The Nonpartisan Leader Newspaper, August 3, 1916, Page 4

“ agricultural, commercial and professional. Its purpose will he to pro- mote a non-prejudiced and intelligent consideration of every movement or measure that looks to the best interests of the state.” : That statement looks fair enough on its face, but it is as fraudulent as every other act connected with the formation of this secret league of - the enemies- of ‘North Dakota. These are the words of the wolf in sheep’s clothing, for as a matter of fact the “Good Government league,” ' so-called, was formed for “the ‘deliberate purpose of opposing and of ta - s breaking up if possible the Farmers' Nonpartisan League, the first real, representative, honest political organization of the people of North Dako*a for good government ever successfully launched in the state, ! * * * -~ ... THETRUTH ABOUT THE “LEAGUE” The real truth about the “Good Government league” is shown by its acts from the very start—acts which its promoters ' i best to conceal and misrepresent, but without success. e In a previous issue the Leader showed how the real backers of this organization have kept themselves in the background, permitting the publication of but twq names, those of the “president,” so-called, and the - hired secretary, a man known for years in North Dakota as a profes- - sional politician and lobbyist. It showed also how the facts regarding - the method in which this organization was financed have never been told. It is an undisputed fact that this professional political manip- ulator was hired at a large salary on a long-term conti'act before any real attempt had been made to get “members” for the “‘in'ganizafion” he was to represent. : S g The money came from somewhere. Black had “assurances” before he entered on his job. He admits that. Where did the money come from? Questioned on this point Black says it came from “sustaining : members” of the Good Government league. But he will not give out | f their names. Neither will Page, the so-called “president.” Is the Min- neapolis Chamber of Commerce one of these “sustaining members ?” Is the Northern Pacific railway? Is the Great Northern railway? The “Good Government league” does not state. ‘ : * * * : 7 THE “LEAGUE’S” REAL BACKERS This week the Leader has new facts about:this ‘“league;” revealed in a letter received by several Fargo business ‘houses; many of whom ~are not willing to be used in this fight of outside mterests against the people of the state of North Dakota. Page, the so-called president, is not the real t-iitect‘i:ng' head of thé' “Good Government league,” as anyone can readily tell by a few minutes . conversation with him. Among the men: immediately behind: Page is given their answer in unmistakable terms. N. C. Young, an attorney for the Northern Pacific railway. . Is Young, who, it is now admitted, is one of the main powers:in-the league if not its real head, acting on his own account? It is not likely. Young is a skillful attorney, a trained politician; a man used to repre- senting big interests. Whom does he represent in this affair? --He is not telling. He is a “discreet” man, who can be trusted by the big forces which employ him. ' : ! : * * * > PLAYING MERCHANTS FOR SUCKERS Now Fargo business men are being asked to help this game along. The names of Young and others are a “guarantee” that affairs will be “properly administered.” In whose benefit? Will Fargo business men fall over themselves'in a rush for the honor of being cats paws for big Business interests in other states? Are they going to be fooled again by whispered confidences- and the privilege of becoming “sustaining members” of a cause already well “sustained” by interests which do not care to confess their identity. : : Some business men have seen through the whole game. - They-have One of them is printed in It is worth reading. . * * * o THE REASON FOR THE DOLLAR : One of the funny features of the affair is the appeal for contribu- tions of $1 each from suckers of the common or garden variety, not eligible to the “sustaining member” class. Ths brilliant thought is credited to the comedian of the Courier-News, and Doc Guilty himself admits he got it by observing the Nonpartisan League. : “Get people to give their money and they’ll vote our way to get their money’s worth,” says Doc Guilty. ; Just so; but that wasn’t why the shrewd Judge Young, to whom Doc Guilty dances a faithful and slavish attendance, used this idea. Oh, no, indeed. He used it for quite a different reason—a double reason. this issue of the Leader. He wanted to give the G. G. league a visible means of support, a show of popular support, and he wanted to fool the farmers into thinking that there wasn’t much of a slush fund out against them. - z \ & * * * “GIVE THEM SOMETHING CHEAP” One dollar for membership in a state-wide .“league” represents something cheap in the line of political organization. Cheap and guar- anteed—by N. C. Young, the N. P. attorney and other agents of Big Business. i X : ’ “Give the suckers something cheap,” says Young. “Paint it over with a shining varnish of high-sounding phrases and benevolent inten- tions and they won’t look to see what is underneath.” "ve’ done their ; WHY SPEND ANYTHINGZ ; mw‘ : ] u ever buy bargains? Did you ever get “s ? 3fo z:urse yot‘lxy hav: You know how it goes. ‘I..ook out for the _thing that is offered you cheap. It pays in politics as well as in other ways. - 7% o You people of North Dakota can form'a political organization at'a dollar a head—under this kind of guidance and tutelage of such repre- sentatives of Big Business as N. C. Young. To be sure you ean. But why spend as much as a dollar? You don’t have to spend anything arta all for organization if you don’t want to. These benevolent gentlezqgn will run it for you for nothing at all. All they 1:eally want ’is your vote, That would be true economy, to‘get‘ it ‘for nothing, wouldn’t it? e, .- CHEAPNESS DOESN'T PAY Permit ‘us to answer that question. It wouldn’t, “North Dakota has had enough of cheap politics—they are the most expensive in the.long run. . If you are not willing to give liberally for the sake of good government be sure you will never get it. That applies to your time and your interest as well as to your money. The remedy, for misgovernment is vigilance, ’sac:'lficie and effort—organization. WILL YOU LEAVE IT TO BIG BUSINESS? The Minneapolis Chamber of Commerce, the raxlroads, a few great corporations, a’clique of land speculators, an association of mortgage 'shali-ksf-afly;of these will be willing to take over your government and i llt)go;oflotufiink they’ll tax you heavily? No. . Not at all. There are other ways of getting it.. Taxes and political waste are only a drop in - the bucket. Suppose they could control the legislature, the courts, the railroad commission and all the other state authorities. And they have come pretty near doing that in the past. What do they care whether your taxes are small or great if they can regulate the prices you get and the prices you pay, if they can fix the interest and exact the penalty? "If the Good Government league can convert you to this idea of cheap organization, if they can get you back to the way of letting them run. things, if they can fool you into believing there is no more need N . of raising your own sinews of war and using them to fight with, they will. have won what they are fighting for. " No More i30sses in Burleigh ladium, the only Bismarck paper. that The Teturn of the machinery of the k } o : ; 5 gave the farmers a square deal during Reyfiblican party of North Dakota to the control of the rank and file was one - of the big features of the !‘egen!; primary election, nowhere more emphasized than in Burleigh county, where "the - farmers, voting together ‘as never before, gained control of ‘the county central committee. Practically the same thing has happened in: every. other county in the state where the Nonpartisan League is organized, and this includes all but afew counties. In Burleigh county- D. 'J.. McGillis, Hanqa politician, was retired as county central committee chairman in favor of - W. J. Prater, an enthusiastic Nonpar- tisan League member and booster. C. O. Kell, another active League member and booster, was chosen member for Burleigh county, of the Republican state central committee. The Repub- lican county organization in Burleigh will be completely in the control of the farmers. The newly elected Burleigh committee met at the courthouse July 19. H. P. Knappen, editor of the Bismarck Pal- the last campaign, was honored by being selected temporary chairman. A reso- lution committee of the following persons was appointed: C. R. Kositzky, L. W. Sperry, George W. Hendrix, C. L. Johnson and F. A. Teachout. This com- mittee brought in the following reso= lution, which was adopted by the committee: - “We, the committee on resolutions of the Burleigh county central committee, recommend the adoption of the follow- ing resolutions: “We heartily approve the platform adopted by the Republican party at the convention held in- Chicago. “We indorse the principles- of the Non- partisan League and pledge ourselves to the support of the Republican state, county and legislative tickets nominated at the June primaries. “We favor all state legislation advo- cated by the Farmers Nonpartisan League of North -Dakota, and: pledge ourselves to the support of all such measures.” : 3 : : will be received at the old ‘months. ......-OOOOC....O....‘.......O.........Q........O........ "Yo.uf. Judgment on a Wei'ghty Question Is Wanted— - PAGE FOUR : : Change in Subscription Rates Because of increased and constantly increasing publication expense, due to the desire to give its readers an illustrated weekly newspaper far superior to any other publication of the kind in the northwest it has been found necessary to increase the subscription -price of the Nenpartisan Leader. - - - LT i On and after September 1, 1916, .the subscription rate of the Leader will be $2.50 a year, an increase -of. $1 a year-over the present price. Subscriptions taken between now and September 1 price of $1.50 a year or $1 for six At the new rate of $2.50 the Nonpartisan Leader will still afford; in the opinion of eritical observers, the best value for the subscription cost of any periodical published-in the state. It is- the only publication in North Dakota which is freely illustrated by- its own artists and the only publication in the state maldng a feat; ure of North Dakota photographs. . : It is the aim of the editorial and business st; ] to continue to improve the paper by ot e teatr New features will be added consta standard of the paper will be raised. It will continue to serve the not only of the farmers but of all the people of North Dakota. every means at their command.- ntly and in every way the political and economic interests. See Page 24 1 90000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000