The Nonpartisan Leader Newspaper, April 6, 1916, Page 7

o e R ottt RS THE NONPARTISAN LEADER SEVEN TS OF O ] League Hosts in Rousing Mass Meetings Ratify | © Choiee of Carmdic&ates; Dectlare Political Freedom & The delegates. selected by the memhers of the Nonpartisan ‘ > League to: indovse men for governor and: state offices have done: - their work. The grand convention massmeetings of the League: at Fargo have enthusiastically aceepted: and ratified that work. ] Accompanied by an enthusiasm unparalleled, marked by a: de- A votion to the cause unsurpassed by the patriots of old: and winding = up in a blaze of fireworks, speeches and confidence the like of which: 4 has never been seen in this state before, the events at Fargo, March 31 and April 1, ushered: in the beginning of a new day for North Dakota. and: opened a. political campaign unprecedented: in history for the emancipation of the farmer. k. It is hard to pick out the leading and most significant facts B | concerning this milestone in: the annals of a great state. Among -~ o other things the followingf‘?s_tand‘? out: - b It was the greatest and biggest meeting of tillers of the soil bent on united political action of which there is a record. Over 3,000: members of the League: traveled: to. Fargo at their own ex- | pense, many of them despite.the. floods. and washouts in the wes- tern part of the state and deep show in many sections. A farmens’ ticket for gowernor and- state offices was received | and ratified amid an ovation it was difficult to quell in order that 4 the program could proceed, \ . President Townley and the othér officers of the League were: : cheered and the League’s management and: work to. date indorsed: during scenes of enthusiasm that will long stand: in the memory of those: who, participated. - .. s e roe. - . Voluntary contributions placed $30,000 in the League’s coffers to be used to carry on the work of organization and: support the program the farmers of North Daketa. have risen” up: almost ‘to a man to put into effect. S S . Fargo never saw such a demonstration before; neither did those members of the League who tool:,pqrt. The seating capa- For Secretary of State - 0 ~--- ‘William; Tianger, the aggressive young state’s. attorney of Morton county, whose featless work as. 2 public prosecutor has won, him: the indprsemeant of the League, for the position. of attorney gencral; to. which: he. aanounced his capn- didacy several months ago. Mm. Langer addressed; the mass, meeting of the League Saturday night and proclaimed himself in. thoreugh sympathy with the League and its objects. city of Fargo’s fine new auditorium was taxed at each of the two massmeetings on Friday and three on Saturday. , A street demonstration in the form of a political parade, with about 2,000 farmers in line, four abreast, was a big feature. Satux- day: evening it formed at the Auditorium and traversed Broadway, Fargo’s principal business street, to the music of two bands and ae- companied by the setting off of hundreds of dollars worth of five- works.. g LEow Red fire lit up the street, the buildings and the sky. The marchers, carried: banners with such wording as “Privilege knows no. party ;; why should the people be fooled?”; “Who. ave they who fear the people? Think it over. There’s. a reason’”; “On to Bis- . . marck, 50,000 strong”; “It’s do it ourselves or go. broke”; “Let the | grafters holler; the people have the votes”; “What have partisan " politics: done foxr you; think it over”; “Political bosses don’t like us; we should worry’”; “Bverybody’s organized; why not the fayrmer?” Each marcher carvied a torch and a sparkler and their cheer- | ing and singing as they marched made a deafening noise. The | ».parade furnished unmistakeable proof of the spirit back of the “great movement. OQutsiders learned something of the League and | its purpose that they can not forget. 17 iy R gy P s Thomas Hall, present secrctary of state, who has heen indorsed by the League for re-election to. the same position. As & public servant Mri Ball has shown. himself to he a real friend of the.common people. He e indorsement of the League with gratitude and pledged himself to do his best to <. prove worthy of it, : 5 3 | SUBSCRIBERS. TO. “WAR FUND” Contwibutions, to, the “war fund?: of the: Ib_ea%m formed: a dramatic close of the bhig massmeetings Saturday night. President Townley announced: from the platform that on the night previgus several score of the oniginal backers and: hoosters of the League had quietly met and: velunteered abous $15,000- as a loan to the organization, to be used in case it was necessary in forwarding the program of the League. Many of the men who loan- ed the League money a year ago when. the mowement was. in its infancy and who. had been. paid. back again adwanced: funds. Puesident Townley asked: men: in the audience who had subscribed to. the ‘“‘war fund” the night: hefore to standi up. They be- gan rising to thein feet throughout the big assemblage amid: applause and cheens, that shook the auzditorvium, As eachi man rose the: storm of en- thusiasm, hroke: qut anew,, until scores: of men were standing amid the deaf- ening noise of cheering and: hand~ clapping. President Townley thgn. : opened the subscription list for addit- - (Continued on Page 26)