The Nonpartisan Leader Newspaper, January 28, 1918, Page 12

wraserae e sas e AT RA o R e P SRR UL B IeR S . .,9,,.___ 1 . Suffice ; Frazier is from the people, of the e e Farmers Movement Praised by Educator Dr. A. E. Wainship Sees Through Attacks of Gang Politicians and Reactionary Press (Dr. Winship, who wrote the fol- lowing statement, is editor of the ‘Journal of Education, published at Boston, and has an internation- al reputation as one of Amer- ica’s leading educators. He recent- ly made a trip through North Da- kota, boosting the rural - school campaign. These are his own im- . pressions of the North Dakota farmer movement and the North Dakota farmer governor.) BY DR. A. E. WINSHIP F ONE reads the reactionary . press in or out of North Dakota he may think that civically and politically North Dakota is a Bad Land and that it deserves all the wreckage of the flickertails. What is it all about? Why, the farmers— who are 80 per cent of the people— suddenly took possession of the state which they have long kept running with'their taxes. Suffice it to say that the few who had always ruled surrendered the legislature, all state offices but one, and the omnly seat in congress that has been vacant recently to the many because the farmers had the votes. The men in power made the same mistake that Mayor Mitchel and his friends made in New York in 1917, thought of themselves and their kind instead of those who had the votes. To say that the farmers of North Dakota can not learn to be good legis- lators and good state officials is off the same piece of cloth as to call North Dakotans “flickertails” and the beautiful slopes and colors of Billings county ‘“‘Bad Lands.” The farmers elected as their gov- ernor the first university graduate in the history. of the state, made more generous appropriations for the high-. er institutions of learning than ever before, voted more abundant sub- ‘sidies for city public schools than ever before and broke all records of North Dakota and all records of all states in 1917 in legislation for rural school improvement. If this is an evidence of inefficiency in public life let’s have a lot more of it. ABOUT NORTH DAKOTA’S NEW FARMER GOVERNOR . North Dakota has a governor whose vision inspires the people and scares those who see the possibility of a new leadership of the people. Governor Frazier is interesting personally, more interesting because of the suddenness of his prominence, most interesting because of the unac- countableness of his appearance m the political arena. Ishe a rocket or a thousand-candle- power headlight? 1Is he a meteor or { a new star in the firmament? I am not a prophet nor the son of | i a prophet and a guess would be fu- ! tile, but I would like to talk about the man as I know him with a dis- tinct understanding that I have no interest in the future of the gever- nor or of the Nonpartisan league. it to say that Governor people and was brought into public {1 life by the people. He believes this automobile, fly- ing machine, wireles telephone age is j for the mechanic and farmer as ‘well {{ as for the sport and the financier, and i he has no more respect for the crystallization of the dude than he has for the fossilization of the rube. There is no danger that friends can il inflate his ambition any more than that his enemies can torpedo his judgment. Governor Frazier keeps his finger on the pulse of the people rather than on their throat, and dis- tinguishes between quickened heart throbs and freaky jerks of the pulse. Governor Frazier is a big, brave, brainy man and the press of the country and leaders in public and political life will make a great mis- take if they thimk they can help any good cause by trying to ‘“down Frazier.” 1 have had six weeks in North Da- kota recently, meeting large audi- Notice to League Members December 28, 1917. TO LEAGUE MEMBERS: It has been brought to our attention that Charles E. Gordon of Kenmare has made statements to ‘the effect that the National Nonpartisan league was indebted to him for services rendered as an organizer; that to our knowledge the said Charles E. Gordon has made such statements to different parties and at various times; as a result of such statements League members loaned the said Charles E. Gordon money for his personal use; that such statements to our knowledge have caused injury to our organization and embarrassed our membership in this section. Upon investigation we have learned that such statements were false and without foundation, and that Mr. Gordon was at all times paid for services rendered the organization, and that at the time his services were severed with the League, he was indebted to it and gave a check to the League, as well as a bill 'of sale of his automobile to balance his account. We further wish to inform League members that Mr. Gordon is not now an employe or representative of the League; that his organization of banks or other business institutions is not indorsed by the League or any other organiza- tion connected with it, nor by any of its officers. His present promotion activi- ties are wholly his own actount and others with whom he-is now associated. We are making public this information as League members with no desire on our part to injure anyone, nor any legitimate enterprise, but to correct a misunderstanding caused by statements made by Mr. Gordon and others now associated with him in promoting business institutions in which the League has no interest in any way, directly or indirectly. The League has indorsed no business enterprise or promotion of Mr. Gordon’s nor that of any other person or group of persons. Signed: ; GODFRED JENSEN, Farmer, Crosby. S. S. SEMMINGSON, Farmer, Crosby. JOHN E. FLECKTEN, Farmer, Niobe. W. B. M’LAUGHLIN, Editor, Kenmare Journal. J. B. WEINBERGER, Farmer, Kenmare. J. H. SINCLAIR, Member of Legislature. JOHN MODIN, Farmer, Kenmare. January 7, 1918. TO LEAGUE MEMBERS: ‘ The above statement is signed by several prominent and very - active League members, and the same is being published at their request. Mr. C. E. Gordon, mentioned in the statement, was at one time employed as a League organizer. He is not now in any way connected with the League. The League can not, and does not, in any way indorse either Mr. Gordon or any enterprise that he may promote, or may be promoting. We do not want any League member, thinkimg that Mr. Gordon or his enterprise has the League in- dorsement, to be led to take stock in any of Mr. Gordon’s enterprises. NATIONAL NONPARTISAN LEAGUE, A. C. TOWNLEY, President, North Dakota Meetings DATES FOR WALTER T. MILLS ~ (All at 2 P. M) Devils Lake....... Monday, Jan. 28 Tiakota: Jscinbaleine: Thursday, Jan. 29_ Tarimore......~ . Wednesday, Jan. 30 Park River....!.Thursday, Jan. 31 Grand Forks.......... Friday, Feb. 1 BAYEO =75 (S G Saturday, Feb. 2. Agricultural College. Fargo, N. D. ........... Monday, Feb. 4 Wahpeton. . .5 25,47 Tuesday, Feb. 5 Fairmount. ..... Wednesday, Feb. 6 Hankinson........ Thursday, Feb. 7 FOrIIan . o o Friday, Feb. 8 Oakes. . , .55 b Saturday, Feb. 9 DATES FOR JUDSON KING: (All at 2 P. M.) Cooperstown. ....... Friday, Feb. 1 New Rockford..... Saturday, Feb. 2 Ametar oGl Monday, Feb. 4 Pingree........... Tuesday, Feb. 5 Medina....... .. Wednesday, Feb. 6 Dawson:........ ‘. Thursday, Feb. 7 Driscoll. ......... .. .Friday, Feb, 8 Bismarck. ........ Saturday, Feb. 9 DATES FOR FRED J. ARGAST AND LEO S. HORST Mantador.......:.. Monday, Jan. 28 Hankinson....... Tuesday, Jan. 29 Tidgerwood..... Wednesday, Jan. 30 Cayuga..... .....Thursday, Jan. 31 Rutland and Havana. .Friday, Feb. 1 Forman.......... Saturday, Feb. 2 Cogswell and Brookland ...... ............ Monday, Feb. 4 Straubville and Harlem i ............ Tuesday, Feb. 5 Brampton and Hample....... ST . ..Wednesday, Feb. 6 Ludden.......... Thursday, Feb. 7 Silverleaf.............. Friday, Feb. 8 Ellendale......... Saturday, Feb. 9 Loraine and Wirch. . Monday, Feb. 11 _Forbes........:..Tuesday, Feb. 12 Duani......... Wednesday, Feb. 13 Monango; i Thursday, Feb. 14 Potsdam:.-. i 5w Friday, Feb. 15 Edgeley......... Saturday, Feb. 16 Streeter.......... Tuesday, Feb. 19 Gackle. ....7..Wednesday, Feb. 20 Alfred 2 ... Thursday, Feb. 21 ~ .. Saturday, Feb. 23 ences of school men and women and men from the farm in 32 county seats. Much of the time I have had Governor Frazier as a companion and comrade. We trailed the prairies in automobiles and Fords by night and by day and he accepted the thumping of the bumping of the bumps like a good sport as he did all sorts of sleeping and eating places. Has any other governor gone to the people day after day for six weeks with no political speech? I have traveled with governors in other states, but.never before have I known a governor to talk education to the people for four weeks about their schools, never boasting, always boost- ing for betiter schools. Whatever the future may have in store for Lynn J. Frazier does not seem to concern him any more than it does me, but he has one glorious purpose to make his administration contribute as much as possible to- ward a citizenship that shall be as well informed and as intelligent as any in the United Statés and this ad- ministration should be an mspu’ation to all the people. IF EXPLOITERS WORKED p Cedarbend, Minn. Editor Nonpartisan Leader: Since our Leader has been sent out to us hayseeds, some of the other papers are trying to make the farmer a fool, but they have to go back to the woods, for they haven’t got the goods and we’ll stick to win. No, they have not much respect for a farmer that has raised- their daily bread and was the first one to till this mother earth. If we don’t stick they’ll try to plaster us with- mud right and left, and today the worst enemy to them .is the Nonpartisan Leader. - But, bravo, Mr. Editor, the Leader is backed by many thousand strong and they hope by 1920 there will be no useless middlemen to feed. There is lots of land in this north part of Minnesota taken away by the money lenders, so you middlemen, apply to the money lenders of northern Minnesota and see for your own part what this struggle is to keep you all in bread. Lots of red tape would be cut, Big Biz would lose his fat and be fit for Uncle Sam’s duty, when the time comes. ALBERT W. BIZEK. MORE FARMER CONGRESSMEN Congressman Baer of .North Dakota, elected by the Nonpartisan league of that state, is recognized as represent- ing personally the interests of. organ- ized farmers of not alone his own state, but the entire Northwest. He was elected less than a year ago to fill a vacancy from his district, but has been active in the interests of his constitu- ents ever since. 5 - A farmer congressman from this dis- trict would be of great benefit in for- cing attention upon these needed ap- propriationss For the present session of congress, nothing in this respect can be expected. Lawyer-Congressman La Follette will continue on the job for almost another twelve months. Farmers would do well to consider the coming election, however, with a view to getting representation in congress. If there is any reason why they are . not entitled -to this representation, we should like to know that reason. As the‘ dominant interest of the district, we believe farming shouldsbe repre- " sented by a farmer. —-YAKIMA VAL-' LEY (WASH) FARME‘R e