The Nonpartisan Leader Newspaper, March 2, 1916, Page 4

- the legislature. TOUR With every mail adding to the hundreds of letters coming in report- ing the proceedings at the ‘caucuses -of the League at which delegates were -elected to represent the membership at the coming legislative district con- .ventions, it becomes more and more impossible to summarize or express 4in words the spirit and enthusiasm, expressed in these reports, - back of ‘Probably the greatest political move- ment of farmers in the history of the world. The report of the proceedings of nearly every one of these caucuses bristles with encouragement to the League management, faith in the movement and in the ability of the farmers to carry it to ultimate, sweep- ing success, and congratulations for the Leader and the work it is doing. While the Leader would like to pub- lish all these letters, it can readily be seen that to do so would take every page in three or four numbers. But as many of the caucus reports as pos- sible will be handled. They speak for themselves and tell the story better than any comment or summary that might be made at headquarters, Betrayers Denounced H. R Fogerty, reporting the pro- ceedings at .Atkins township, Towner county, says: A “It was moved and seeconded that the Leader’s article entitled ‘Honor- able Gentlemen to Keep in Mind’ be read. After the reading the follow- _ ing resolution was offered by a mem- ber: that, ‘Whereas, the members of fl;e legislature from this legislative strict, named in the Nonpartisan Leader, a newspaper published in Fargo, N. D., have taken it on them- selves to undo what had already been made a law by a majority vote of the people 3 now therefore, for this breach in their official duties to the people they should be strongly opposed at the: legislative convention, providing their names are mentioned as being proper candidages to either branch of he meeting then closed: with everyone enthusiastic over the pros- pects of the movement and appreciat- ing the support given by the founders and leaders of the organization.” Farmers Have Facts ; Nels K. Manson, proprietor of the Progresswe: Stock farm, Sheyenne, N. D., reporting _the meetirg of the League township caucus at Grandfield town hall, writes: . “We had a most enthusiastic meet- Ing at our voting place. Stirring ad- dresses: were delivered by members of the Farmers’ Nonpartisan Politic- al League and many a merchant, lawyer and banker and all those poli- tical pests who live on graft at the expense of the farmers received severe drubbing. “It semed remarkable how farfners unused to public utterances could mass a of information and give such funds it out at will, when called upen, to the entire satisfaction of the audience, ese meetings and such enthusiasm as has lately manifested itself are unmistakable signs of the times and iuch signs as are easily read at long e. “In_ these speeches the Leader was especially commended. for its fearless €xposure of the graft which has in : past been perpetrated on the honest tillers of the soil through po- Yitical trickery and- at the handspe .monied interests whose biennial pre- %}ee{:wn garment is that of lamb’s wool. f “As a whole it was the most sue- <cessful get-tagether meeting that has “ever been held in Grandfield township.” - | Confldence in League August Korb writes from Calio, N. 2 B.,ofomeufthetmnshipmeenngs' as follows: “Poday we celebrate and commem- orate Washington’s birthday. et ‘ comme: i of Feb 1916, tlmtls; 22fn ebruary, as the farmers’ ‘declaration of independence from the Zang cians.” - H. J. Trelease, reporti the Forde township meeting, near N. D, says: «©st. confidence in the League and sstrongly commended the {acties of the Jeaderq. The meeting brought:out the -enthusiasm of the members and we, -one and all, feel that. if the League s loyally supported it will certainly ~accomplish its purposes.” More are Joining Clarence G. Emery, secretary of the ~caucus at Ostby township, Bottinean «county, reports: E .| “New membhers are co: in every “week so that praetically 1 will be d. day - ekin, “All present expressed the .great- - THE NONPARTISAN LEADER Letters from Secretaries of Township Meetings Reflect En- thusiasm and Confidence of Rank and File of League ---League’s Program, Newspaper and Leaders Receive Unanimous Indorsement of Membership. : -enrolled by the time the primaries are held in June. All the members think hifbly of the Leader and are looking forward to election time like school boys looking for vacation time. Here’s wishing you well in your fight.” Of the Beach Civil township meet- ing C. W. Heckaman writes as follows: “We had a fine meeting. All seem- .ed to think alike as farmers and the . .old-fashioned \politics were not men- tioned. It was decided that if the League needed more. meoney it would be wise to assess each one a dollar or two and finance our own campaign.” The Nonpartisan League: everyene is taking an interest. first ballet. in him. fidence of his neighbors. confidence of his neighbors. get out of it for themselves. into office. the good of all. “government. Happy Crowd Meets The following report is among those & received: i “A hapy crowd of 39 members of the Nompartisan League gathered at the school house, Precinet No. 14, Big Bend township, Lishon, N. D., on Feb- ‘ ruary 22, not to review our old school books, but to talk over means where- by the farmer can keep the wolf from the door. After the delegate was elected and the regular order complet- ed the following resolutions were passed: “The members of the: cinet hereby ap re- men that organized the Nonpartisan League and made it possible for the These are Great Men I have been soliciting the farmers around here. me some application blanks, I can get the rest in Willey township.: I was out with Mr. R. W. Morser two days. farmers were threshing and we missed many of them. Find enclosed seven checks to pay fer seven memberships. i With best wishes for success, I remain Neither of these men asked to be elected. Both men had been boosters and still are. Both had worked for and helped build the League—but not for what they' thought they could farmers to organize for the better- n?ent of themselves; second, encour- aging the editor of the Leader for the fearless manner in which he has at- tacked the special —mterests,contrary to the welfare of the farmer.’ Every- body went home greatly gncouraged. —Frank Lyons, secretary. W. T. Rene writes from Rene of a township caucus there: 4 “There were 30 out of 33 members present and much enthusiasm and de- termination to stick together was expressed. It surely seems a rev”olt of the farmers is well under way. ’ ar Sirs and Friends:—We held our League meeting yesterday and Mr. James Gainor was elected delegate. He and I were even on the Mr: Gainor is a good man for the people. We all have faith If you will send The roads were bad and the Yours truly, OTTIS O. BLEW. In the Leader of February 10th we said: ] “These men of sincere purpose will still support the men you do select, because they are not self seekers, but seek what you yourselves desire—the common good.” - The letter quoted above is one of the hundreds of letters we are receiving, all proving this to be so. This man proves himself worthy of the trust and con- . To make him their delegate would have been the .greatest honor his neighbors could confer upon him. Mr. Blew knew that. Certainly he would have been very much pleased to have been selected delegate. His family would have enjoyed the distinction and this mark of confidence. But there were other men in this township equally trust- worthy, able and deserving. Mr. Blew knew this also. Mr. Gainor was another League member deserving the full They both had worked to build the League for the com- . mon good—for the good of all—not that they might ride it And when on the second ballot, Mz. Gainor was elected delegate, Mr. Blew was as well pleased as if he himself had been selected. He continued to boost harder than ever. He goes out and gets seven more of his meighhers to join the League—hecause he was helping to build the organization for So he was not disappointed when some one else was chosen.” He did not begin to knock and tear down, as do the politicians and selfish ones when they find thgy can not eontrol and use the League for their selfish purposes. " 'These are great mem. And of such is the Nonpartisan This is the great lesson for the voters to learn. ; . Inso far, and as seon; as you can pick ont this type of men and elect them to take charge of the state will you have clean : Let us hape that in every legislative district you suceeeded as well as did the League members in Willey township. League Caucuses’ (Continued from page 3) township, LaMoure county," says: “All members present thought the League and the Leader all right and are going to back them all they can’ From Eldridge, George W. Law- rence writes: “We had a very good meeting. "One man walked four miles to atten Al were enthusiastic and thought that if we stuck together we -would get The following was among the re- port_s,be_i_ng sent in by Cornelius Van- . . we are proud of him. Caucus Reports Show Spirit of United Farmers X0000000000000000000X [ FIGHT TO READ LEADER o : : = L do like to read the Leader, o o which is interesting and the first o e:paper I take held of. In_aur o o house we nearly fight over it to o o see who reads it first. Couldn’t o o de without it.—ALEX ANBER- o o SON JR. o o o X0000000000000000000X eeco derwerf, proprietor of the Springvale Stock farm: Surprised ‘at Strength “A most enthusiastic_election was held in Precinet 25, Springvale town- ship, Barnes county. The committee on credentials reported 32 League menibets present, which is half of the voters in this precinct, and not all members were present. It was a sur- prise to all of us that so many Leagne members. were enrolled in this precinct.” 3 H. L..Potter sends in the following resolution passed by the League mem- bers in caucus in Ideal township, near Considine: % “We, the voters in Ideal township in ‘caucu$ assembled, rejoice with oux- selves "over this meeting today, the - 22nd of February, 1916, the birthday of the patriot, Washington. We hope that the League will be as successful in its purpose as was Washington in bringing independence to an oppressed people.” Praises the Leader S. E. Harper, who sent in the report of the election of the delegate to rep- resent Getchell precinct, near Valley - City, writes a letter typical of hun- dreds received: : “I wish at this time to extend to you my appreciation for the publicity ° ‘ you have beén giving of the under- handed and vicious'methods that have been used in our state legislature. I believe it will cause the farmers of this state to cooperate as never before and demand what is legally due them.” W. Lyman, writing from Me- Henry of one of the township gather- ings near there, says: “Three cheers for the League and the Leader. This meeting showed we are all back of you. Let the good work go on. I sure enjoy reading the Leader every week and wish that it came twice as often.” ¢ : Proud of Delegate J James Garrison, reporting one of the township meetings at Driscoll, writes: * . “We elected as our delegate the best man in the township. He is a pract- ical farmer and a League booster and Suecess to the Nonpartisan League. May it live forever!” From Ross, W. W. Morrison writes the following report of the delegate election in Manitou township: “All members expressed satisfae- tion at the work the League and Leader are doing and none regret hav- ing joined.” Never Saw the Like : W. H. Brumwell writes from Sarles: “Every member chock full of en- thusiasm. We had the largest per cent of voters of the township that has ever been seen at any farmers’ meeting of any kind in Cyprus.” ing at Mount Rose Langford, as follows: “They were a determined: bunch— every man a booster for:.thée!League. Tell the Leader editor I'd like to shake. his “paw” and tell him the'many goad things I think abeut him. . .Go_after them—the rotten politicians.” township, near X0000000000000000000x% | ] READS LEADER THROUGH o § <0 When your representative, Mr. ‘o Wood, came ta my place last suni- o .0 mer I wasn’t leng in handing him eccece n gy ; th’thm“ he six dollars, and feel tha hey o i dividends 31 5 in the beginning I had not hme"i. ) but now 'm just longing o for:- the paper ‘every' week.. Neo other has things like the Leader daes; Theo: 8 Warren McElwain reports the meet- . = i - l‘ ~ =~ o D e AT eSS 7