leader Family Enjoys Reading Leader I like the Leader fine and I surely enjoy reading it.—S. R. Kelly. Wants a Daily Leader The only fault I hkave with the Leader is that it is a weekly instead of a daily, but we will get there.— Wm. Muir. - Got His Money’s Worth. I am one of the Rubes that got taken in for $6.00 last summer, but have already had my money’s worth. —W. J. Beaver. Find Leader So Good I am a member of the League and read the Leader regularly and find it so good. Keep the good work going.—James Foster. Reads Leader With Interest I read the Leader with great .in- terest and will not miss any meet- ing of the League in this neighbor- hood.—W. L. Magnuson. Leader a Great Paper I think the Leader is sure a great paper; it brings out the ‘facts in all parts and I would not be without it. —Theodore Thomson. Gets Down. to Brass Tacks- We are much pleased with the way the Leader gets right down to tacks and sets the pace every issue.— Earnest Desautels. Stick to .League . I am going to stick to the League and do all T can in every way to help and do not ‘think my time is lost.—W. B. Underwood. The Farmers Together I hope the Leader will tie the farm- ers together and lead them to wote the old bunch out of business at the next election.—E. F. Kettner.: . With the ‘Leatier I am with the Leader and for ‘the movement, as I thoroughly recognize the fact that something has to be done to break the jingo element, not only of North Daflnta but il over United States,—Gilbert H. Larson. Front Page Worth Price I{;uess I will write you a few lines to let yon know what I think of the. r and of the great work which you are .deing. 1 say: front page of the Leader alone, is well ‘worth the price of the whole is worth our six dollars. other- as was a “Foxy” agen paper. Keep ’er going and if you need any help, why just call on me, as I am in the League to stay un- til the last of the old gang politicians is hung and cut down. And any farmer who fails to see the advantage of the League and the Nonpartisan Leader had ought to be given a spy- glass, of maybe better get a whack on the head to loosen the cobwebs about ‘his brain.—~Chas. E. Hass. Stid’c Together I am more than pleased with the Leader and I hope the farmers will stick together, and if so, it will be the best move we farmers ever made. —Farmer. Gets Real News I think the Leader fine as it gives us the news that we ean’t get through the other papers. I think with the start the League has there is no doubt of its success.—G. W. McDunell. Paper Is Better Our paper is .growing better every week; the last one with the personal property tax expose and ‘its originator I should say we members each should send a dime or more if necessary as a fund to fight the nefarious deal. What do you say?—L. P. Andrews. (No need to send dimes—send farmers ‘to ‘the legislature. You and the Leader will do that.—Ed.) ‘Banker Put Him ‘Wise Qur local banker tried to ;put me wise to ‘the astounding fact that the League is a $6.00 per farmer .graft; he ‘told me he got that marvelous information from his Banker’s Jour- nal, Oh, wonderful wisdom sof the ages! T thanked him kindly and po- litely informed him that the farmers Jmow what they are about and will stick, and we will stick to ‘this thing until we Lave room for ourselves, po- litical and industrial freedom. Long live ‘the * e +and ‘the Leader.— -Thought He was Foxy Editor Nonpartisan Leader: On ‘May 6, 1915 a Tellow inan:auto drove up to the end of the field “ where ;1 was .drilling eats and .intro- duced himself as ‘Mr. Fox and started in to talk about Bismarck and legis- lation. 1 said, “I ain’t got time to talk to you now,” and started on an-' t of big biz. But he »sg\‘iti, “Hold on a moment,” parently as formidable as the rock -of ‘Gibralter. ; Had a Rotten Deal “My dear Spakem,” he proceeded soothingly, “the devil himself could not have detected and headed off this thing. Personally, I don’t think it will amount to much in the end;. it will blow over before election day; of that T am pretty certain. But you see there is just so much hot air to blow off. I guess we had a little of this comin’ to us. Just as Slipry said in‘a‘conference here once before, we did give the farmers of this state a rotten deal at the last legislature. 1 guess they've got a little ‘kick left in them an’ now its stirred up. ‘But their energy will soon be spent, the storm will blow over an’ together with less of confidence in their lead- ers most of them will get back into line again.” . 3 This produced a general exchange of smiles and nodding of heads among the members and ‘a better feeling seemed to prevail. & Hard Work Ahead “But there is work to do,” he con- tinued, deliberately. “In the first place we must do something to stem this tide of the newspapers which is headed for the farmers’ ranks. The next thing we must do is to create a distrust among the farm- ers coneerning the leadership of ‘this League. Another thing we must do is to :start a press bureau to supply the newspapers of the state with plenty of dope that will accomplish these two points.” As he ubbered these words he leaned over theitable and talged right into the hearts of his hearers. ' T Must Have ‘ifioney \ “In order to run this press bureau as it should be, we must have money,” he said, impressively. “In order to :stem this tide of newspapers we must have more money. Once we have ac- complished these two things the crea- . tion of distrust and dissatisfaction - among the farmers will ‘Basy. ‘Even with those papers which ‘have showed an inclination of weakening, or that have even flopped entirely over, if we can get them to make use of our dope—and we .can if we have the money—they will do the work of creating the dissatisfaction with the leaders and at the same - time proclaim their friendship for the farmers’ organization.” This produced more smiles and vig- orous ‘puffing -of cigars. Must Get On Inside “In other .words,” he went on as his voice fell almost to a whisper, “we must work into the inside of this thing as much =us we can. We must get the papers to shouting for the farmers—and then let them make . the discovery. that the leaders are not the right kind of men. That will create the distrust and disin- tegration and disorganization will follow. But as I said before, we must have the coin and plenty of it. As I see it this is our only chance. If you fellows are willin’ to furnish the coin, the chance is a good one. If wyou are not, then we must go down for the count.” : SELS Crafty then pulled, from his pocket another folded paper.. It was a sub- scription paper. Come Across With Coin “Here,” he said, “is a paper on which yon can set down your con- ‘tributions. You need not sign this, of course, just set your number down and opposite it the amount you contribute. Also, those of you who desire may make out checks at once.” ‘He tossed the paper to Soakem, who set down $10,000 and passed it on. There was a flurry of check- books, a scratching of fountain pens and when the crowd left Crafty to- taled up subscriptions to the amount of $120,000. He smiled a great, broad smile as he counted over the checks and tucked them safely into a large pocketbook. ; Send Words of Encouragement and then told of a movement the farmers had started all over the state to get control of the legislature and cut down taxes and so on. Well T had plenty of time then. Fox left I had $6 less and ‘thought to myself that was the lightest hold- up I had ever experienced, for who ever heard of big biz stopping at $6? . We are going to dig a hole fifty- ’leven feet-deep and there is where big biz will be laid to rest. I have been a reader of the Leader since it started and think it a 42 centimeter. —J. M. Hellasvig. ; A Sucker and Slad of It Editor Nonpartisan Leader: Hurrah, I say, for the Leader and the League! . I am one of the socalled $6 suckers and I want to say right here that I am mighty glad of it. I certainly have been a higher - priced sucker than $6 long enough, and I "am not ‘the only one either, if ‘they all knew it. . ‘We have been blindfolded and, led around long enough.—A. Farmer, Leeds, N. D. He Don’t See Why Editor Nonpartisan Leader: 1 recei ‘your ‘letter a few days ago and see that you, did not get the check cashed yet. I don’t see why they did not cash it, for I had money in ‘the ‘bank up to ‘the first of *the year. I am very sorry and -will get it a8 .soon .as I :can, for I could not afford ‘to be without the Leader and 1 alway boost for the League.—Albert and Stein Robinsen. Strikes Him Just Right-. Editor Nonpartisan Leader: . T receive the Leader and enjoy reading it very much and thank you for sending ‘it before \you got your money. 1 motice you are not .afraid to print good, cold facts in the Lead- -er and ‘that strikes 'me just right. Wishing you suecess, T am—W. W. ‘Montgomery. Hopes We Won’t Stop It. Editor Nonpartisan Leader: : .In:mfim yours -of January 10, will 'say I:am-gorry that I have not .got the.money right now, but will send it to you as soon.as I can. T ‘want ‘to ‘let “you know ‘how ‘much 1 enjoy the Leader. It has the right ring and the ring that is going to- ‘When Mr. - & how,—James Scott “ He’s No Dead Beat Editor Nonpartisan Leader: I wish to imform you that I have been geting two papers each week. I don’t ‘want to beat the Leader, so just send me one. I'm still waitin, for that post dated check.—Edwar Lippert. Will Go Down in History Editor Nonpartisan Leader: ‘T will state that I consider this or- ‘ganization the greatest ever known in any period of history and as such is destined to .go down through the -generations ‘of' time as the agency of emancipation of the producers from the tyranical despots now prey- ing upon the innocent- farmers.—H. K. Ornlie. - Leader Best Paper The Leader is the best paper I get * out of eight that I take. Pierce county is strong for the League and its principles, although our local pa- ‘per opposes: it.—Louis' Leraas. Not Too Radical ¢ I ke the tone of the Leader ar- ticles; -they are sufficiently pointed without being ‘too radical. Too much radicalism sometimes hurts a cause anore than it helvs and is not always consistent with Lincoln’s “with 'malice toward none and charity to all,” which I wishthe League would adopt as .its slogan. Your articles dealing with .affairs at Washington are en- lightening and, are such as we can get’ “through no -other meduim.—Olaf Ribb. Aeader in Class by Iself I am more than pleased with ‘the way you give us the news, The Lead- ‘er is @ newspaper in. a class by itself. The way you -have shown up that latest personal property tax schedule graft following ‘so close on the ter- minal elevator deal that the last Legislature put across where the peo- ple voted in favor of a terminal ele- vator, that they were willing that . they be taxed for same but were told that they wanted ' something that would not be good for them, must surely convince the most skeptical ‘that ‘we have not had a. government ‘by the people, for the people in the state of North . ‘Dakota, and that we - have been sending the wrong bunch. to Bismarek. Farmers, when any of “these sleek -politicians “‘who have "had - anything to do with these measures so detrimental to the farmers’ inter- = ‘ests "come ‘up again for ioffice, turn Tho Leader exvlains N ., <