The Nonpartisan Leader Newspaper, April 20, 1916, Page 2

“THE AWAKENING” (This poem was writtem after: M. Merchant, a member of the League, ‘had returned to his home from attend- ing the great mass meetings at Fargo, March 31 and April 1. “The meeting has given new inspiration te-all in this vicinity,” writes Mr. Merchant.) . Ah! What means that mighty con- course On the banks of the Northern “Red"? *Tis Liberty rising and throbbing 3 Indthg hearts they thought were: ead. Oh, what are those heavy footsteps That clank on the city’s streets? 'Tis the tread of awakening: yeomen Like a giant aroused from:his sleep. What mean. those: eamest faces, That filk that spacious hall? ’Tis a pledge, sincere and determined, For justice for them and for all. For long you’ve been scorned and taunted By the men you have given power; ’Till the day of grace is past at last And Destiny strikes the hour. Go on, O ye noble yeomen, You have ehosen well this day; And millions of brothers in bondage Will wateh, and hope, and pray. O, heed not the call of traitors Who have sold you oft for gain; But rise in your might like a giant— “Like a long goaded lion unchained.” —M. F. MERCHANT, Ellendale, N. D. FAIR NEWS NEEDED Roth Suggests Farmers Start Four Newspapers Editor Nonpartisan Leader: I would like to make a motion if some- one will second it, to the effect that the members of the Nonpartisan League will each one of them donate towards the establishment of some general newspaper plants in the state of North Dakota. T I think by each member éontribut- ing we could get about three or four such papers. Have one or two dailies and the rest weeklies, and to have one of them next door to the Normanden at Grand Forks or Grand Forks Herald. I think a good plan would be to make four districts out of the state and have a printing plant in each one of them, and as time goes on we could get some more, as I think in this way we could reach more of the veters that do not yet belong to the League, and even some of the sinners that are honest enough but have/not seen bet- ter light yet may even be converted, but of course could not be by seeing nothing, or reading nothing, but.Big Biz newspapers. With the Nonpartisan Leader and three-or four more such papers great work could -be done. I have spoken to several of our members in my neighborhood: and they all would be:in favor of seme such meve and think it would be:a great thing in the right way and: te-cut off patronage from the old ‘gang papers. Of course the old gang papers are always with the farmer-—sure they are—as we: could see by our new tax schedule (for they told us all about it —nix). S After the Leader showed up: their game was there one paper that had anything to say about it either-for or against 1t7 Well I guess not; for if they had been against.it,; they would have been against themselves: (Big Biz) whieh of course would not do; and to be-for it would have been hard upon the farmer and of course we are the farmer’s friend, so the best way out of a dirty hole was to keep still and net'say anything about it. Now I would likke-to see an article along: this line in the Nenpartisan Leader - and see- how some of the other members feel about such a move. o ¥T:APPEARS that the Courier- | News considers -a fegislature .com- posed of farmers: a joke : something to- be laughed at. T think that a farmer legislature would truthfully carry: out: its- duty to the people- of the: state. The farmers are-tired of eleeting: | lawyers; bankers, ete; to the legislature. They have not re- ceived any help from: them and now ‘when they seek te go: to: office they are jeered.at and called a pack of fools—GILBERT A. ‘| ENGEN. : : r————0 CHAS. H. ROTH. - THE NONPARTISAN LEADER \ Some Honest Opinions of Ho TRY THIS BETTER: PEAN. ONCE. - “We saw a: great erowd gathered om the streets of omr: little village here today, listening to the League farmers telling abeat the great conventiem at Fargo, and also to not pay any attemtion to the eppesig newspapers; but to stick together: and- elect every League man nominated, and when f:hey are threugh with just one term then yoweam:decide who is wreng or whe is right. Give them a chanee,-the gang has been im: there-long eneugh. THE LEADER gives us more in- formation to the square inch than any other paper I ever saw. Now keep: it up: and give us the facts which other papers suppress—M. M. COOK. I THINK my membership. in the League is money well spent. .The Leader is the best weapon that ever came into the hands of the farmers. I think that next electionwe will be able to show the old gang where the bear got into the buckwheat. We-are all going to stick together.—AMOS EMERSON. I WISH the League plenty of good success and will help push along as fast as I can so the farmers will once rule a state which is part of the country that they once fought for.— JACOB GAUB. SAY, THE LEADER does show the gang up some, especially the black iist. One more nail drove in rough shod methods.—CHARLES CLARK. I HAVE read.more valuable news "in the Leader than in all the other papers I get put together—J. T. LIVINGSTONE. o S N S P, B e S SR CONGRATULATIONS on the | nature, scope and attainment | of your work, and the efficiency | shown. I join in the heartfelt | benediction bestowed upon the cause by all conversant with the situation. May the acme of suc- | cess result and may prosperity | be yours.—D. E. %ONE. | —————— 9o I ATTENDED the League meeting at Tuttle and was very much inter- ested in everything the speaker, J. ‘W. Brinton, said. I helped get what I could to join the League that day. —JNO. M. ANDERSON. THE LEADER is a hustling paper for North Dakota farmers and as we stick together we will win out in the end. Instead of worrying about the $6 we invested we will get many a $6 in return.—ALEX ANDERSON. BOTH THE LEADER. and Pear- son’s are‘interesting: and I do not want to miss a single copy of either one. Reading through the Leader about the grain gamblers’ game is enough to make anybody hot and determined to fight for their rights till they get them.—DAVID HALVORSON. I LIKE the Leader so well that I maust ‘write you gentlemen and let you know: it. I have been feeling better ever since the organizer was: here and geot my $6. Guess I will get them baeck on that lump assessment deal. Hope: all the farmers will stick. I am yours for another $6.— MIKE NILSON. O ————————o AS I'BELONG to-the $6 suck~ er club I am fecling quite cem- fortable. I hope to get rid of me $288 at one time; and played. the same trick:. on others:that I know of. But I‘think their-day: is pretty near-over, se-I willido: all T can to booat the League,and - a better govermment.—WILLIAM $112 bonus out of $460 and gave ‘ GREATEST HE-EVER ATTENDED. : I attended our convention Marehi31: am - mustsayit:was the greatest conventionI'ever-attended: Twas - well: pk with the nominations for the different state offices. Wishing you the best of success. - The Leader is Run to Please the Farmer, Not the Political Boss —P. E. AAUDERUD. I THINK the Leader is the best paper in or out of the state. It cer- tainly is an:eye-opener. I can hardly wait for the next paper and I am sure every farmer in the state feels. the same way. By the way, they flocked to town the 23d of this month to hear the 'speaker, about 200 being present and all boosters for the League. Here is hoping for a good house- cleaning this fall.—E. W. STEINER. AM SURPRISED that my check has not been honorcd at the People’s State bank, for I never had less than $600 at the bank. Am enclosing money order. I am pleased beyond expression with the Leader. There are a few here that the organizer did not meet. Will try to make them the vietim of that §$6 graft—A. LEDOUX. We all like the Leader, wife, school- teacher, and all.—OLE HEFTE. I 2m a League booster ang-enjoy reading the Leader more than any other paper because one can “tely on what it says—PETER OBERG. T am well satisfied with the results of the League movement, and with the prospects so far—GLEN STAND- L 3 ; I think at the next election, if we stick together, we will be able to show the old gang that we are the people and must be respected—AMOS EMERSON. Enclosed please find money order to pay for my membership in the Non- partisan League. I am much pleased with the Leader and hope it may con- tinue to do good —GILBERT HAGEN. When you want new members for* the League, kindly let me know, also when you want petitions circulated or anything else to help out—C. SLAGERMAN. I am one of the most satisfied mem- bers of the League, for I think it is just what we farmers need, but should -have begun 10 years ago for protection to ourselves. — EMIL CHARBONNEAU. . —_—————0 Organization is our only sal- | vation. In spite of any politi- | cal platform or creed, as tillers } | | of the soil we share the same l burdens and injustice at the hands of a few. As tillers of the seil we. stand together in: this organi- zation.—C. O. NIPSTAD. — o0 I AM well pleased with the Leader and - also with- Pearson’s magazine. "I like: them because they tell the truth and don’t beat behind the bush to:do-it. They can call me-a rube all they: want to but I have still six dol- lars more to give for the cause.. Three cheers for the Leader.— GEORGE L. DISNEY. EVERYBODY SEEMS to be boost- ing and ‘talking about the Leader and the League. I have never seen a paper come to the front like' the Leader. It sure- makes seme: of us farmers look wise' when we: read how we have: been: givenr thegeoit wish- Big-- marek, but T'think somebody else wilk do tue ~.ise looking stunt pretty soon —at. 1éast we farmers hopé- so.—B. and April 1; and —P. A. BERG nest Men | ATTACKS WASTED Norwegians of Traill County Pay Slight Heed to League Foes Editor Nonpartisan Leader: I was . one of the first members who joined the Nonpartisan League. I intend to be the last oneto leave it. I wish to write you regarding the Normanden, the Norwegian language paper, published in Grand Forks, N. _ D. This paper has made it a point to attack our organization in practically every issue. It has abused the of- ficers. of our League, calling them atheists, infidels and other terms which would be serious if they were not so ridiculous. I have taken.the Normanden for a great many years and I find that practically every proposition that the farmers of North Dakota tried to put across it has: stood foursquare against us. Though masquerading as a pro- gressive -sheet it has invariably aided reaetionary elements and it has heen found opposing: the: Equity, the Non- partisan League. and other allied or- ganizations in: this state. I believe: there is something wrong with any man or with any paper when it In.any way opposes organiz- ation among the farmers. It doesn’t help the farmer. On the contrary it does a great deal of harm, but does help the big grain and finaneial inters; ests of the East because their control of North Daketa depends abselutely. upon keeping the farmers of North Dakota separated along political lines. And though not knowing the motive of the editor of the:Normanden I wish to state as my sentiments and as the sentiments of the people who live in my vicinity that we believe - there is something wrong with any one who advocates the disruption of this League or abuses and vilifies its active officers. The farmers of North Daketa, are grateful to the men who have built this League and they have done nothing to cause us the least bit of anxiety in any way, shape or form and the only thing that bothers us at all is the fear that something will happen to them that they will not be able to carry out their work to the final conclusion. ' 1 believe this represents the senti- ments of practically all the Nor- wegian speaking people of this county. i : Yours for a bigger.and better or- ganization, ; Editor Nonpartisan Leader: Per- mit me a few words regarding taxes, in regard to the statements made by Julius C. Berg of Grand Forks on March 4. T will second his statement on hogs and cattle assessment and about the assessor having a time of it this spring. And about the hog deal, when the assessor comes around in the spring there will -be twice as many small pigs: as hogs, which he does not assess for the reason that they ought not to be assessed. But the way they got it fixed this year the man on the road is supposed to take everything born. on or before April 1. What value is a man supposed to put on that kind of stock? I do not think it fair. They ought to be about four, months old at least. Now about horses and cattle: The assessor is supposed to take them all. . But how about the old; the: erippled and Lord knows what' kind. ere will be some you can net'putia-value on at 25 per:cent. They will tell the assessor to take them along: What:is he going to'do about it? I suppose he will have to take the old plugs along. and the county will' have: to furnish a cemetery for themm / In my experience I find that:the farmer is taxed double lots:of times. For example, he has any kind :of stoek, or machinery, or land. There is a mortgage or note due on it; with interest; and taxes, also. And the man that: has: the morigage: or note, he will ship: through the knothole. He pay any taxes-on his investment. I'do not thinlk: there is justice in it. Ithink notes and mortgages should be taxed ‘the: samevas-any kind of other - propertyat'25-per cent-of their value. ‘here is hoping that the farmers g - stickitogether:as manto.man and that we- . the state and:legislatare. I am well satisfied with the Nompartisan Leader or to-be' a sucker at $6 for any farm- ers’ movements.and hoping to see the farmers stick together like paste, I get-our men-elected/in the fall for © remain ‘as ever a sucker.—AUGUST "MICHEL. 3