The Nonpartisan Leader Newspaper, June 7, 1917, Page 2

A GOOD EXAMPLE Sterling, N. D., May 28, 1917. Editor Nonpartisan Leader: Two young telegraph operators em- ployed by the Northern Pacific rail- road company, C. J. Roberts and Dave Poindexter, one at Menoken and the other at Sterling, N. D., belong to the Telegraphers’ Union organized by these craftsmen several years ago. They pay each year, $12 dues, (exclusive of insurance or benefit dues) into their union. Their union has been able"to better their wages and working condi- tions and they continued to pay their dues, because they, like all other mem- bers of labor unions had learned from bitter experience that ‘sticking” to- gether pays, and that it costs real, hard earned money to maintain a union. This spring (1917) these boys jointly bought a quarter section of virgin land north of Sterling to break and sow to flax. As soon as they had completed the deal they sent in their dues, $16 each, for two years each membership in the Nonpartisan League, to the writer. This action exemplifies the spirit of solidarity that is spreading over the United States, and over the world, among the producers of wealth, whether in the mechanical and techni- cal industries or on the farm. The farmers are the last among the important producers of wealth among the basic industries to learn the lesson of “sticking together,” to further their mutual economic interests, and, the day is now at hand when all the wealth producers will be in “one big union,” politically and industrially, and rule the world,—as they should. The example of these two young tele- graph operators should sink deep into the minds of a certain few farmers who object to paying dues in an organ- ization that has proven itself to be the only available present method of res- cuing the farming class of America from falling into the same state of in- dustrial slavery recently thrown off by revolution by the peasants and wage slaves of Russia. Yours very truly, HENRY P. RICHARDSON, Dist. Organizer, Nonpartisan League. G. Pacific Hotel, Bismarck. GIVES VIEWS ON NONPARTISAN LEAGUE Clarissa, Minn. Editor of the Independent: Kindly permit me space in your valuable paper. I want to say a few things in regard to the attacks upon the Nonpartisan I.eague coming from various sources which I think are en- tirely unwarranted. What prompted me to write this letter was the remarks made last winter by E. W. Smith of the Farmers’ Institute. Among other things in the question box answered by Mr. Smith was the question: “What do you think of the Nonpartisan League?”’ i Mr. Smith rather insinuated that it was not a very good thing because the League had collected about $1,000,000 in North Dakota and have not accom- plished a thing, but that a better plan was to organize Farmers’ clubs to join the Farmers’ Club Federation at St. Paul at $2.00 a year for each club, and that their representatives would insist on the legislature to pass certain laws favorable to farming interests. “According to ‘The Farmer,’ pub- lished at St. Paul, in its issue two weeks ago, we noticed a statement to the effect that the entire program out- lined by the Federation of Clubs, fell by the wayside and that the law- makers ignored their request, except in one case. The Federation has existed about four years, while the League is only about two years old and has not had the time to develop. Farmers’ clubs are all right as far as social affairs are concerned, but politically there are as many different opinions as there are members and can not do much unless they get under the banner of the Nonpartisan ILeague, and pull at one end of the rope. Now we do not mean the League just recently or- ganized here in Minnesota that charges $6.00 membership and promises you everything you ask for. They organ- ized for the sole purpose of breaking up, the regular League, who can not do. much with their mudslinging tactics; neither will some of the county papers Baer, the farmer’s man, over. ; . that put over the great farmers’ ticket in North Dakota last fall. But it will be don What the League Army is Thinking League Picnics With Fun and Facts Immediately following the Nonpar- tisan League speaking dates on the statewide tour which began June 5 and will end June 16, there will be a series of picnics held in the best picnic spots in North Dakota, and the first series of routings is given below. Other places wanting picnics should at once notify the Nonpartisan League state headquarters at Fargo, and some additional dates may be arranged. Ex- cellent speakers with wit, fun and facts will instruct and entertain the farmers. In German communities there will be both German and English speaking. Look through this list and see if your town is in it. If it is, re- member the date, and bring the whole family on that date. Picnics will be held at the following places: Monday, June 18—Millarton, Kindred. Tuesday, June 19—Carrington, Page, Greene. Wednesday, June 20 — Spiritwood Lake, Lignite, Hillsboro. Thursday, June 21—Edgeley (at the : Experiment Farm), Crosby, Portland. Friday, June 22e«-Ellendale (at Van Meters Grove, 2 mbes east), Coopers- town (Erickson’s Grove), Fortuna. Saturday, June 23—Oakes (at S. P. Peterson’'s Grove, 8 miles northwest), Wildrose Lake (6 miles northeast of Wildrose), Stump Lake (north of Pe- kin). Monday, June 25—Dahlen, Hurds- field, Powers Lake, Gates Hall (north- west of Hazelton, German and Eng- lish). Tuesday, June 26—Edmore, Drake, Belden, Temvik (German and English). Wednesday, June 27—Starkweather, Maddock, Parshall, Strasburg (German and English). Thursday, June 28 — Snyder Lake (south of Rock Lake), Falsen, Straw- berry Lake, Ashley (German and Eng- lish). Friday, June 29—Hanshoro, Buffalo Lodge Lake (near Glenburn), Beulah (near Grange Hall), Wishek (German and English). Saturday, June 30—Wales, Bottineau, Yucca (German and English), Streeter (German and English). : Monster League Picnic and Town Meetings The following city meetings of the North Dakota Nonpartisan League will be held during June in the largest halls available in the cities mentioned, except that near Bowman, which is to be a monster outdoor pienic. Plans for the largest gathering ever held in Bowman county have been made. Also plans for a hall have been made to care for the crowd in case of rain. All the speakers named will be at each of these cities: Governor Lynn J. Frazier in his first speaking tour since he was elected governor; President A. C. Townley of the Nonpartisan League ; Chief Clerk A. E. Bowen of the house of representatives and O. M. Thomason. City people will have the League’s purposes brought to their very doors, and country people will travel far to hear these four well known speakers on such topics as the real meaning of House Bill 44, the terminal elevator bill veto, the ‘‘secret caucus,’’ and ‘‘carrying the truth to the people.”” These are the dates and the places: ‘Minot, June 7 Grand Forks, June 8 Jamestown, June 9 Beach, June 11- Dickinson, June 12 and some ‘“so-called” business men right here in Clarissa, and the sooner those fellows quit howling, the better for them, because we are going to stick and if $16 isn’'t enough why we can duplicate it three or four times. Right now is the time to join the League and work for your own inter- ests. Remember we have a harder fight coming than they had in North Dakota, but if we can keep the gang from splitting us up, we will be winners. JOHN STEPAN. BIGGEST THING ON THE PIKE Aberdeen, Wash., May 21, 1917. Editor Nonpartisan+*Leader: Inclosed find stimps for a sample copy of your valued paper. I have heard so much and read so much of your movement that I am very hope- ful for the future of self government and the success of the democratizing of production and distribution. I feel that you people are on the right track. I hope never to see any reaction and slipping back. I know that this movement is the biggest thing that has come down the pike of time for the actual producers, and once the thing has spread it’s full developed powers all hell can not stop it. ; I was born and reared in the country for the first part of my life and I know the dead weight and killing in- fluence after hard work and harvest to see drones, the money shark class, the leeches of middlemen, sucking all the efforts dry of all benefits, and even ruining and bankrupting thousands. & Buffalo Springs, east of Bowman, June 13 Mott, June 14 Mandan, June 15 Fargo, June 16- As a physician I have known of large numbers of farmers’ wives and the men themselves going to the grave pre- maturely, many times with a wrecked mind as well as heart. People have left finance and trans- portation and distribution to the good offices of the leech classes and wond- ered what had struck them. Yet they went patiently along and were repeatedly stung in the same place as often as they tried to reap the full reward of their endeavors. ‘Wishing your movem measure of success and hoping that the movement spreads far and wide. I am yours most respectfully, G. F. MESSER, M. D. MEES A GOOD SCOUT Editor Nonpartisan Leader: On April 26 you published an article in which you said, “wait until we get a few more like Messers Cahill and Koller.” Should@ have been Mees, Cahill and Koller. You made the mis- take in having Messers instead of Mees. ; Mr. Mees' is a man who stands high in the community. Fea&ring he might think his name was left‘out on purpose I would be very thankful if you would correct that mistake, for he was one of our best friends in the last legis- lature. i No, the League is not dead. We will vote stronger than ever next election. Just watch our smoke. We are only waiting to re-enroll. Yours for the ne limit, _W. F. MARTIN. Now to give the great farmers’ movement a voice in the nation’s councils! It means sticking. It means the same e t the fullest’ U. S. FOLLOWS THE LEAGUE Editor Nonpartisan Leader: ‘We read a good deal about the Anti- Socialist gang organized to fight the Nonpartisan movement in North Da- kota. But I do not see any of them tracking through the country with their Ford cars or big six cylinders to .call on the farmers to ‘“carry the truth to the people” as they call it. They know they are too late, for the truth, was sounded to the people two years ago by the Nonpartisan organizers and Dr. Ladd, so there is nothing left for the Old Gang to tell the people, only to try and discourage and mislead them. They are dying hard but they will have to go a year from this fall. They realized at last fall's election their boat was torpedoed. It is slowly sinking and they are like drowning men grab- ing at a straw, but they fail to find anything that will carry the truth to the people any better than the Non- partisan Leader. This is a war for a square deal, but you do not have to . put your body up as a target to be shot, but put only eight dollars a year and stick for a fair deal and cast your ballot for the right men. You can see the government is talk- ing of taking over the control of food stuff prices in time of war to save the country from so much graft and gamb- ling. If this is a goed thing in time of war, it certainly is good in time of peace. This is practically the same thing the Nonpartisan League organ- ized for, to cut out all graft and gamb- ling of food stuff. Join the army of Nonpartisans and fight for your rights, WESLEY WHITE ARE WE DOWNHEARTED? NO. Editor Nonparusan Leader: I believe our movement is the be- ginning of a new era for the common people and that we should not becoma discouraged by anything the opposition can do to stir up dissension and dis- courage us, for Wilson has the ‘“paci- fists,” Lincoln had the “Copper heads” and Washington had the “tories,” while Townley has only a few disgruntled politicians to contend with and has the loyal support of the best element of the country — the hard-working, deep thinking farmer and laborer and the most intelligent business men of the country. Why be downcast? We ain’t. F. D. WOODWORTH. IS MUCH PLEASED Elmore City, Okla. Editor Nonpartisan Leader: Am much pleased with both the League and Leader, and their advo- cacy of the rights justly due the farm- er and laboring man—for the just rights of humanity. Justice is humanity and humanity is Justice. Assuring you that I am one who will support the League on its arrival in this state. H. E: ROBERTSON. INDORSE FRAZIER League senators and representa- tives stand behind Governor Frazier: in his veto of Senate Bill 84. The Nonpartisan League convention in Fargo June 1, sent the following telegram to the governor: “Governor L. J. Frazier, Bismarck: “We, 79 senators and representa- tives of the North Dakota legisla- ture of 1917 in convention assembled at Fargo as delegates of the Non- partisan League, having discussed your veto of Senate Bill 84, the so- called ‘fake’ terminal elevator bill, unanimously wish to congratulate you for your courage and foresight in vetoing the same and thus as- suring an adequate elevator with flour mill in connection in 1919.” This telegram was ordered sent to Governor Frazier by unanimous vote of the Nonpartisan League convention at Fargo.. The conven- tion also adopted the following resolution by unanimous vote: “Resolved, by the delegates of the Nonpartisan League that it is their belief that this nation can be best served in this crisis by exempting farm boys from the selective draft and leaving them on the farm, rath- . er than taking them away and at- tempting to substitute in their places inexperienced: labor from the cities.” - .~ Tt means Wofk to put nthusiasm and “pep” e.