The Nonpartisan Leader Newspaper, May 12, 1919, Page 11

.. legislature take this position, it is, How North Dakota Checks Bolshevism Constructive Laws, Not Repressive Measures, Remove . Menace, Industrial Conference Board Told HILE other states of the €| Union are indulging in an orgy of law-making, designed to check bol- shevism and socialism by forbidding the use of the red flag and by abridging the right of free speech and peaceful assemblage, North Dakota alone has accepted. the theory that constructive legislation is more efficacious than repressive meas- ures, and therefore alone has taken- steps to remove conditions that create unrest. In a letter to W. J. Prater, secretary of the North Dakota senate, the Na- tional Industrial Conference board asked for copies of North Dakota laws “directed against anarchy, socialism, right of speech or assemblage, or against any particular industrial or- ganization.” Mr. Prater’s answer follows: “The sixteenth legislative assembly of North Dakota adjourned about March 1, after enacting into law an industrial program which, in my be- lief and in the belief of the people of the state, will do more to head off bolshevism than any step which has been taken by any other legislature or by congress. The North Dakota legislature’s industrial program, which is now law, by eradicating the causes of agitation, unrest and discontent on the part of the people, assures this state during the after-the-war con- struction period an orderly and pro- gressive development and will leave no opening for any anarchistic or dis- ruptive forces. HOW LEGISLATURE AIDS CITIZENS “I am sending you under separate cover a pamphlet entitled, ‘The New Day in North Dakota,’ issued by the industrial commission of North Da- kota and containing some of the prin- cipal laws enacted by the sixteenth legislative assembly. A reading of this booklet will give you all the de- tails of this experiment in real de- mocracy. I desire particularly to call your attention to the following acts of the legislature: “The home builders’ association act, which places the credit of the state at the service of the citi- zens of the state in the erection of homes, either workmen’s homes in the city or farm homes. “The soldiers’ compensation act, which gives every North Dakota soldier who entered the army $25 a month for every month he serv- . ed, the money to apply on educa- tion, or to build a home or ac- quire a farm. “The series of laws relating to labor, of which there are eight, calculated to remove abuses in in- dustry, to give labor a square deal and protect the workers of the state. - “The series of laws relating to taxation, of which there are five, in which the North Dakota legis- lature provides for the reorgani- zation of the entire taxation sys- tem of the state to remove, so far as possible, the burden of tax- ation from productive industry and place it upon privilege. . “The fact that North Dakota’s leg- islature, problems in a businesslike way and has made a great start towards de- mocratizing the state has, of course, convinced the people of the state that the state government and the legisla- ture will at all times give a square deal to the people by righting any- abuses: which may exist and acting on any just complaints which may be ‘presented. When a government and which tackled the state’s - of course, impossible for any Bol- shevists, anarchists, destructionists or any other undesirable elements to stage any successful agitation to un- dermine government or disturb law and order. NO LAWS AGAINST FREE SPEECH OR PRESS “You ask whether the North Dakota legislature passed any laws directed against the right of free speech or peaceful assemblage. The North Da- kota legislature emphatically did not adopt any such laws. The legislature and the people of the state believe in the widest possible discussion of in- dustrial and economic questions, on the theory that any cause for com- plaint should be thoroughly aired in order that its justice may be ascer- tained and if there is just cause for. complaint in order that the abuses existing may be corrected. The peo- REMEMBER! Hnllac?red Only ¥ South Bend Chilled Plow Company South Bend Ind. cheap plows. >\ € ple and the legislature of North Da- kota believe that any erroneous or de- structive theories of government can best be combated by full public discus- sion. Therefore the laws of North Dakota give the widest possible lati- tude to free speech and the largest possible protection to peaceful assem- blage of the people. “Also the present state administra- tion has from the start enforced the right of citizens to free speech and peaceful assemblage. During the war there was no rioting, yellow painting, tar and feathering or any other out- rage against decency or law and order in North Dakota. North Dakota over- subscribed all four Liberty loans by from 40 to 70 per cent. The state took more than its full share of War Sav- ings stamps and stands near the top in the list of states for subscription to the Red Cross during the war. “North Dakota sent as many volun- teers into the army in proportion to its population as any other state and more than a large number of states, and the people submitted patriotically and enthusiastically to the draft.” ADVERTISEMENTS Afford pss ‘ut Ben T Plows” To the Northwest The Greatest Plow Values Available Not that SOUTH BEND PLOWS are There is nothing cheap about them. They represent Real PLOW- VALUE, QUALITY and STRENGTH. SOUTH BEND PLOWS are not a new line. For more than 40 years they have been used with the greatest satisfaction by American Farmers, the country over. Plows for Every Condition There is a SOUTH BEND PLOW to fit every farm requirement. They are all made right to work right. Built by men who have a genera- “tion of plow building experience behind them. . Tell us what kind of a plow you are interested in and we will give you full particulars. Ask Your Dealer for “SOUTH BEND PLOWS"” : WATCHING NORTH DAKOTA . Cumberland, Wis. Editor Nonpartisan Leader: I have been a reader of the Leader for a long time and I have never seen a statement that I would not readily support. I have a number of friends in North Dakota, and we here in Wis- consin are watching that state with great interest. Here’s hoping for a complete success for the League. F. B. RINDLISBACHER. THANKFUL FOR NORTH DAKOTA g Broken Bow, Neb. Editor Nonpartisan Leader: Glory be! There is one state in the Union that has. backbone enough to back up its convictions with action. North Dakota certainly has ‘a loyal bunch of citizens, and may their good work go on to its logical conclusion— a contented, happy, prosperous, home- owning class of citizenry. M. D. STONE. A GERMAN LESSON Past tense—junker. Present tense —junked. Farmer