The Nonpartisan Leader Newspaper, July 8, 1918, Page 20

The most solid farmers in the West are members of the League. That is because they use business methods in their fa.n.ning and they know' it is no use saving’ at the bunghole of economy while wasting at the spigot of inefficient marketing conditions. Small Business Man Has Nothing to Fear Nonpartisan League Program Does Not Call for Elimina- tion of Honest Retailers, Montana Paper Points Out (From the New Northwest, Missoula, Mont.) | HE small business man #| has nothing to fear from enactment of such a pro- by the National Nonpar- tisan league. In fact, they i in common with the great major- ity of the people would reap great benefit. That at least is the opinion of a good many of the farmers of western Montana. The following let- ter is typical of ‘a number recently re- ceived by the New Northwest: Missoula, Mont. To the Editor of the New Northwest: As a farmer who has been on the firing line for 80 years; first, in the Alliance, 380 years ago, then in the Farmers’ union and later as one of the first officers in the county Equity, I wish to write a few lines with regard to the Nonpartisan league. The question is sometimes raised as to the need of the Nonpartisan league, since the farmers already have sev- eral - good organizations—the Equxty, the Grange, the Farmers’ union and others. The League is mneeded be- cause it performs a different function from any of them. All of these organizations have —~made certain demands for years, a good deal along the same lines. The Nonpartisan league comes to gather the farmers into one great organiza- tion through which they can put into operation the things which all have been fighting for. It is the binding force, the executive machine, the unifying agency. This has proved to be the case in every state in which the League is strong. Most of these or- ganizations have -tried at different times to remedy marketing conditions through collective buying and selling. They have done good ‘work for the farmers, but there was a time when they could do more. Now when they come into the primary market to buy or to-the market at which they sell they find both ends controlled by practically the same trust. By their co-operative efforts they can thus only lop off the edges of proflteermg So the League is going at things in a different way. The farmers see practically all of their products controlled by a few big food trusts who keep down prices for the seller and keep up pnces for the buyer, and so they perceive that this condition can only be remedied by the: state; taking action. And some action is bemg taken by the government in its price regulating activities, but that does not go to the root of the matter. A ne\y idea is ;ggm‘mg ground i in the gram as that advocated - minds of the people. It is to use the state more in conducting larger busi- ness affairs that affect all of the peo- * ple. In other words, the Nonpartisan league would have the state perform the function of the food trust at cost, for the benefit of both producer and consumer. So there is a field for the Nonparti- san league, different from the other fields occupied by the other organiza- tions. The League is in the forefront of progress. It has announced an issue which has been long in the minds of men whe were waiting for just such an organization. I believe this will prove to any in- telligent man that the small and honest merchant would gain, not lose, by the inauguration of such a policy as is herein indicated. R. J. WHITAKER. FARMERS AND THE PEACE CONGRESS Madison, Wis. Editor Nonpartisan Leader: The American Federation of Organ- ized Producers and Consumers will meet on July 10, in Kansas City, Mo., to outline a program of co-operation that is so essential to the welfare of the man who feeds and clothes the world. “United we stand, divided we fall.” He is the very foundation of all civilization and a werld democracy and without him all government and society would crumble and fall. Then if he is of such vast importance in the affairs of human progress and civil liberty, who and where is the man who will say he should not be heard in the councils of nations? A new alignment is coming in gov- ernment, industry and co-operation. A world congress will be called to shape the destiny of nations and free people. The professional- world will be there to look after its interest. Or- ganized labor will be there to make additional demands for-its protectlon and if it succeeds as it has in the past it ‘will be because it is organized: and knows the gameé. The profiteer and the grafter will be there to per- petuate a system that will filch the meager earnings of the millions. The political demagogue will be " there. ‘Will the organized farmer be there? Judging the future by the past he will not be recognized in that body. But let us hope that he is at the turning point and realizes at last that his only . hope is through organization, leglsla- tion and co-operation. Legxslatlon for the farmers of Legislation is the key to every great civilization that ~ ever has or ever will exist. : country is based wholly on organiza- ‘tion and co-operation through educa- tion, to make your demands and see that they are put into execution. I hope to see every organization in the nation that represents the farming class, send a man from every state and every district to this meeting at Kansas City, to discuss fully every phase of every question, civil or polit- ical, that touches the interest of the farming class of our people. J. WELLER LONG, Secretary-Treasurer LOOK OUT FOR TREASON (From Good Government Magazine) The Chicago Tribune has com- pletely reversed itself in its editorial policy regarding the Nonpartisan league. A short time ago it editorial- ly condemned the Nonpartisan league in the most emphatic terms, laying at its door .charges of treason and trai-_ torism. In a recent edition the Tnbune coddles and flatters the League and advises its readers to keep cool and only condemn the League after the Tribune completes an investigation which it is now conducting. This looks like German camouflage. It is precisely the method adopted by Bernstorff in his diplomacy. In the end, the Tribune is bound to assert that the leaders of the Nonpartisan league are traitors. Regardless of the evidence in the case, this finding is the only one which will make it pos- sible for the old Republican machines in the states where the League 'is strong to elect its candidates. - The public should not be fooled by the Tribune investigation. ‘McAdoo recommended an UNCLE SAM’S GIRLS ORGANIZE Washington, D. C. Editor Nonpartisan Leader: Miss Jeanette Rankin, woman from Montana, received a tre- mendous ovation from employes of the bureau of engraving and printing when she spoke at a meeting conclud- ing a week’s campaign to unionize the bureau employes in the attempt to se- cure an adequate wage. Miss Rankin was instrumental in influencing girls of the bureau to organize and in se- curing the eight-hour day for all em- ployes of the government bureau of engraving and printing. The director of the bureau of engraving and print- ing and Secretary of the '!‘reasury increase. The matter now rests with congress. Three thousand employes of the bu- reau became members of the National Federation of Federal Employes as a result of the campaign. H. N. McLARIN; President National Federatmn of Federal Employes. STIRRING IN CALIFORNIA Santa Rosa, Cal. . National Nonpartisan League:.. I received a few days ago a copy of the Nonpartisan Leader, “In and Out of the Yoke” and “How to Finance the Great War.” It is the best com- mon sense ,reading I have had along . political lines in many months. I can place a quantity of such literature-in hands that will bring the League good support whenever an organizer visits our section. If you furnish me with a few copies I will place them in the hands of our most liberal-minded farmers. F. E. LAWRENCE. Knock the Shackles From Another Paper Farmers Co-Operate to Buy a Newspaper of Their Own in Towner, N. D. z ERE is-a notice in a North Dakota paper such as is becoming frequent even in the country press of neighboring - states. It tells the story of the farmers’ determination to liberate the newspapers, to build up an independ- ent press that can afford to teéll*the truth and stand boldly for the "¥ight. Here is the announcement of thé re- tiring editor of the Towner News- Tribune, which has been bought by a co-operative association of McHenry county farmers, who have changed the name of the paper to that of the Mouse River Farmers Press: " UNDER NEW OWNERSHIP- The undersigned has sold the Towner News-Tribune to the Mouse River Farmers Press, incorporated, and this corporation. will continue its. pubhcatnon under’ the title . of the_,_ R:ver Farmers PreSs. e The corporation which now owns the paper is composed of McHenry county farmers and the newspaper will henceforth advocate the principles of the Nonpartisan league, as will be more fully set forth by the new editor in next week’s issue. -, The retiring publisher, who lfi: fo _conducted the paper for the last years, parts with- the property for good and sufficient reasons, but his relations with patrons and the people of the community in general have been so satisfactory in every way that it is with some - feeling of regret that he relinquishes control of the property, ™~ ‘With best wishes for. the contmuéd e - prosperity of the community and for “.the fullest realization. of the indi- vxdual ambltlons of L the . members congress-