The Nonpartisan Leader Newspaper, October 25, 1917, Page 17

e e SO Y oy “'“mm"’mmmmmwmmumwmmmvw~-.‘:,%a~4.~:mz~1r.n~.-zm“-x.mumnmw‘. SIREESS _ Blows for Liberty Force Banker to Apologize Five Hundred South Dakota Farmers Resent False Statements Against Their Organization Sioux“Falls, S. D. Editor Nonpartisan Leader: The bankers of South Dakota—some of them at least—are following the tricks of some of the bankers of North Dakota, in their obstructive tactics against the Nonpartisan league. A most flagrant instance was at Hartford, S. D, about a week ago. A bank there that had received a number of postdated checks payable to the Nonpartisan league, which were sent for collection by the national office of the League at St. Paul. It appears that the banker, instead of paying the checks as was his duty, took it upon himself to call up by phone the makers of several checks and in- formed them that the Nonpartisan league was bankrupt and asking if they wanted the checks paid, under such circumstances. It further appears, ac- cording to his own admission, that he secured the cancellation of at least three checks, by this malicious and mischievious meddling. __Word of this banker's meddlesome activity reached *’ - state office of the Nonpartisan lea at Sioux Falls. Immediately Manager Duncan got busy and notified by mail the League mem- hership in three townships that a meeting would be held at Hartford, on Monday last. The meeting and its purpose reached the banker's ears. He sent a repre- sentative to the League headquarters to “explain” and express regrets. The meeting was held as per schedule and the banker was invited to be present and “explain” his conduct to the farm- ers. He reluctantly accepted the invi- tation and faced an audience of 500 enthusiastic Leaguers. His “explana- tion” was weak and apologetic but was accepted at its face value and the banker put on probation pending good behavior. The meeting was a notable one, punctuated by vigorous and enthusias- tic applause and resulted in several new members being added to the forces of the League after the meeting. It is needless to say that the bankers of Hartford will ook twice before they leap: again into the Nonpartisan thorn bush, The territory around Hartford is solidly organized and there is already talk of a real farmers’ bank being or- ganized. The speaker explained that the League did not start such fights as this—but usually ended them. South Dakota is in the fight to win.. O. M. THOMASON. HOW TO BORROW CASH Lonetree, N. D. Editor Nonpartisan Leader: You are aware that the federal farm loan system is an innovation to get low rates of interest and easy terms on loans to farmers—non-profit making in character. No publicity has been given to this system because no funds were provided in the law for that purpose. If the Leader will give a little pub- licity to the plan it will save many thousands of dollars to the farmers: in ‘Ward county. Loans are heing allowed to members of the Berthold assccia- tion, of which I am a member, at.the rate of $1000 a day. Farmers like it. There are several other associations in Ward county. If farmers would like to borrow money at 5 per cent on a farm mort- gage apy time within a year they can get it when they want it by becoming members of a national farm loan asso- ciation. There are no commissions to pgy and it costs nothing to bhecome a nier iber. Those in this region who wish t be- come members, should apply at olice in verson or, by mail or telephone to, JOHN H. KASSENS, Secretary. FROM A RAILROAD MAN Salt Lake City, Utah. ' Editor Nonpartisan Leader: I want to acknowledge receipt of copies of your paper. I think they are fine and I have read them: over and after showing them around I have put them out with seme very progressive farmers near Payson, Utah, who will use them for propa- ganda. work, I have been taking the “Salt Lake Telegram” for years, because it seems the lesser of the “big daily” evils that we Americans have to put' up with in these days of dollar patriotism and corporation bulldozing. I am so utter- 1y nauseated with the big press that I am about to quit them and go- without. I hope within a few days to begin tak- ing your paper and I hope to be able to send it to two very strong men at the head of the farmers in this state, whom I know are fundamentally sound and very progressive. I have been working with them for some time past to bring us a forward movement in this state, i As T see the farmers’ cause, it par- takes largely of the ideal—the. really better things—I am immensely im- pressed with the wonderful future it should have; the really better people— the really sound people—must and will support it and its foundation will be enduring, WILLIAM J. TIERNEY, Division 395, Order of Railway - Conductors. LET’S KNOW THE COSTS Bismarck, N. D. Editor Nonpartisan ILeader: Congratulations upon the excellence of your article on farmers’ costs. I know of no surer way to make the farmers “gtick” unto the day of vic- tory, thah to show them how, to what ent, and by whom, they are robbed. ep up the good work. ; HENRY P. RICHARDSON, 85 CENTS IN THE HOLE Sauk Center, Minn. Editor Nonpartisan Leader: I notice an article in a recent Leader regarding the cost of producing a bu- shel of wheat. I am very certain the writer of that article is not far from correct as figures of my own will show, and I have taken a very low price for a number of items. Here they are: p Board 1 man 1 day, $1; 3 horses 1 day, $1.50; harness: wear, 25 cents; plow wear, 50 cents; plowing 1 acre, $1.50; dragging 1 acre, 50 cents; drill- ing 1 acre, 75 cents; 1% hushels seed wheat, $2.50 per bushel, $3.75; cutting 1 acre, $1.50; twine, $1.00; shocking 1 acre, 50 cents; stacking:1 acre, $3.75; threshing 1 acre, $1.75; spreading manure, 1 acre, 4 loads, $4.00; hauling to market; 60 cents—making a total of $22.85 that 10 bushels of wheat would actually cost the farmer. Now it will be seen by my figures that I am not far, if any, out of the way, and allowing $2.20 which the farmer will get per bushel for this 10 bushels ($22) it will leave him in the hole just 85 cents, How long can any one sell goods at a less? You may ask, “Can he not cut down on some of these items?” We answer: “Yes, if he will eat milk-weed soup as some of our good advisers would have us do to conserve the food supply.” - A. D. CARPENTER. NAILING A FALSEHOOD Crested Butte, Colo. Editor Nonpartisan Leader: I am inclosing an editorial comment from the Rocky Mountain News of Sept. 24, printed in Denver. x I have read several issues of the Nonpartisan Leader and so far as I can determine the League has been backing up the government in its war policy. ‘I thought you ought to have this to have a chance to correct delib- erate falsehoods concerning the League. Of course, anything that is not strictly “old party” is pro-German or anti-American and always will be in the -kept press, but it may help the fight to catch such s&éabs as this as they come along lest many. be unduly predjudiced against the organization. Of course there will be some opposi- tion, we all know that, but all criticism downed is a victory for the League. I would suggest that members of the League or anyone interested in the fight to regain popular . sovereignty send in all such comments against the League and give the editor of the Leader a chance to crack back and spread the truth. ORLANDO A. ORAM. The editorial referred to charges that the producers’ and consumers’ meeting at St, Paul was “disloyal”, stating that disloyal remarks were made by one speaker. _The best answer to this is that the bitterest enemies of the League have not been able to eriticize the reso- lutions adopted, the- only action taken by the convention. If criticizing one speaker out of 87 the engmies of the League admit that 86 out of the 87 akers were loyal and patriotic.— f'HR EDITOR. / PAGE SEVENTEEN ADVERTISEMENTS This ad donated to Liberty Loan campaign by tife Leader, Help Your ‘Boy Win the War! OUR boy-is leaving to fight for you at the battle front. He is leaving father and mother, wife and friends. He is giving all that he has to give. He is giving it for you—your life—your freedom—your liberty— your America! Will you stand back of him? Buy a Liberty Bond so there will . be plenty of shells to provide a curtain of fire behind which he may advance. Buy a Liberty Bond so he may have good food, warm' blankets, clo- thing and shoes. Buying a Liberty Bond does not mean giving your money. It means loaning .your money and re- ceiving every cent of it back with 49 interest. Liberty Bonds are backed by all of the resources of the richest government, in the world and are the safest invest- ‘ment man has ever known. Purchases of Lib- erty Bonds up to $56000 are exempt from government taxes. Liberty Bonds may be purchased in any amounts in units of $50. The share of every American family on the Second Liberty Bond issue is $150. This makes $250 for the two issues. You can buy Liberty Bonds on easy payments as follows: $50 $100 Bond Bond On Application..$1.00 $2.00 November 15th.. 9.00 18.00 December 15th...20.00 40.00 January- 15th.....20.00- 40,00 Bond Bond $500 $1000 - On Application.$10.00 $20.00 November 15th 90.00 180.00 December 15¢h.200.00- 400,00 January 15th...200.00 400.00 Plus acerued in- terest to be settled with final payment January 15th. Don’t wait for someone to ask you to buy a bond. Go at once to yournear- est bank, post office or department store and subscribe. « If you do not furnish your troops with the sinews of war, and thereby allow the German armies to conquer, the fate of your home will be that of the homes of Bel- -gium, and your money will be taken from you by force. Today you have a choice between this awful condition and an opportunity to live in peace and Liberty in a prosperous nation. If you do not act today it may be too late. ~ Federal Reserve Bank ‘ of Minneapolis Fiscal Agents of the TUnited States Government in Minnesota, North Da- kota, South Dakota, Montana, Northern Wisconsin -and Upper Michigan.