The Nonpartisan Leader Newspaper, May 3, 1917, Page 3

In the interest +of a square deal for the farmers Nonpartigan Teader [= Official Magazine of the National Nonpartisan League VOL. 4, NoO. 18 GAL-DURNED, IF WE'RE GOIN/ TO LET THE OLD GANG BRAND THIS BEAUTIFUL HORSE! — = __‘____—==—=~—“‘ Tr ying to Misbra HE story of the plan of action of the enemies of the Nonparti- I san League is plainly told in the cartoon we print on this-page. Everywhere throughout the West where the Nonpartisan League is carrying on its organization work the reactionaries, the agents of special privilege, the political ‘‘shepherds’’, are busy with their scheming and their plots. Their plan now is to put a brand—a false brand—upon the Non- partisan League, so that the hard-working and honest farmer will not want to own it. . . Those who have lived in the range country know that a branded animal is not as valuable as one that is not branded. One of the tricks of ‘the horse thief was to rebrand or misbrand the animals he stole. So when the political pirates want to capture an efficient machine for public service or to spoil its value to its real owner they try to brand it with a false brand. * & THE OLD GANG REASONING HE brand they have chosen to put on the Nonpartisan League is l ‘‘Socialism’’. By this name they expect to appeal to preju- dices of all sorts, especially to religious prejudices. Here is the way they do it: 2 “‘The Nonpartisan League stands for state ownership’’, they say. $‘Socialists believe in state ownership; therefore the Nonpariisan League is a Socialist organization’’. But they go further: ‘‘Some Socialists”’, they say, ‘‘are atheists; others are free-lovers; therefore the Nonpartisan League is-an atheistic and free-love organization’’. This is an intelligent piece of reasoning, isn’t it} It is just exactly: the kind of reasoning that has been used at every age of the world to stir up class hatreds and race divisions and all sorts of oppression and injustice. ¢ < ® % = A LOGICAL ARGUMENT HE reasoning goes something like this: | ¢¢ All Indians love firewater’’, ~ “Bill Johnson loves firewater’”. ‘“Therefore Bill Johnson is an Indian’’. Now it doesn’t make any difference if you happen to know that Bill Johnson is a towheaded son of Norway who hates an Indian worse than the devil hates holy water. It makes no difference. The reason- . ing is complete. By the Old Gang method of argument the love of FARGO, NORTH DAKOTA, THURSDAY, MAY 3, 1917. He Knows the Horse-Thief’s Touch WHOLE NUMBER 88 firewater is the distinguishing characteristic of an Indian and because Johnson likes his dram occasionally it is very plain to be seen that he has Indian blood in him. No doubt about it. ~ TIsn’t this absolutely a parallel argument to the one that ‘“proves’’ that the Nonpartisan League is ‘‘Socialistic’’ and all those other things? & = THE ‘‘SOCIALISTIC’’ PROGRAM HE Nonpartisan League in North Dakota has declared for state I ownership of terminal elevators, flour mills, packing houses and cold storage plants. Presumably if it had declared for terminal elevators alone, it would not have been ‘‘Socialistic’’, for all the Old Gangsters now say THEY are for terminal elevators. Or it may be THEY are ‘‘Socialists’’, too. But the state of North Dakota already operates a school system, a penitentiary, an insane asylum, a twine plant, a street car system and several other enterprises for public purposes. Are not these all “‘Socialistic’’? The city of Williston is operating an electric light and power system. Many other cities have light plants and nearly every progressive city in the West has.its city water plant. Are not these all evidences of ‘‘Socialism’’? ; * & o DISTINGUISHED COMPANY OF ‘‘SOCIALISTS’ VERY publie project in the history of this great nation which E proposed by government action to improve the lot of the work- ers, to widen opportunity for the poor man, to stimulate his am- bition, to hold out incentives to orderly and satisfied and contented in- dustry on the part of the individual, has been labeled ‘‘Socialism’’ by its enemies. - 2 : “And of course you remember that Bull Moose party platform of a few years ago with its schemes for aiding the oppressed. ‘‘Socialism. pure-and simple”’, all our reactionary friends called it, It .won’t go. The trick is too cheap and too old. The people of the West are too sensible and wise to fight anything that is good and that offers them relief from injustice just because somebody labels it ““Socialism’’. T The puny Old Gang plotters with their branding iron heated in the fires of malice, prejudice and greed will be hoisted on the hoofs of the Nonpartisan League workhorse that is about to be hitched to the chariot of freedom. - : THRERE t | i i s ST IR PEATS SEELG T S