The Nonpartisan Leader Newspaper, January 18, 1917, Page 11

Under the present constitution and the way things have been the govern- ment restaurant was run by the politicians, who served out the fine steaks to Big Biz and his lackeys and gave the farmers and common people scanty meals, as the cartoonist has shown. This is a bum eating house. But under a new, modern constitution, in the people’s cafeteria, not run by the politicians, the farmers and common people help themselves. toonist -Hlustrates this condition, as it will be if the North Dakota allows the people to vote on the new constitution. The car- fegislature Hagan Appoints Dairy Commissioner ' of Agriculture Elected by Farmers Tells Plans for -His Important Office Commissioner : OMMISSIONER of Agriculture ‘ and Labor John N. Hagan an- nounced on Monday the appoint- ment of J. J. Osterhaus of Wauwatosa, ‘Wisconsin, as-state dairy commission- er for North Dakota, and Mr. Oster- haus assumed his duties January 15. Mr. Osterhause is a graduate of the agricultural and dairy course. at the ‘Wisconsin Agricultural college, and has had important work in the dairy extension department of the city of Milwaukee for some time. He has also made a special study of chemistry and food analysis, and of marketing dairy products. “What we need in North Dakota as much as anything is an understanding of the marketing problems that affect dairy products,” said Commissioner Hagan, elected by ' the Nonpartisan League to fill that important position.’ He said further: “North Daketa is struggling to enter the.roll of dairy states, and we have some progressive dairies and creameries, but for some reason the North Dakota creameries have not seemed to yield the profit they should. At present there are only 70 such creameries in operation. There are a good many.more that are idle. The reason they are idle is because they:can not be operated at a profit, and it fs one of the purposes of this department to make a study of this problem and help these much needed institutions to get on their feet. In this work Mr. Osterhaus, the new dairy commissioner, will of great service.” LABOR QUESTIONS TO BE TAKEN UP Mr. Hagan announced-several weeks ago that in selecting the persons to fill positions in the department of agricul- ture and labor, he would make the prime consideration efficiency and ability, and that if necessary to get the right kind of experts, he would not hesitate to go outside of the state. This he has done in one of the most import- ant appointments within his depart- ment. For the first few weeks, and in fact until the trend of legislation is discov- ered, there is little new work for the department to undertake. Mr. Hagan and his staff have been busily engaged in rearranging the office files and disposing of material that was not of immediate use, and in looking up the records of past activities in order to continue the administration without a break. In the agricultural lines a con- siderable amount of work has been done, but the aoffice afforded scant records of activity along lines of laber, which Mr. Hagan made an importamnt point of his campaign, and is much in- terested in pursuing. . : The law provides that certain re- ports of mining compunies shall be 7 filed” annually with the commissioner of Iabor, and certain fees be paid, and labor data gathered. This line of work will now be faken up as soon as a plan for carrying it on has been devised and appropriations made for it. The new commissioner holds that unless the de- partment makes the start provided by law, much valuable information will never be gleaned, and the basis for helpful labor laws may be lacking. In regard to this Mr. Hagan said: WILL ISSUE BOOKLET ON STATE’'S RESOURCES “North Dakota is of course not_ a labor state in the same sense as Min- nesota and many other states, but nevertheless there are many laboring men and women in North Dakota, and they have their organizations and their aspirations for better things. It is the duty of this department to help along these lines within the limits of the law, and perhaps an active exercise of such functions as the department possesses may help to stimulate improvement in labor conditions. At least that is our ~hope,and we intend to give this side of the department’s work earnest atten- tion.” One of Mr. Hagan's plans is for the publication of a booklet of North Da- kota's resources, along lines of the last annual year book issued in 1913, but with some more detailed information - 80 that the publication may become a ready manual for anyone who wants to know something about this state’s agricultural development and labor de- velopment. During the last four years there has been considerable advance- ment in the opening up of new farm- ing lands, and increase in the popula- tion of cities and towns. The informa- tion that was gathered four or five John N. Hagan, North Dakota commissioner of agriculture and labor, elected by the farmers, and his office staff at the state capitol. the left foreground. Read the appeal of your senators and representatives in this issue and act. It is now or never. If you are to have what you have fought for for years Nonpartisan majority in the legi ) get for you, you must act. Write your senators and re- presentatives at Bisn/narck at once what you think. Mr. Hagan is in vears ago is entirely inadequate now to meet the needs of those who seek in- formation about new opportunities, lands,” or agricultural resources. The booklet would designate the grain sec- tions, the livestock, and dairying sec- tions, and indicate the kind of land, and where lands are available. But with several kinds of constitu- tional revision.that might vitally af- fect the department, and unfathomed legislation outside of all constitutional questions, it is not expected that a strong beginning can be made until these matters have been decided. MAN OF THE HOUR Governor Lynn J. Frazier is the man of the hour in North Dakota. Less than a year ago he was hardly known except within a small circle in the vi- cinity of his home town, Hoople. A graduate of our state university, he chose to become a farmer and produc- -er and till the virgin soil, rather than enter into some other work. Today he holds the most honored position with-" in the gift of the people of the state of North Dakota. Governor Frazier has a real man's job before him. Tak- ing hold of the reigns of state gov- ernment at one of the most critical times in North Dakota’s history, when many economic changes are in the making, requires a strong mau with a clear mind. Governor Frazier will have an opportunity to become one of the biggest men that North Dakota has ever produced and the Indepen- »~ dent believes that he will make good. He should recetve the loyal support of every citizen of North Dakota.—WARD COUNTY (N. D.) INDEPENDENT. FOR NEW CONSTITUTION Northwood, N. D. Editor Nonpartisan IL.eader: As time goes on and things look brighter every day for a better govern- ment in North Dakota—a government for. and by the people—I feel it my duty as a member of the League to write and express my -appreciation of the work that is being carried on. I do especlally indorse a constitu- tional convention. Our present consti- _ tution never was drafted by the peo- plo. It was copied from the text books of invisible government—Big Biz, if you please. It never was meant to pro- tect the people. It protects the greedy, selfish, special-privileged corporations. Let us have an honest constitution for the people, drafted by the people. I think it about time Big Biz was gagged s0 he won't yell “unconstitu- - tional® whenever a bit of people’s leg- islation is proposed. Yours for a pro- gressive North Dakota. A. J. HUBO. B RN