The Nonpartisan Leader Newspaper, December 24, 1917, Page 8

Grangers Indorse the League North Dakota Convention at Bismarck Says Farmers Are Getting Through It What They Want, and the Delegates Accord Unanimous Support NDORSEMENT of the Non- partisan league, because it is getting results for the farm- ers, was given unanimously by the North Dakota state grange in convention at Bismarck, De- cember 6. This is the first gathering of a North Dakota farmers’ association in a state meeting of any kind since the legislature elected by the Non- partisan league finished {ts work. They liked what the League legislature did, and what the League state admin- istration is doing, and expressed their satisfaction in this terse sentence: “Whereas, we farmers are getting what we want through politics, be it resolved that we pledge our un- qualified support to the National Nonpartisan league.” ] Resolutions of similar tenor have al- ready been adopted by the state granges of Oregon, Washington, idaho and Colorado, in each case the indorse- ment of the Nonpartisan league being explicit. Besides directly indorsing the League, the North Dakota grange de- clared war on profiteering and in resolutions adopted without opposition declared war on profiteering and in resolutions adopted without opposition declared for conscription of 80 per cent of all war profits at once; conscription of all incomes above $100,000; and the taking over by the ‘government, as a war measure, of the railroads, copper, iron, and coal mines, and the opera- tion of them by the government, with a profit to present owners of not over 10 per cent on the actual capital in- vested. These are similar to resolu- tions adopted at Grand Forks, Devils Lake, Minot, Williston, Jamestown, Fargo and other North Dakota cities at a series of League meetings during the early summer, WHY BOND DEBT IS LESS FAVORED The Grange resolutions call atten- tion to the way bond debts hang over from one generation to another, citing the fact that much of the Civil war bonded debt has not yet been paid, al- though the total debt has been paid several times in interest charges. The resolutions regarding profiteer: ing, were as follows: “Whereas the most reliable informa- tion is that the great war will not end until 1919 or 1920, and that the cost to the United States, not counting loans to the allies, will exceed $50,000,000,000 and possibly $75,000,000,000, and “Whereas, if- 80 per cent of this enormous amount is raised by bonds drawing 4 per cent or more interest, Ray McKaig, retiring master of the North Dakota State Grange. the annual interest charge alone will be at the very minimum $1,600,000,000 and possibly. $2,400,000,000, and “Whereas, if those bonds remain un- paid ‘for 25 years, the lowest rate of 4 per cent will equal the amount of the original loans, thus doubling the tax burden over what it would be if the war was paid for as we go, and “Whereas, if the bonds are continued from year to year as a large portion of our Civil war bonds have been, and as has been the case with the war bonds e of all nations, the total amount that will have to be paid in taxation will be many, many times the original loan, making the total war tax burden hundreds of billions of dollars, and “Whereas, the larger part of the burden need never be created and the actual needs of the war can be met without seriously adding to the cost of living or burdening in- dustry, if the war is paid for as we go by conscripting war profits and all incomes over $100,000; and by reducing the cost of the war be taking over and operating by the government. all natural resources such as coal, iron, and copper mines, water powers and forests, and also taking over the railroads, therefore be it “Resolved, that we call upon congress, in the new revenue bill, to increase the tax on war profits to at least 80 per cent of such ex- cess profits; to increase the sur taxes on all large incomes until all I IT KEEPS OFF THE COLD BLASTS I A W\\\\w Ve WA AR \\\\i\\\:\ \\\\\\\\\&. \&\X\¥ — \ B —Drawn expressly for the Leader by Frank Chén'ey Jdr. The blizzards “scared up” by the opponents of the farmers do not have much effect on him when he is properly dressed, says Chaney, explaining his above cartoon. Why Not Some Official Trout Creek, Mont. Editor Nonpartisan Leader: I note what seems to me to be the incessant ‘“nag, nag” at the farmers: “raise more food stuffs”; *“you must feed the allies”; “you must feed the boys at the front”; “increase your acreage”; “increase the production of meats”; “don’t kill any of your female stock”; “if the war is lost on account of food shortage, the farmers will be .to blame”; etc, etc, ad infinitum; a constant urging to ‘“speed up”; with- out let-up enough to draw a long breath. & Why not get after “officialdum” for a change. There must be something wrong with the farmer’s head who fails to produce more food stuffs, meats, wheat, spuds, or anything else in his line, when he is assured of a price that will return him a fair profit for his labor and investment. There is something wrong in “official circles” or much of this shortage of food and fuel could be remedied in short order. MONTANA COULD END COAL PINCH Here In the-state of Montana the coal shortage could be relieved to a great extent, if not altogether, if “offi- cialdum” would take hold of the trans- portation question with enough vigor to give a reasonable freight-rate on wood so that it could be shipped to the cities of this and other states; and at the same time give those who ship it a fair wage for their labor, let alone any pay for the material. Untold quantities In this vicinity have been burned up this fall just because we are “freighted out of the market.” The authorities can remedy this when they wish, but of course “Big Biz” will howl during the operation; but what will that amount to by the side of the real good that it will bring to those, : the masses, that are in need? Again those of us who are “hewing 2 home out of the forest”; “making the desert blossom as the rose”, etc., are confronted with the necessity of buy- ing quantities of mill-feed. Since war conditions prevail we find that “the feed value of our bran and shorts is cut down by the elimination of the shorts to such an extent that it will take almost a chemical test to find any “shorts” at all; but we find no elim- ination from the price quoted for the grade that we buy. MARKET AGENT DOES NOTHING ‘When we take this matter l;p with our “field agent in marketing,” to get something. done to give us what we ° pay for, and at the same time enable us to carry the breeding animals over; and thus respond to the food admin- istrator's call for “increased produc- tion” etc., we are told: . “When you remember that this state (Montana) has no legtslative protection in the matter of stock feed, you will realize why this state seems to be the dam ground for all sorts and kinds of stock feed. ¥hb _ PAGE RIGHT incomes over $100,000 are taxed into the nation’s “war chest, and further ) ‘Resolved, that we call upon the government to take over coal, iron and copper mines and railroads and operate them during the war and for at least one year there- after and to -allow the owners thereof not to exceed 10 per cent on actual capital invested, and “Resolved, further that we are ope posed to extra tariff taxes or any other taxes on industry until the conscrip- tion of excess war profits has been carried out to the limit set forth in the above resolution, and . “Resolved that we pledge our allegiance to the president of the _ United States and assure him that on the farm we will, during the coming year, make every effort to produce as much as possible of the things needful to sustain our soldiers and ‘sailors in the fight for democracy.” The profiteering resolutions adopted at Bismarck are similar to those adopte ed by a number of other organizations, and also by the National grange in St, Louis last month, where more than 1,000,000 farmers of the organization from 34 states were represented. LEAGUE GROWING BY LEAPS AND BOUNDS The North Dakota grange has been a staunch friend of the League ever since the latter was organized, and was one of the first of the old farme - ers’ organizations to give formal ine dorsement to the movement. Ray Mc- ' Kaig master of the grange, has also been an active League organizer, and at the Bismarck session resigned ‘as state master in order to take up work as national field secretary ' for the League movement in Pacific coast and intermountain states. Mr. McKaig will leave at once for Idaho and will be engaged in active work there and in ‘Washington and Colorado for several months. Before ledving for his west- ern field Mr. McKaig said i that in Idaho a majority of the farmers al- ready have Jjoined the League and others are coming in rapidly.’ In Mr. McKaig's place F. M. Wil- liams, a prominent farmer,K of Ward county, who is an ardent League man, was elected state master; This was the fifth annual session of the North Dakota grange. Its mem- bership is growing, and . particularly in the northwestern part of the state. In recognition of this fact it is ex- pected that the next state session will be held at Minot. B. E, Evans, of Mercer county, G. N. Bowman, of Ward county, and J. P. McDougal, of Cavalier county, were elected members of the state executive committee. . Action? only limit s that of competition, which does not seem to figure very largely in this instance.” . . ‘"Leg- islation along that line would be a help, but I am bound to keep out of legislation and politics. I pass the buck back to you, why not do a little stunt along this line yourself?” Just how, or why, an “agent” who is supposed to be representing the inter- ests of the farmers, should so discreet- ly avoid “legislation and politics” is a question for "the Wise Men from the East” to answer; it is too deep for me, but that is one way to avoid hurting the milling trust and. give them that much longer respite; but -incidente ally the consumer is.fleeced, and proe “duction of food stuffs curtailed. BELIEVES FARMERS SHOULD TAKE HOLD If the food administration wants to boost for the obedience to his own call for “the patriotic increase of produce tion,” the opportunity is open for it to get ‘after those who are' guilty of the fraud, as well as “those in- authority who wink at the way “the consumers are defrauded—if not conniving with them, e This more and more emphasise the need of the FARMERS taking hold and having a “political house- clearing.” All straws point to practically a gaan gweep for the Nonpartisan league the state of Montana, in the coming &ampalgn. Yours for real’ democracy. ! A. N. BROOKS. 7,