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S v S A T D o T, Sk e TV 0 S AP XY T TV PR e 4 B ] i i [ TWELVE Shortly after Slipry, Dodger and Sub had departed from the meeting last reported by the Dictagraph, Crafty had an inspiration. It set his head in a whirl and his heart to pound- . ing hard. He came to the conclusion that people were much the same at all times and in all places. He remem- bered how that, in the hey days of his political power, the good, old fashion- e(! hand shaking, baby-kissing flattery slinging campaigner made great pro- gress by personul visitations among the farmers. He believed that the same method would work just as well now. In his enthusiasm he forgot the discouraging repurts brought in by the “boys” who had tried it. He deter- mined to try it for himself. Having awakened from this pleasant dream he ealled up Slipry and Dodger and instructed them to meet him at the hotel Skinem the next morning at 8 o’clock. Crafty is Hopeful Early next morning a big automo- bile shot out from the front of the hotel and sped up Main street and along the road to the north. Five miles out it turned east. In the ear, besides the driver, was Crafty, Slipry and Dodger. Each of them puffed black cigars and chatted cheerfully. The air was sharp and snappy enough to fill them with vigor and rising hopes charged them with-enthusiasm. “I feel it in my bones,” said Crafty, enthusiastically, “that-we will demon--- strate and prove that the farmers of this state are far from crazy. I feel that they are as sane and. sensible as they always have been. -1 don’t see why I'didn’t think o’ this scheme be- fore.” . Slipry nodded approval while Doc%ger listened quietly-and doubt- ously. Calls.On Qle Qlson: - . Eight miles: east the car: turned north -again. They were now in the heart of a well rated farming district. A half mile to the north they came to a:large barn, a prosperous looking farm house ana-well -appointed- out buildings. i“Stop at that next -house,”:ordered Crafty, with just a.suspicion of nerv- ousness in his voice. Accordingly the car came to a stop infront of the gate. THE NONPARTISAN LEADER » Crafty ,Repbrts to OId Political Crafty Undertakes a Return to the Old Political Stunt of . Personal Calling on the Voters----Strikes Three Bad Snags and Gives It up for the Time Being--May Try It Again. BY N. P. DICTAGRAPH Crafty lumbered from the car as spry as his avoirdupois would permit him. Slipry followed him. Out by the barn Ole Olson was feed- ing some pigs. Crafty and Slipry ap- proached him. Ole straightened up with a measure of feed in his hands, took a glance at the two approaching . figures and went on with his work. Compliments the Pigs “Go-ood morning, sir,” said Crafty, advancing cheerfully and extending his hand. “My vame’s Crafty—Will B. Crafty, what’s your name?” “It bane Ole Olson,” said the farmer re- ‘luctantly, extending a mitted hand. Crafty shook it vigorously while Ole eyved him suspiciously. “An’ this is my friend Slipry—TI. B. Slipry.” Ole mumbled something inaudible and limply extended his mit. “Nice pigs you’ve got,” compliment- ed Crafty, turning to the pig pen. “Yah,” said Ole. “T’'ll tell you that’s my idea about farming,” continued Crafty. “Raise hogs and cattle. There is alway$ good money in ‘em. Why, I pay 25 ceuts a pound for steak and 30 cents a pound for bacon,” he concluded enthusiastically. Puts Crafty in a Hole Ole’s pale blue eyes flashed. “You do eh ?” he said with some excitement. “You know what I get for dem pigs? 1 feed ’em, I raise ’em, I haul ’em to town and maybe I get.six cents for him. You pay 30 cents for him. Now, who in hell gets the rest?” . “Well, well,” said- Crafty in a puz- zled tone, “that’s strange”— “But aye tell you we goin’ to fix : dem fellers,” continued Ole enthusias- tically. 'We farmers is gettin’ a organization and we go'n to ‘make dem ‘felleas pay our price- for what we sell.” ; Slipry had seen where the lightning was going to strike and had walked . away and was examining with great interest an old hayrack. Crafty pulled out his watch and glanced at it nervously. Ole had launched into a discussion of “the farmers’ organization. Crafty inter- rupted him. No Time to Tarry “Well, Mr. Clson we haven’t got much time. We just stopped to ask where Oscar Schultz lived.” Ole broke off his argument and gave him the necessary directions. Crafty bade him “food morning”—a very formal and cold “good morning”-—and hasten- ed towlrds the car. Slipry preceded him and gave Dodger’s enquiring look a sly wink as he climbed into the seat. “Straight ahead,” growled Crafty to the driver. The car sped on in silence. Three miles tvp the road Crafty orderea the car to stop at the next house. As the car slowed down at the gate the rural mail wagon was just leaving. . At the same time Oscar Schultz was coniing down the path to the mail box. The occupants of the - car waited. '‘Oscar procured his mail and walked toward the car. “Do you owa this place,” cooed Crafty, glancing around admiringly. Oscar burst out in a hearty laugh and holding up a paper to the gaze of the four men, pointed to a cartoon. There, staring them full in the face was the first page of the Nonpartisan Leader: The cartoon was one of a circus tent with a poliatician tryi to -snesk.under while a farmer h caught him in tie act. : “Vell, vell I teil you dot is vun good one,” exclaimed Oscar as hc exult- ingly surveyed tre picture again. “Py golly I puess dot make dem politicians feel funny,” he started out agein and then broke off imto another hearty laugh. e 2 Ctaftf ‘bit h 2 mustache, took a quick glance at 13s watch and ignor- N the first of February. last, the Equity Cooperative Exchange paid a cumulative dividend of 8 per cent, :on all capital stock issued up to August 1st, 1915. This is the first dividend that has ever been paid by this corporation. It was all earned from August 1st, 1915, to Decem- : ber 31st, a period of five months. Our total net profit during this period was $53,000.00, all made in’ the handling of about 8,000,000 bushels of grain. : Our paidup capital August 1st was but $42,939.00. This shows that ther grain commission business, and that it behooves the farmers to enter this business that they may obtain the enormous profits to be derived therefrom for themselves. ; The Equity Cooperative Exchange is a farmers’ corporation, c_omposed of farmer stockhold- ers and managed by a Board of Directors, all of whom are farmers. Its capital stock ‘draws a cum- ulative dividend of 8 per cent and no more. The balance of the net earnings of the corporation are - distributed among its patrens; and the amount each receives is determined by the amount of business transacted. Lo-operative F - General Offices, St. Paul, Minn. and Superior, Wis. The Exchange affords the farmers an opportunity of marketing their grain cooperatively, .enabling ‘them to do on: the terminal grain markets what they have done through their elevators . in the local markets, namely to better the prices on grain. In this way the farmers can help them- . - -selves; by consigning: their grain to the Equity Cooperative or Superior, Wisconsin. The time to do that is now. e is money in the Exchange at either St. Paul, Minnesota, i Oscar’s . l=cghing . impatiently a';ied: ? : { Wants to See Smith ' “Can you tell us where Ed. Smith lives, Oscar?” Osecar paused a mo- ment and then gave the directions. Crafty waved his hand and the car started with a je'k and left Oscar still chuckling at the cartoon. The speeding car went right on by Ed. Smith’s house. Crafty trying to muster up courage to tackle it again. Dodger was pulng industriously at his cigar.. A mile past Smith’s house Crafty ordereu the driver to turn around. . Upon rcaching Smith’s house again they stoy ed. ! Ed. Smith was hitching up his team. The car pulled up close to the wagon. . “Got a little frriv, Mr. Smith ?” ask- ed Crafty as Sva'th hastel: hooked up the tugs. Y Going to a l.cague Meeting “Well, I'm in a pretty big hurry,” said Smith. “We have a meeting over east her: at 1 o’clock and we’re just fixing to start.” “What kind of a meeting is it?” asked Slipry as Crafty hesitated. C %A Licogme imécting—Nonpartisan Leaguc. The rpeakers °'ll be there today an’ all the farmers in the country are go- g.’ > . Just then Mrs. Smith ang -three shildren came oul of the house, all. wrapped and robed for the trip. - “Get for town as fast as you can,” growled Crafty to the driver and the’ big‘ car dashed iown the road. Whatd’ye tiink about it mnow?” said Slipry aftcy the ctar was three miles iown tk+ 10ad. Crafty made no reply, while Dodg- er nudged Slin:+ a good hard jolt in the ribs. Not a Doubter Now. Editor Nonpartisan Leader: ‘When the organizer was around last spring T was a doubter and -did not: join. I attended the meefinfi at Rock iake, conducted by Mr. Williaths and he relieved me of that doubt—and also of a membership fee. I got my first copy of- the Leader ed in“the tax ¥ Ican in any way - let’ me - —W.. S SINK? ¥ R itaTE 0 - today and . read it all. I was especially interest- Y 1 \ " B, ;.1 o RS N = . S » g N » L 4 \ - . - S ~ s < . Lo b > S ‘e % ‘- ~ 3 o) i ’ T ¥ -