The Nonpartisan Leader Newspaper, May 3, 1917, Page 8

L | Bewa re of the Political Quack Doctor ‘ - P 5 3 ______-—- —IEE Z = —_— This is the season when the political quacks are’starting out. The farmers of the Northwest have suffered under an unjust system for many years. They have been begging the politicians to find them a remedy, but none was provided. Finall treatment that offered excellent hope of curing the market evils. They began to apply the cure. Just then, along came an army of quack doctors. dospesters of all sorts are busy telling the farmer that the system he is using is all wr . ‘“We admit that the disease is bad, but you are going about it in the wrong way. Wha a little more of OUR dope’’. y the farmers agreed upon a course of Fake ‘‘leagues’’ have been organized and political ong. ‘‘We admit that a remedy is needed’’, they say. t you should do is to put yourself in OUR hands and try -"But-the farmer of the Northwest knows their tricks. He has been stung too often b of nothing better he might try the faker’s remedies; though he was practically sure they one that works and he’s going to stay by it until he gets results. y the political quack. In the old days when he knew would do no good. 'But now he has a new system and Look Out for Fake “Buyers” Minnesota Farmer, at Minne BY J. W. WITHAM Y some scraps of conversation B picked up in the lobby dur- ing' the recent session of the Minnesota legislature, I infer that there is going to be a ‘‘a merry time’’ in North Dakota in the im- mediate future in the political field. ‘‘Big Business’’ seems to have taken genuine alarm on aec- count of the teachings and the activities of the Nonpartisan . League, and proposes to suppress this movement at any cost. The politicians whom I over- heard discussing the matter ap- pear to realize that the task of side-tracking the League is likely to be extremely difficult as well as expensive. Some of them fig- ured that it might cost as much as $100 per voter to offset the work the League leaders have ac- complished at a maximum expense so far of $9 per member. The program of the enemies of the League, as gathered from the talks referred to, is ambitious and far reaching, and the details should make mighty interesting reading to the average League member. Briefly outlined, it is as follows: In the first place, a complete political survey covering _ every citizen will be made of the entire state, Every voter will Attack on League ABOUT THE AUTHOR OF THIS ARTICLE—BY HIMSELF To Members of the Nonpartisan League: I am not a member of the League, but I have fought as a humble private in the battles that farmers have waged through the Grange, the Alliance, the American Society of Equity, and Farmers’ clubs for legis- lation now conceded by all to be wise and just, though violently opposed at the time by the identical interests that are now fighting the League program in North Dakota. I believe the farmers of which I am one, are entitled to the profits on what they produce, and I sympathize with the efforts they are making to secure a free market ‘for what they grow. For these reasons, I have written this article in order that they, the League members, may be forewarned of the plans being concocted by those who have grown fat and rich off their daily toil, to side-track and kill off the movement now so well under way, and so ably managed to secure and to guarantee to each farmer the fruits of his own labor and to make agriculture as it should be the most profitable industry, the best paying business in this country. J. W. WITHAM, Here is a story that throws a great light on the series of meetings that is being held by profes- sional politicians and other enemies of organ- ization by the farmer. Since the anti-farmer meeting in Grand Forks three weeks ago there have been many quiet conferences in the leather chairs of city hotels and behind the ground glass doors of offices outside the street. Some of the information about what the foes of the farmer are planning has leaked out. A good friend of the farmers’ cause overheard the remarkable plot here revealed. sota Capitol, Hears Plans of Enem have his pedigree written out in full'. This will include, name, lo- cation, nationality, eduecation, old political party to which he form- ally belonged, League member or not and whether he is in sympa- thy or not with the objects of the Leagge. Also, his personal views on side issues like prohibition, woman suffrage, war, single tax, and the like. : ARMY OF ‘‘FARM BUYERS” TO MAKE A CANVASS This survey is to be made by an army of experts in the guise of men wanting to buy farms, or in case of renters, to hire farm man- agers. They calculate that almost any farmer is willing to sell out,’ provided he can get his price, and will therefore treat his prospective customer kindly and talk freely. Armed with the information outlined above, a second party, also a land buyer, will speedily appear on the scene. Yes, he likes the farm, its location, and the price 18 reasonable and the terms satisfactory, and the title, which he has already looked up, is per- fect. But—and he will look sad and perplexed—he wants it for a home, and he has a family used to (Continved on page 15) y for Gigantic.