The Nonpartisan Leader Newspaper, September 13, 1917, Page 5

THE FARMER AND UNCLE SAM HAVE A CONVERSATION Yoy Ratse A LOT OFWHEAT AND T Wikla JUST A MW ELL, 1I'"VE RAISED OE FaAIQ WWITH you % " <> Sore pd Q) s LS “You raise a lot of wheat and I will be fair with you,” and then you won't be surprised that the farmer’s ha 8am anyway. He is going to attend the meeting in F SAY Wikl You RAWSE A BI16 says Uncle Sam to the farmer in the first picture. Read the rest of the conversation in the other pictures t is flying off in his astonishment in the last picture. But the farmer is going to co-operate with Uncle argo or St. Paul this month to help the government fix prices on a few other things besides wheat. Final and definite dates for the big farmers’ and consumers’ conventions are: Monday, Septem- ber 17, at Fargo, N. D.; Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday, September 18, : 19 and 20, at St. Paul, Minn. 0 all. He is being taxed first and most severely to carry the expenses of the war. He would have been taxed even more drastically by the price-fixing commission if it had not been for the Nonpartisan league, the one organization of farmers which fought for a fair price for wheat, and whose efforts, supporting the efforts of the representatives of the farmers on the price board, obtained a price at least 40 cents a bushel higher than had first been determined upon. It is evident that the support of a stronger public sentiment is needed so that the government can carry through a successful policy of regulation and limitation of profits. “High war profits now are a tax imposed on the consumer without his having any voice in the mat- ter. Many of them are the result of monopoly and its persistent efforts to increase its revenue. ORGANIZED LABOR PROMISES TO AID The convention to be held in St. Paul is expected to solidify a strong public sentiment which will make it possible for the government to do what is needed to protect the consumers from war exploitation. The convention is to be a patriotic series of meetings. Its purpose will be to show the way to allay resentment of the people against price regulations which will work a hardship. Its purpose will be to find a way to promote the efficiency and war strength of the nation by doing equal justice to all, to remove the injustices which hamper the nation in its effort for united action. The participation of organized labor in the convention has been invited and letters have béen sent out to heads of labor organizations in all parts of the country. The co-operation of organized labor in Minnesota has been promised by President E. G. Hall and Secretary G. W. Lawson of the Minnesota state federation of Labor. Letters also have been sent to the heads of national labor organizations and to many local labor bodies. ; It is felt by those promoting the meeting that workingmen and farmers have a common interest in building up a public sentiment through which the government can take action to curb the war prof- iteers who cause a heavy burden to be laid on both producer and con- sumer. Big Men of Nation to Attend Nonpartisan League Has Invited Prominent Experts to Help ' Farmers and Consumers at Great St. Paul Convention. [EADERS in the fight for the rights of the common people and experts in the problems of production and marketing of neces- ] sities of life, will speak at the big mass convention under the — auspices of the Nonpartisan league to be held at the auditor- fum in St. Paul Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday, September 18, 19 and 20. Among those invited to speak at the convention are: Senator William E. Borah of Idaho, prominently mentioned a few . months ago as a Republican candidate for. president. Senator Hiram Johnson of California, former governor, leader of a progressive faction in his party and a fighter for economic reform. Senator Robert M. LaFollette of Wisconsin, author of the minority war tax bill, which proposed to conseript incomes and war profits to carry the expenses of the war. Senator A. J. Gronna of North Dakota, an uncompromising fighter . for the interests of the farmers of his state. Congressman Claude Kitchin, leader of the Democratic majority in the house and representative of the views of the national adminis- tration in many respects. Senator Thomas P. Gore, the famous blind senator from Oklahoma, who has been throughout his career a friend of the working man. Jeanette Rankin of Montana, only woman member of congress and one of that body’s most progressive members, Congressman Edward Keating of Colorado, a fighter for fair dis- " tribution of the products of labor and a man of wide information on economic topics. Congressman John M. Baer of North Dakota. . Governor Lynn J, Frazier of North Dakota. - .BIG MEN HAVE ACCEPTED - INVITATION OF THE LEAGUE Among those who have accepted the invitation to come are: . Former United States Senator J. S. McLaurin of South Carolina. Former Senator MecLaurin since his retirement from the senate and until recently has been commissioner of markets in his state. He has made an exhaustive study of the evils of marketing conditions which affect the farmers of the southeast. He will be prepared to tell some- .thing about the rice combine and the methods that have been found ef- fective in his state to eliminate the middlemen who perform no valu- able service. Robert Bridges, former chairman of the port commission of Seat- tle. Bridgss is the ‘‘father’’ of the great Seattle port projects, the terminal elevator publicly owned and operated, the public docks and warehouses- and cold storage plants which have redeemed producers of Western Washington from slavery to a market combine, which have given them a bétter market and increased the prices they receive, and which in addition have brought down the cost of living to those who buy the farmers’ products. He will talk of how to promote fr.xz. prosperity and reduce the cost of living. 3 Dr. H. J. Waters, president of Kansas Agricultural college. Dr. Waters aided Dr. Ladd of North Dakota in a fight in the price-fixing commission for a square deal for the farmers. He will be able to tell something about the cost of production of wheat and other farm prod- ucts and what was the basis upon which the price determined upon ac- tually was fixed. He can present the farmers’ side of the price-fixing problem in a convincing way. Dr. Edwin F. Ladd, president of North Dakota Agricultural col- lege. Dr. Ladd will discuss the price of bread, following the wheat from the elevator to the table. He will show how much the price of bread could be reduced if others besides the farmers who take part in its manufacture are compelled to do their share. OTHERS WHO WILL SPEAK AT THE BIG MEETINGS Invitations also have been extended to other leading authorities on prices and production, whose names will be made public later. - Two of the representatives of labor who were on the price-fixing ‘board have been asked to attend. These men are W. N. Doak of Roanoke, Va., represénting the Brotherhood of Railway Trainmen, and J. W. Sullivan of Brooklyn, N. Y., representing the American Federa- tion of Labor. Both of these labor officials have been engaged in work for the government since the war started. They will be expected to present labor’s attitude toward war price fixing. Governor Lynn J. Frazier of North Dakota is expected also to address the convention. He will probably deliver a speech stating the objects of the gathering on the opening day and then will act as perma- nent chairman. & The first opportunity to hear Congressman John M, Baer since he took office will be afforded by the convention. - President A. C. Townley of the National Nonpartisan league —will also be heard at one or more of the sessions. 3 PAGE FIVE 3 “\..-,._ S