The Nonpartisan Leader Newspaper, June 23, 1919, Page 11

A ‘'NO OPPOSITION TO North Dakota Workers to Form Party Federation at Annual Convention Votes to Join With Farmers for Political Action—League Program Unanimously Indorsed in Resolution. .~ Bismarck Bureau, Nonpartisan ' Leader. RGANIZED labor of North Da- kota, the state in which the Nonpartxsan league was born and where it hak achieved suc- cess in putting its program into effect, is' heart and ' soul with the organized farmers. The North Dakota Federation : of Labor, at its annual conven- tlon in Mmot June 1, 2 and 3, by a unanimous vote passed a resolution calling a convention for the purpose of forming a political organization which- will co-operate with the Nonpartisan league, and indorsed all seven of the farmer measures brought up for a referendum by the organization of the _speculators and chamber of commerce. Another resolution reaffirms labor’s allegiance to the cause of the farmers, upholds -the economic program of the League and in strong language condemns. the organization fighting public ownership and the farmer program. Thus spoke the representatives of the laboring men in- the state after watching the work of the Nonpartisan league first' hand, and seeing the re- sults ‘of ‘a legislature controlled by the organized farmers.' The 150 or more delegates knew the sit- uation, had followed the work of the Nonpartisan league since it began its work, and then, with not one opposing, promised their aid in keeping on the statute books the laws passed by the farmers. The convention for the new Labor party will be held at Fargo August 31 and September 1, which is Labor Day. At that time will be drawn up the constltutxon and specific program of the organiza- tion. ‘The resolution . declaring for the Labor party said: “We, the delegates to the North Dakota Federation of Labor, recognizing the necessity for pohtlcal action on the part of men and women who believe in political, social and industrial democracy, and for the purpose of bringing closer itogether labor and the organized farmers, whose interests ““we recognize are identical, go on record as favormg the formation of a political party.” Governor Lynn J. Frazier of North Dakota the farmer ‘governor elected by the organized :Earmers, on hearing of the action of the labor federatlon, is- sued the following statement: “I'm glad that the organized workingmen and women of the state are going to link hands with the orgamzed farmers in the advancement of their common cause. The interests of the farmers and laborers are the same. Both labor and the farmers are- gomg to benefit by the state-owned industries we are to establish.” The farmer will get more for his ‘products and: the cost of living will be cut for the consumers when the industries begin to operate. “The administration is grateful for the ex- pressnons from the labor convention thanking ‘the farmers for the nine labor laws they put through at the last session. I want to welcome _ the workingmen and women of the state. into the political arena. - 'We: need their help ‘and they need ours, and if we both stick, we are _bolmd to win every time.” : 'The workers, realizing that in North Dakota : R purely -agricultural state, they could never- alone e :gecure- the -legislation they desire, will no doubt in ‘the: constitution of the party specifically state that they will work in conjunction with the farmers : _and their Nonpartisan league. FORMING NEW PARTY g There 'was-no opposition to the forming of the: political party. When the committee on “the La- . bor' party” brought in its report, stating that ‘it thought that the time was ripe for the formation of ‘the party, there was a discussion lasting sev- .eral hours. Some of the delegates thought it would be better to.just indorse the :Nonpartisan league and mot ' form a ' political organization, but they were shown that by ‘forming’ a political party, the > workers will be in a much better position to help “in the fight for democracy in North Dakota. “The qu_estlon is one of education,” said Frank Milhollan of Bismarck. . “If-organized labor is to progress we must have some way of ‘bringing the “aff xrs to every workmgman This - ers. This orgamzatlon should include nonunion as well as union:men.’ The committee stated the need of the orgam- zation, saying: %“The farmers of the state have recognized organized labor and have given the workers measures which are a credit to the state.” The new party will conduct educational campaigns to tell the workers of the state the truth about the farmers’ economic program and what they have done for labor. The temporary platform of the workers’ organi- zation has the following “14 points,” similar to that of the Illinois Labor party: 1. The right to organize. 2. Democratic control of industry. 3. The eight-hour day and the minimum wage. 4. The abolition of unemployment by the government. 5. Equal rights for men and women,. which includes the granting of equal pay to women doing men’s work. 6. The stopping of profiteering and reduc- .ing the present high cost of living. 7. The democ- _ ratization of education by free textbooks and better methods of administration. 8. State insurance for all workers. 9. Payment of war debts by heavy taxation, especially on incomes- and inheritances. 10. Public ownership of all public utilities. 11. Re- affirmation of the right of free speech and free as- Frank Milhollan, vice president of the North Da- kota Federation of Labor, and a member of the Bismarck (N. D.) Typographical union, was elected _a member. of the state board of railroad commis- sioners in 1918. Mr. Milhollan was the chairman of the legislative committee of the state labor fed- . eration, -and with Representative Malone wrote ' the federatlons report on the Labor party. v semblage. 12 Labor representatlon in government, and espe_ezally in the: cabinet. : ¢ 13. Labor represen- tation in international conferences. ‘. all kings and wars. - The- formation of the Labor party means much' It will bring together on the po- to: the. workers.- litical field the organized and unorganized workers, who, ‘with the orgamzed farmers, will be able to ‘secure ‘the ‘economic program of both the workers ‘and the farmers..- And. the organization will mean more to the producers after all the new industries of North Dakota are started and hundreds and thousands of laboring men come into the state. - There will then be a party well organized and able: ‘0" secure its demands by working in tlxe fullest- ; harmouy ‘with the farmers’ movement. = - : ‘It means as much to the organized farmers of the state. - 14 An end to | It brands as’ &alse tlie cry ot the antx-farmer ; press thdt labor is not with them. It shows that . " in the state where they have full control, the farm- ers are thanked by .the workers for their good-laws: and are sought by them as allies on the polit-: ical field. The following resolution proves the sentiments of the laborites: “Whereas, the farmers elected to the sixteenth legislative assembly of North Dakota, through the organization known as the Nonpartisan league, proved themselves true to their every promise to labor, and “Whereas, the laws enacted were all that labor asked and are more far-reaching and beneficial to labor than were ever passed by any legislative assembly in the United States and at a smaller sacrifice of money, time and effort to labor, the total financial cost being less than $110, and “Whereas, many stories and reports have been circulated broadcast reflecting on these laws and the sincerity of the farmer legislature to the detri- ment and injury and discredit of North Dakota and her people by. the Industrial Voters’ association and other hostile interests. Therefore be it THANK LEAGUE FARMERS FOR LABOR LEGISLATION. “Resolved, that the eighth annual convention of the State Federatlon of Labor does herewith, with- out reservation, pass a vote of thanks in apprecla- tion of the wholesome and hearty interest mani- * fested by the Nonpartisan league legislature in extending the hand of fellowship and co-operation’ to labor, the sincerity of which can not be ques- tioned in view of the liberal laws so freely passed at labor’s request. And be it further “Resolved, that we brand as false and libelous any attempt of the opposition through the press, speakers or other agency to convey any impression “that organized labor in North Dakota is not wholly. heartily and of its own uninfluenced volition in full sympathy 'with, -and in support of, the organized farmers of thls state and their entu'e industrial program.” In a separate motion the women delegates, ad— mltted for the first time in the history of the con- vention, thanked the farmers for the laws passed for the benefit of the women workers. That the same interests that fight the farmers’ movement are the most bitter enemies of labor was brought out in the report of the legislative commit- tee. The farmer legislators, who passed acts for workmen’s compensation “insurance, the eight-hour day and minimum wage for ‘women, the inspection. and safeguarding of coal mines, the limitation of injunction, protectxon of railroad workers, full crew’ on trams, requiring the union label on all state- printing, in fact, every law asked by union labor, had to stand a terrlfic lobby on the part of inter- ests who wished to prevent the passage of the bills. Following the example of the Nonpartisan league farmers the convention went on record as favoring the establishment of a workers’ paper, owned by’ the’ Labor party, whose duty it shall be to inform the workers of the facts of the economic and pov litical . battles ‘in the state. Pregident S.'S. McDonald of the State Federation’ of Labor, in speaking of the many labor laws’ passed by the recent leglslature, said: “There is not a state federation in the country but that ‘would” w:llmgly bankrupt its treasury to secure all these’ laws.” And yet we in North Dakota secured them for the microscopic sum of $110.” Not only were the labor delegates as one in'de-’ claring for a political organization, but the several outside speakers, three minsiters, two lawyers and a farmer, also favored it. - Rev. W. P. Erickson of Minot, in mentlonmg the’ Labor party, said: “I know reformmg is a hard" task. I know it from the way the Nonpartisan leagne was treated here in Minot. ‘The blind-pig- - gers ‘and others of their kind put Old Glory on their lapels and called the Nonpartisan league ‘dis- loyal,’ saying, ‘We are the true patriots; you ‘are. the Socialists and Bolsheviki.’ “They algo said that the Nonpartisan league was a bunch of free lovers and atheists.: But that is -not true. ‘The Nonpartisan league farmers are as’ moral a group: of people as there are, It’s the same old game that the old gang has been play- ing ‘since the dawn of history. : “The eyes of ‘the country are on North Dako “and'we will be the one state to. lead the others in’ ;'what true democracy ‘means.” - : e et ——— I AT R R TR i { | |