The Nonpartisan Leader Newspaper, November 25, 1918, Page 6

”Z/”l% w%fl %/4;%////{‘ Z 7%////1// '/é/b % Do IV B\ ///% ?//4/ /fi Z I ~ g 4 %’ . vé////// I/ (%//Io The Election Just Held—and the Next farmers’ movement is concerned, the 1918 election was a mere incident in the onward march of democracy in Amer- ica—a brief skirmish in a few states in the great battle of progres- sive ideas against reactionism, of justice against political evils and economic abuses. The election has not even caused a pause in the far-reaching work of building up the greatest farmers’ organiza- tion that ever existed. Several months ago the League commenced the reorganization of the membership for another two-year period in several states, and a large proportion of the present membership is already re- enrolled for the “battle of 1920.” The League, of course, has never stopped its work of getting new members, although this work was slowed down by lack of organizers, due to war conditions. But conditions adverse to organization are about at an end, and re- enrolment and organization are going on with renewed vigor. It is well, however, to consider for a-moment what this elec- 14 I VHE 1918 election is history. So far as the great organized . tion means to the organized farmers—to cast up a balance -of gains and losses. This we will do in the observations :Vhic*h foilow.* : Two years ago the Nonpartisan league was still merely a North Dakota organization, and its 1916 election vie- tory was confined to that state. Since then the League has spread to 13 states, with sufficient members in some seven states toi-warrant participation in the recent election contests, either with com- plete state and congressional tickets or with legislative tickets, or both. Less than a quarter of the League membership is now in North Dakota— three-quarters of it is in other states. In no state except North Dakota, however, is the League COMPLETELY organized. Its message is yet to be brought fo a majority of the farmers of the other states. Organization work has been going on in states out- side of North Dakota in some in- stances for only two years, in j others for as short a time as a z : year or even less. This has been too brief a period in which to accomplish a COMPLETE political overturn that would enable the enactment of all the organized farmers’ program. Nevertheless, the election.just held has recorded important and far-reaching gains. - ¢ * * & * - In its first election in six states outside of North Dakota—its first test of strength with the éenemy—the Nonpartisan league has . rolled up a tremendous total vote, many times its actual member- ship. This has proved that organized farmers will stick together. This fact alone would be sufficient to assure the future growth and prosperity of the movement. But the League has gained something’ else of even greater importance in these states. In some it has elected state officers, in all six it has placed in the legislature near- majorities or strong minorities of members pledged to the organ- ized farmers’ program. : The importance of these groups of League members in six law- making bodies outside of North Dakota (where the. farmers con- trol both branches), can not be overestimated. For instance, in Minnesota it means the efiactment of a large part of the League program and many progressive reforms which have been demanded for years before the League entered the state. The farmer-labor strength in the Minnesota legisla- ture will hold the balance of power. The League program will be introduced and a vote will be forced upon it. All of it will not pass, but some of it will, and even the governor will not dare to veto all these progressive bills, although . he is bitterly hostile to the farmer-labor forces, S T The governor can not safely ignore a farmer movement tha carried over 30 counties and rolled up a total vote of 150,000. If he does, and -vetoes the-whole group of: progressive bills.passed, it will only make his elimination from Minnesota politics the more - certain in 1920. - The situation that Frevails in Minnesota as a res election of a big group of ato1 o A e T P A S B e farmer-labor legislators, prevails likewise in South Dakota, Idaho and Montana, where a majority of the can- didates for the legislature indorsed by the farmers have been elected, and where, even though they may not constitute a majority in the law-making bodies, they will be a factor that must be recog- nized. Also in Nebraska and Colorado, where the League did not elect so many legislators, the same situation prevails in a lesser degree. This is progress for the great farmers’ movement of the most substantial kind. Supposing, for instance, that in none of the states the League legislators are able to get through their measures, or supposing that hostile governors veto them—what will be the re- sult? . It will be to intensify the opposition to the present political systems in those states, and merely to dam back the flood tem- porarily, only to have it break down all obstructions in a short time. Again, even should these substantial League groups in the legislatures of these states fail to get through much of their pro- gram, what will be the effect of the hard fight that will be put up for or against the measures, whether they are defeated or not? There can be only one result—the attention of the en- : tire people will be called to the League’s program. The people will know what the League stands for and will recognize in its measures the only hope of political and economic progress in America. : - And that is all the League wants— simply to get its program fairly before the people. It is confident of complete success as soon as all the people under- stand. The people have not understood because practically all important avenues of publicity have been closed to the or- ganized farmers’ message—the press, the pulpit, political leaders, business men’s and other organizations, that have means of reaching the ears of the peo- ple—all have carried the propaganda of the League oppositien, and only the League’s own publications and own meet- ings have carried the message of democ- racy and just*ice ?.f org,‘anified producers. OH DEAR! nere COMES MR, 6LO GANG HE'S WOM ANOTHER VICTORY! __But now, as a result of the ' 1918 elections, the League’s mes- sage will be gent forth to the people from the halls of the legislatures of seven states—six outside of North Dakota —and the message will be heard. The e’s voice has been transferred from its publications and meetings into the “sacred precincts” of official places, and all the hired editors, all the mouthy politicians, all the chambers of com- merce, can not drown it. It will reach the ears of the people—and that’s all the organized farmers want. The 1918 elections have given impetus to the Nonpartisan league and prepared the ground for a more permanent, a more far-reaching and a more effective organization. As a test of strength between progress and reaction, between reform and exist- ing evils and abuses, the elections just held have been merely a skirmish—an incident in the onward progress of the greatest farmers’ organization that ever existed. But as a demonstration of how organized farmers will stick, and as a means of demanding public attention and the attention of lawmakers to the farmers’ program, the result has been important. - : 8 oaseh A 7 *® Pl ) * . < And so the League, rapidly re-enrolling old members for an-- other two years and aggressively seeking new members, ican pro- ceed. with confidence to prepare for the election battle of 1920. A few over 200,000 members have accomplished wonders.. In two years more, what will 400,000 or 600,000 mémbers accomplish ? : The banner of progress: and reform is ever carried forward. ~ Sometimes it is_temporarily set back. Sometimes those who -are - marching on with it fall in the fight, but it is ever taken up by new hands, who press.on and on. Defeat is impossible! It is the lot of the organized farmers of America at - ~ the present time to carry and defend this banner. They - have not faltered; they will not falter. It is not for them- . Selves alone that they are organized and united to play this part. ‘It is for coming generations as well; it is for. hose who work and produce with hand or brain in all lines of activity,-as well as farming the fa ers of America are proud to S & B -~ L4 N , { - « arl e » ~ e XAl 1 A » L = i 1 A