The Nonpartisan Leader Newspaper, September 27, 1917, Page 15

The Nonpartisan Leader is two years .old with this issue. "Bil’lican, Leader is a high-powered racer with the farmer at the wheel, on finishing the second lap, and it is .passing the race, while the “Controlled Press” is chugging along, away in the rear. other political paper is like it. ganizations. DEMOCRAGY AT HOME Jamestown, N. D. Iditor Nonpartisan T.eader: Very naturally at 'this time, as in all great crises, if not ‘on account of en- thusiasm, then because of anxiety, all attention is focused on its probable results and consequences, sharpened by:a matural, -and for .that matter, a proper zeal for the welfare of both country.and friends and loved ones, alike exposed to the dangers of that war, and in the mean time bene- ficiaries of enormous war profits are piling up millions. Statistics are said to show that the crop of millionaires in this country which have sprung up since the begin- ning of the Iluropean war three years ago, abounds in figures almost un- thinkable. While this fact, unfair and unjust as it seems, does not set well on the average mind, it should not be permitted to obliterate a proper zeal for the welfare of the country, neither should it be entirely ignored. It is just as patriotic to guard the country and its people against unscrupulous hypocrisy and greedy. over-reaching at home, as to arm and fight against usurpation and invasion from abroad, and in a sense more so, because it needs no spurring on to resist the lat- ter, but the former are usually garbed in friendship’s cloak, with a Judas kiss on their lips. The Nonpartisan. Leader and the League are to be congratulated for not losing sight of these vital things, and in not permitting themselves to be .de- flected from their course, in endeavor- ing to better the conditions, and to safeguard the rights of those who ac- 3 tually produce a nation’s prosperity. Let them keep on to “press continually to the mark of their high calling.” M. C, FREERKS. A MICHIGAN BOOST The following statement of principles from the farmers’ “National Nonparti- san league,” is almost prophetic of a. new dawn. Their manifesto is directed against an organization which is world-wide, and is as old, almost, as is humanity. The astute mind of greed has ever succeeded in enslaving the less thinking and unsuspecting. If the idea spreads until our old friend Greed shall “walk the chalk,” we may. throw up our bats while he mutters and ac- cepts * the inevitable. — LAINSBURA (MICE.) MBWS. the war and | A NEBRASKA, VIEW The politicians have always said, and laughed. intheir sleeves:'about it, that ,the farmers and workers “will not :stick together” for their.own interests and the machines could put any old thing over on these guys. But they stuck: in :North ' Dakota last year, and - again this.summer, when they elected a congressman by an increased vote tover last year. .And they are going to stick in- Nebraska next year when the work of organization is completed. The politicians and big business have work- ed the game too strong; borne down too hard on the producers until now the oppressed realize they must do something or go under and they know that politics is the only game they can play to save themselves. And they are going to play it, believe me.—LIN- COLN {(NEB.) HERALD. ORGANIZATION PAYS Temple, N, D. Editor Nonpartisan- Leader: A couple of jncidents have happened under my observation that are about as comical and forceful as Rip the Re- porter runs across. Last spring when a Nonpartisan organizer was here a neighbor of mine asked me if I intend- ed to join and he received ‘an answer in the affirmative whereupon he said: “Let us stay out for we:will get the "benefits and not the expense of join- 'ing." . When I went forward he went away. Later in the summer we all got completely hailed out and my friend went to a western city to find work and here is his story in brief told me .on his return: : “After arriving at City I start- ed down the street looking for any kind of work, as I am handy at most any trade. I noticed a barber shop where there was a vacant chair and the shop crowded. I watched my oppor- tunity and asked the proprietor for ‘a Jjob. ‘Sure’, he said ‘come in the morn- ing ready for work.’ I did.and he ask- ed to see my card. When I said I had none he nearly threw a fit and told me to get ,out. I then noticed a-building being erected and I applied tp the head man for carpenter work and he asked for my local number. I got it in the neck from carpenters, steel boss and clear down the line even to the hod carriers. y ‘“I finally noticed a sign in a window, ‘dish washer wanted’ and being deter- mined to find work went in 8ure of not “Big Biz Farmer Press” and the “Plutocratic Press”, Leader cartoonist, drew tHe abbve' picture of this most auspicious event. His idea is that the and that it is just finishing the second lap. The license number shows the circulation point it passed who are just finishing the first lap and are about out of the There is no doubt about the Leader “going some”. It stands unique in the publication. field, just like the Nonpartisan league, whose magazine it is, stands unique among farmer or- What They .Say About the League - No other farm paper is like it. No being turned down and the first thing ‘asKed me ‘was“if I belonged to the dish washers’ union and I quit looking for work and took the first train home and since it is absolutély necessary to join something I am going to join the League.” J. A. VAN WAGENEN. ORGANIZATION HELPED Notwithstanding the low price of wheat as fixed by the commission in Washington, the price is undoubtedly considerably higher as a result of. the united front which the farmers of the Northwest were able to present before the commission through their strong organization. That the force of their organization was recogniz- ed is plainly evident in the deadlock which resulted over the low price in- sisted on by their opponents on the body. The work of Congressman Baer, representative of the organiz- ation at the capital, merits praise, as well as that of others who joined in the fight for justice. The. high abili- ty and expert knowledge of Dr. Ladd on‘ matters pertaining to agriculture compelled ' dttention of the commis- sion of which he was a member and he is «entitled to ‘' credit . from the farmers for :backing the justness of their demand for -a fair price with scientific fact and: logic and which resulted in the abandonment of the low figure of $1.65 originally = pro- posed as a “fair” price. While the re- sult of the commissions’ work is not as satisfactory as was.desired, it nev- ertheless shows conclusively the im- portance of a strong farmers' organ- ization to meet that of other indus- tries. on an equal footing. It pays to be organized. — GAZETTE-NEWS, Park River, N. D. GOVERNOR IS FAIR Governor Frazier states in his recent proclamation to the sheriffs his views on labor troubles in clear and concise’ ierms, the meaning of which can not be mistaken. His attitude for absolute " fairness and squareness is commended by every thoughtful citizen. Every person who attempts the destruction of - property’ will have the full severity of the law applied to him, the governor says. But peace officers are also di- rected to see that the laborers who gather here for harvest are given fair treatment. They are not to be clubbed and driven out of the community be~ cause they seek work or ask wages ‘"' PAGE' SIXTEEN ‘" _'Through higher than the peace officers think they should get, 'without committing acts *r violation of the law. Tiis show -of fairness to both labor and its em- ployer, does not appeal to these who like to class men out-of work as un- desirables and criminals and have ap- propriate treatment meted out to them. Gov. Frazier has in mind the welfare of the larger class. Destruction of property or labor disorders can be directly attributed in most cases to harsh and unfair treatment by peace officers. The governor's warning is timely. — GAZETTE-NEWS, Park River, N. D. > LEAGUE POSITION SOUND Cooperstown, N. D., Sept. 3, 1917. Editor Nonpartisan Leader: Your editorials relating to the war question could not be better. Baer's slatement was very good. Keep up the good work. The people are with you. HENRY HERIGSTAD. WANT SOME SPEAKERS Sanish, N. D, .Aug., 1917. Editor Nonpartisan Leader: ... Received my first copy of. the Leader Wednesday morning and have read it through. Like it very much. Don't -Bee about any doings in Mountrail county Why not send some good booster like Townley to Sanish, cn the -banks of the Missouri, where the Jhomesteaders are about to thresh their first crops of grain, and in a territory where mostly young farmers are starting out to make their stake? Crops fairly good and prices favore able. We won't miss our sixteen boneg this fall. J. C. SANDERSON. LEAGUER FOR 25 YEARS Canton, Tex., Aug. 15, 1917. Editor Nonpartisan Leader; , ... the kindress of some friend, I suppose, I have received a copy of the composite edition of* the Nonpartisan Leader, which I have read with much interest. For 25 years I have been trying to hammer such ideas into the:farmers’ minds. Years ago I was county secretary of the Farmers’ Alliance. Am a backwoods farmer. Hewed out a farm in the forest of this county, Have a wife and six children, and am 49 years old, and game as a peacock. f want to sée Texas North Dakotaized. | Q. SNOW.