The Nonpartisan Leader Newspaper, May 18, 1916, Page 8

Now for ‘the The Leader’s Washington Bureau 302 Riggs Building Washington, May 16.—This con gress is through for the session with the glad hand for farmers. g In the opinion of the most skillful politicians here, enough has been done to supply the platform makers and the stump orators with material for .the rural regions, and what more do you want? We can point to the good roads bill and the rural credit bill and the increased agricultural appropria- tion bill, and if the humble farmer wants any more than that he’s just _unreasonable, that’s all. So when the agricultural appropria- tion is finally out of the way, the American farm, which we have been told 317 times is “the foundation of the nation’s greatness” will strangely drop out of the discussion. No more agricultural bills have been introduced and none will be—nor passed. Poli- ticians here say that if the farmer voter can’t be caught this fall with the bills that have been passed and the fuss that will be made about them, he can’t now be caught by anything short of actually doing something for him, and of course we can’t do that. RHODE ISLAND OBJECTION TO GOOD ROADS BILL So the orators will go forth and hand out the dope that the rurcl credit problem has been solved and the good roads problem has been solved, and the farmer is expected to eat it all up and vote the straight party ticket, thereby retaining us in our jobs. While the good roads bill was pas- sing through the senate one day this week a significant incident happened that nobody reported. Senator Lippett of Rhode Island was opposed to the bill. He is a cot- ton manufacturer of Rhode Island whose great fortune has been made because the tariff allows a protection of 200 per cent on the goods he manu- factures.” He is extremely narrow and often extremely offensive. In the course of his attack on the bill he raised the point that the states that would get the benefit were states that do not pay any considerable taxes to the national treasury. ‘In other words, the states that pay the big taxes would be bled under this act to furnish roads to the states that pay very little. : e In support of this provincial argu- ment he brought forth a table show- ing the amount each state would re- ceive under the bill and the amount such state paid under the corporation and income tax laws. o Of course, this showed that the western and northwestern states paid very little and would receive a lot, while -eastern states. paid a lot .and would receive comparatively little. North Dakota, for instance, would pay $30,250 a year less than it would get and Rhode Island would pay $220,500 more. : This made old Knute Nelson of Minnesota mad and he hopped to his feet and said: : 7 KNUTE ‘NELSON GETS MAD AND SAYS A FEW THINGS “Mr. President, T have heard this stuff about some states paying all the taxes until I am tired of it. What has enabled these states to pay these big taxes? If we penned up Mass- achusetts -or' New York -or ~Rhode Island and shut them off from the rest of the country, they wouldn’t have any big incomes.. We consumers in the west have made those great for- tunes for you and why do you parade them before us and say that you are part of the money that we of the west have put_into your pockets.” Little Mr. Lippett had nothing to say. The .rural ‘credit bill' was amended: in the house so as to allow loans up to 60 per cent of the value of the land and to ease off the conditions about - Williams, ,one of the . Congress Only Bluffs at Helping Him; Fake Laws Expected to Deceive Voters By WILLIS J. RUTLEDGE = They are endowed with many features condemned by sound banking judg- ment, such as irresponsible dummy directors, the power to exact unde- fined sums of money in excess of the interest rate, provided it is stipulated in the mortgages, and the power to assess the members. The. whole routine is very cumbersome. and few borrowers would wait the length of time. contemplated in this act. There is altogether too much red tape. The system will be found useless except to aid well to do farmers. It is without corresponding practical value to the poor farmer, the man we are trying to help.” . In both houses men voted for the measure that knew it was rotten but did not want to oppose the only scheme of rural credit that was in sight. 2 LIGNITE DEVELOPMENT TO BE PREDOMINANT TOPIC It is becoming increasingly evident that the government intends to direct the attention of the country to the lignite resources of North Dakota and other - mid-western states with. the view of stimulating their economic development. Lignite promises to be a predominant topic in’ Washington for the coming few months. Senator She{)pard of Texas has in- troduced a bill appropriating $50,000 to pay for government experimenta- tion with lignite, particularly as to its' possibilities in the production of benzol or other cheap fuels for in- ternal-combustion motors. The mem- bers of the North Dakota delegation in congress are enthusiastically sup-. porting this bill. Prof. E. J. Babcock, dean of the col- lege of mining engineering in the University of North Dakota, who is recognized as the country’s greatest expert in lignite coal and its-distilla- tion, will be the star witness before the congressional committees when they start the hearings on the Sheppard bill. During the coming week Representative P. D. Norton of North Dakota will go before the house committee on mines and urge that Professor Babcock come to Wash- Loyal Boosters at Sheyenne ' “The neighborhood of Sheyem{e, North Dakota, has a group of the .most. loyal ‘and effective workers the League has in its entire~-niembership. Among them are H. P. Halverson, whose picture, with that of his wife, is 'shown .above, S. A. Olsness, the League’s candidate for insurance com- missioner, and Nels K. Mattson, pro- prietor of the Progressive Stock farm, Messrs. Halverson and Olsness were among the courageous pioneers who put up funds to assist in the purchase of automobiles a, year ago for the first, big campaign of organization. - The fact that these two®men had thus aided so substantially in the or- ganization of the League was not known even by their neighbors until it was told at a League ‘meeting in Sheyenne, March 17, by J. Arthur League’s organizers. . - Mr. Mattson was principally instru- mental in arranging the meeting and arousing interest in advance, which he did with such excellent success that not only was there a large attendance from the entire surrounding country, but merchants and townspeople at- tended almost to a man and four of the town merchants became honorary members in the League and are hearty workers for its success, real- izing that-what helps the farmer will help the business man in.North Da- kota. The Sheyenne band, under Conductor Dingle, helped to enliven the meeting and enthusiasm was at a high pitch. : g “The meeting was the talk of the town and is yet,” says Mr. Mattson. “Everybody was completely satisfied and all the doubting ones were con- vinced.” ' Since the ' meeting the League has gone on adding strength in this vicinity. : A June 28 is going to answer forever the oft repeated slur that 1 WANT to do all I can to help th]'g ENCLOSED HEREWITH find my check for $18 as payment for two new members to the League. ‘Success to the League—JOHN C. SMITH. the farmers can not stick together. 000000000000000000000000000000 = X y I AM very well pleased with what . paying more than your share? You 7yaader and the League along.—FRE the e and the Leader-are doing. . bt < it are simply ‘paying back in taxes a WOODROW. = "« | = +—A.:KOLHEB. o “+ - J.B. Eaton of Fargo is a patient in ; .- PLACE: INCLOSED name: on the mailing. list. This member is urelg voluntary. - Let: them come.—R.. H. OERTLIE. : ' 1 ; ‘armer’s ington’ and . tell congress:about the possibilities of lignite utilization. In line with its propaganda looking to the development : of . the: lignite fields, the’ bureau of mines has re- cently 11{)ublished a book by Professor - Babcock .on _the “Economic Methods of Using Western Lignites.” This book is the last word that American ‘scientists have on thé subject. 'In this -document Professor Babcock reviews the .experimental work which he has conducted at the university mining substation at Hebron, N. D - — In letters written to the North Da- kota ‘congressmen last week Profes- sor Babcock declared his belief in the commercial practicability of the de- velopment of ‘a‘ coal-tar and by-pro- ducts industry jn North Dakota, and declared that government.cooperation ‘at this time in his experiments would be- welcome. NORTON VOTED FOR RURAL CREDITS BILL Representative P. D. Norton of North Dakota supported the rural credits bill in the house. He took an active part in-the debate ‘on the _measure, trying to secure amend- -ments. He was defeated in these .efforts, and, although the bill was far from his liking, he voted for it, “I voted as I did,” said Norton, . “because I believe it is better to have a basis in law for a genuine rural credit system than to have no legis- lation at all. It is always easier to amend existing laws than to ‘create’ new ones. I think this~bill could have been better in many ways, but, imperfect as it is, I believe it will af- ford to North Dakota farmers a ma- terial reduction in the interest rates they now pay. The law limits the new loans to six-per cent interest, and’ it is very probable that the govern- ment bank can lend money at five per cent in' Narth Dakota.” 2 Representative Henry T. Helgesen of North Dakota looks on life cheer- fully these days. Helgesen, who has opposition to his renomination, has sent out over a thousand letters to constituents asking for their opinions on the political situation in his dis- trict. Several hundred replies have been: received, and they almost un- animously predict his renomination. A considerable party of North Da- kota tourists bound for Norway were in Washington last week getting their passports. H. Hendrickson of Simcoe, manager of the Equity ele- vator at that place, was one of these tourists. Representative Young intro- duced him at the state department. - Hendrickson will spend the early sum- mer in Norway, visiting his aged father, returning in time to.handle this year’s crop as it is brought-te the elevator. While here he urged the North Dakota congressmen to sup- port -any legislation tending.to give northwestern farmers an open grain- market. : 5 P."B. Peterson, a banker of Landa, with his family, headed a considerable party of North Dakota folks on their way to Norway. They got their passports ‘ at -the state department, Senator Gronna introducing them. Representative P.D. Norton, who re- turned to. Washington last week after several days in North Dakota superintending the annual round-up at his ranch, told his colleagues that in spite of the late season the North Dakota crop conditions are favorable, and that the Nonpartisan League is the biggest factor in North Dakota politics. - ’ PR ey PERSONAL NOTES OF - INTEREST AT CAPITAL = a Washingto; is now-improving. - Eaton was accom- ed to Washington by N. nI: %ed.mon of ‘Fargo. - A Ly e Ly «. . Dr. E. P, Quain, the well known sur- n - hospital, recovering - .. ~ from the effects of & severe at'tack%%' ptomaine. poisoning contracted while he~was. in St.” Petersburg; Fla." He Lreg improvements. But every attempt to amend it so that it would work and would not be-a swindle failed. : It did not_ get through, however, without ‘having: the truth about’ it uttered uémn the floor and put into “the record. 5 ; RURAL CREDIT BILL. -~ NO GOOD TO POOR FARMER “He has no enemies,” you say. ; s : My friend; your boast is poor—. = -+ He who has mingled in the fray = - - - Of duty that the brave endure . ./« - 7 - Must have made foes, If he has none geon at Bismarck, attended the med- ical convention in Washington last tds P, Bray, formerly of Grand . Forks, but who has been in'the: con- sular. service for. many years, is ir now oned ai - *'Miss Ellen 5 .Smgz . He has hit no traitor on the hip;> Has cast no cup from perjured li 28 never tumed the wrong * Representative McFadden of Penn- ~ . sylvania said: % oo 0 . “In my judgment, the whole labored . effort to create farm loan associations' - (the feature of the bill)'is most feeble, aoiooooogooooo.ooo . PAGE EIGHT