The Nonpartisan Leader Newspaper, January 14, 1918, Page 9

h -~ & A S & < . BEN Bt T ot S Al :' b W 2 = o N - - - - ey re B owm &~ L2 =1 & [ B el 4 A - va s i R K4 e ]S {2 i « ¢ 9 B o R g b2 b i . tign, .). fession spend: much time: in the dis- s cusslon of : the best mehhod mr he ; save the: farmers:of; Washington over $200,000 a: year, the:legislature turned the plan down flatly. It is interesting to notice that at the same time - that the Washington legislature -was turning the farmers down on the state powder factory, the North Dakota legislature was turning their farmers down on the state owned elevator, for which they had voted twice. BILL WAS BURIED. BY ITS ENEMIES But the farmers of Washington had not ‘given up their fight. They came back at the 1917 session of the legislature and demanded their state powder factory. A new bill was arranged which provlded, besides the $50,000 for construction of a factory, $250,000 for a revolving fund. money could be borrowed to pay for raw materials From this fund and as the powder was sold - the money could be paid back, - : ¥ The bill came up in the senate. The farmers were out in force. The bill was passed by a vote of 25 to 14. "It was sent to the lower house and was re- ferred to the committee on logged off lands. This committee reported it back, without a dissenting vote, recommending that it be passed. It looked pretty good for the farmers. But just at this moment Mark E. Reed, millionaire lumberman and Republican leader of the house rose from his seat and moved that the bill be re- referred to the committee on appropriations. The friends of the bill were napping, they did not irsist on a vote and the bill went to the appropriations committee. And that is the end of the story of the state pow- der factory so far. For that little bill, recommended by . official* investfgators, passed by the senate, and recommended for passage by unanimous’vote of the house committee, hever was heard from again. - The appropridtions committee administered a painless dose of chlorofotrm; they stuck the bill away in one of their most secret pigeonholes. It never saw the light of day again and when the 1917 legislature drew to a close and passed away, the - bill passed away with it. The appropriations com- mittee had decided that the rest of the legislature sheuld not have the chance to vote on the bill that promised to save $200,000 a year for the farmers of western Washington. ;i Maybe, though, that is not the real end of the story. Because the farmers of Washington are pretty mad about it—almost as mad as the farmers of North Dakota—and there may be another chapter to write later about the state powder tactory bill. - Why Farmers Are Needed In Politics Parts of a Remarkable Address Made to a Graduating Class of an Agricultural - ‘College in 1908—The Facts Apply Equally Today BY CASS E. HERRINGTON URING the last fifty years the opportunities for amassing wealth have been greatest in industrial lines. The men of financial power have been.those who had the foresight to acquire timber, _ coal, oil and iron and copper ore lands. By means of mergers and combinations vast fortunes have been made, some illegitimately, it is true, but many legitimately; so. it is not remarkable that the boy born upon the farm should be attracted away . from it to the field where the lawyer i who counseled, and the engineer who ‘advised, and the manager who oper- “ated, and the investor who ventured, were each reaping rich financial re~ wards. Though no one can predict with certainty what the restless brain and tireless energy of man will ac- complish, nor point. the direction of his greatest achievements, we may, however, predict, with probability of fulfillment, that there will not be in the future the opportunities in i_ndus- trial pursuits like those of the past fifty years, and we may state with certainty that in the near future the best thought of man’s brain will be required in devising means to provide for the vast multitude of population which ‘will soon be upon us. After diligent enquiry, I am unable to find that there is any national or- ganization of the farmers of this country. If there is one, it must be ineffectual, for several intelligent farmers of Colorado have stated to me- that there is-no such association. in most of the states there is not even a state organization. Rie The lawyers: of the United States have an organization, known as the - American Bar association, which meets once each year and is attended _ by its members and representatives of other bar associations of the coun- try, as well as of the law schools. They give about a week to the un- selfish. discussion of legal questions affecting the interests of the .people of the United States. Committees: are appointed which work during the year and their reports are printed and forwarded from time to time, so - that any member can be in_touch with what is going on in the legal world. : It can truly be said of this association that its ideals are high, and that its accomplishments in the way of better legislation and better, practice are immeasurable. Dvery state has its bar association and ev- ery. city of- any size has its organlza- today. ‘ The medical profession has its na-v tional, state, county and city -asso- . ciations.. The members of that pro- ' the feak. cultural College. of the same wrench, about the whole huslm { This article is a portion of a speech delivered by Mr. Herrington to a graduating class in Colorado on June 4, 1908, at the State Agri- The speech is a splendid statement of the abuses farmers are subject to and of the need of organization on the part of farmers. 'Repairing the Leak : —Drawn expressly for the Leader by W. C. Morrls The pipe line from consumer to producer had a leak. not perform a real service but who gambled in farm products got their sack under the leak and caught what dripped cut, which was much.. The North Dako- ‘ta farmers got a wrench, called the Nonpartioan league, and proceeded to repair ‘Farmers in other states saw the sense ‘in this and demanded the use And Morris has drawn a cartoon Thelr call was heard. lt tells the story, doeln't It? The farmer needs to get into politics, says the author. While written several years ago, the speech applies equally well ‘We have made no progress in solving the abuses mentioned. But there is some hope of the American farmers having a great, powerful national nonpartisan pohtleal organization, such as the writer recommends—and that hope is the Nonpartisan league. The middlemen who did prevention or cure of disease. Great benefit comes to the public, as well as the members of the profession, from these medical associations. When either the American Bar, as- gociation or the American Medical association supports a measure before congress, that fact alone gives the bill a good prospect of passage. The bankers have their national agsociation, and do not find it un- profitable to meet once each year and exchange views upon questions of currency. FARMERS SHOULD ATTEND " MORE TO POLITICS I doubt if there is a profession, business or occupation of any impor- tance which is not thoroughly or- ganized with the exception of farm- ing. This lack of organization of the farmers is very detrimental to the agricultural interests. - When a large body of men is thoroughly organized ready to demand its rights, that body is much more certain of securing its rights. The farmer, especially the educated farmer, must pay more attention to politics. He should not enter politics for the mere purpose of being town clerk, county commissioner or state treasurer. He should not be a candi- date if the only end in view is the salary attached to. the office. The American people have justly come to regard the perpetual office seeker with contempt, and there is no more piti- able person -than the man who has become dependent upon the salary of a political job for means of livelihood: Politics has come to be regarded by many ‘good . people as an unclean thing. that it is beneath the dignity of an up- right educated man to enter that field; that most of those engaged therein are ward heelers, seekers after offlce‘ for the perquisites attached; men who wish some special favor; trimmers and camp followers; and those ambitious for personal glory or power. But surely that should not be unwholesome which has to do with our life, our liberty, and our property. when any one of us is not directly affected by governmental power, either to our benefit or detriment, and when we retire at night the safety of our persons and property- depends largely upon the efficiency with which the law as to larceny, burglary, arson, and similar offenses is enforced. Why erty is protected is to be neglected? Our government rests upon: the suffrages of the people. no stability ‘unless the voters are in- genhy telligent ' and honest. O b A O AR Y W I N A s You hear -it constantly said - There is not a moment during the day - B » g should we struggle to amass property _if the machinery by which that prop- It can have 1t the high- .