The Nonpartisan Leader Newspaper, January 11, 1917, Page 9

N - Upper picture, a panorama of the North Dakota capital city, left, a busy business street of the capital_ city. Lower right, showing the N. P. depot in the fore state capitol at Bismarck. ground. The tallest building is the McKenzie hotel. Lower Fighting the Farmers’ Program Organized Opp ISMARCK, Jan. 5—The first B week’s session of this first legis- lature elected through the po- litical uprising of the farmers has de- veloped one big fact. That fact is this: Regardless of the action of the pedple of North Dakota in practically unanimously demanding the farmers’ program of reforms put through, every possible card is going to be played by the big interests, the gang press and the politicians to delay or block,the legislature’s-work in car- rying out its promises. This opposition has taken defi- nite form. It is in_the shape of an attempt to hold up ‘reasonable and speedy amendment of the con- stitution in the senate, where it is* hoped to do this by reason of the fact that there are 24 hold- over senators out of a membership of 49 who were elected before the organization of the Nonpartisan League and who, it is hoped, can be depended upon to defy the wishes of the people. This opposition on thé score of amendment to the constitution is not to be an open and above-hoard attack. While admitting that “perhaps the con- stitution should be amended to carry out the wishes of the people”, the op- position is going to insist on an in- volved and delaying amendment pro- cedure that it is hoped will delay for years if not actually kill off the prop- osition of constitutional amendment. This line of attack on the farmers’ and people’s program is made evident by several developments. GANG PRESS ACTIVE IN ITS OPPOSITION In the first pfa.ce the reactionary, gang press of the state, of which a well-known big daily is the leader and . spokesman, is fighting tooth and nail - against any proposition for amending the constitution by a speedy and effi- cient plan. 'This paper anad its follow- ers among the press bitterly opposed the farmers’ program and candidates: .in the primary and election and it now believes that the best way to defeat that program, now -that the farmers have won the election, is to get, if possible, delay and much. red tape in the matter of constitutional amendment. It hopes delay and an in- volved procedure will eventually de- feat constitutional amendment and the carrying out of the Nonpartisan League program. - In line with this plan of campaign, this paper and its followers are pur- suing a policy of patting hold-over senators on the back and telling them that it is “wise conservatism” to “go slow” and not attempt amendment of the basic law except by the calling of an elective constitutional conven- tion that would involve two or three elections by the people, heavy cost to the state, two sessions of the legislat- ure and several years, probably, befors the League program could be put in effect. > Another big fact is that hold-over senators and such other members of both houses as it is believed /can be “reached” are being showered with letters from lackeys of Big Business both within and without the state, ad- osition to Carrying Out Will of th in First Week of Legis]ative Session vising them not to let the League ma- jority in the lower house put through a “hasty” plan of constitutional amend- ment. By “hasty” they mean any plan that will be speedy, reasonably certain and efficient. "~ The plan of trying to stir up discon- tent among the League majority in the house has also come into evi- dence. So far League representatives and senators have shown a steadfast desire to carry out their pledges and the will of the people, and they have worked in perfect harmony. However, by newspaper stories and rumor an at- tempt is being made to destroy this harmony. This is being done by in- timation that some League members are already ‘rebelling” and that the League members’ caucuses are “secret” and “star chamber” affairs of evil im- port. The League majority - in the house is called a “steamroller” and other uncomplimentary terms, with the idea of-ereating discontent on the part of the farmers’ men with the view League Massmeetings! Most Important Sessions of Farmers Since the Big Primafy Campaign Meetings and Picnics Announced for Next Week Three big massmeetings of the Non- partisan League in North Dakota have been called to consider the acute situa- tion that has developed at Bismarck during the session of the legislature now on. These meetings, at which A. C. Townley, president of the League, will be the chief speaker, will be held as follows: Steele, Monday, January 15, at 2 p. m. & - Jamestown, Tuesday, January 16, at 2 p. m. Valley City, Wednesday, Janu- ary 17, at 2 p. m. Record attendances are expected, as: wide publicity will be given the meet-~ ings and every League member urged to make every effort to be present. The big topic for discussion will be: “Do you want the League pro- gram enacted into Law?®" The necessity for amending the con- stitution to carry out the League pro- gram will be explained and discussed, and different procedures for amending the constitution will be taken up. The attitude of the hold-over senators at Bismarck, WHICH THE ENEMIES OF THE LEAGUE PROGRAM BE- LIEVE AND HOPE WILL UNNECES- SARILY DELAY OR ACTUALLY BLOCK AMENDMENT OF THE CONSTITUTION, will be gone into by President Townley and other speakers. The formal announcement of these meetings appears on ‘the back page of this issue of .the Leader and should be read by every reader and League member. The fact that President Townley will be present will add great interest to these meetings and bring out thousands of farmers NINE, e People Develops of splitting the League forces in both houses. In this latter method of attack on the farmers’ plans one of the big even- ing dailies of the state, which hag pretended to be a friend of the farm- ers, is the most active. This paper, however,_ opposed all the farmers’ can- didates in the primaries and election and is known to be secretly opposed to this legislature fully carrying out the League program. This paper even ex- pressed wonder that the verdict of the People November 7 was interpreted by League senators and representatives as a mandate to amend the constitu- tion so that the League program could be -carried out! NO EASY TASK BEFORE THE LEAGUE On the whole, the members of the Nonpartisan League throughout North Dakota need not expect their men in the legislature to have easy sailing with the League program, even though they have a majority in the house and all the state offices. The opposition is well-organized, has a majority of the press with it, is working quietly in a round-about way, trying not to appear to oppose the League program, while doing everything possible to block it and ultimately defeat it. The fact that the people of the state are practically a unit in demanding the League pro- gram carried out means nothing to this kind of opposition. They have most of the power of publicity, most of the political experience and above all the backing of the big financial interests. . The legislative session is going to be a hard fight after all to carry out the promises made to the people,- but .1t is believed that honesty to the peo- ple and loyalty to the higher type of public service the new administration has ushered in will win in the end, TO FORM ASOCIATION Leola, S. D., Dec. 22, 1916, Editor Nonpartisan Leader: I wish you would mention in your paper that I wish to form a farmers’ loan bank association, under the new federal law, in McPherson County, S. D, at Leola. All farmers interested can write or phone me. Leola. D. N. CROUCH. My box is 161, * L