The Nonpartisan Leader Newspaper, September 22, 1919, Page 3

‘In the .in_terest of a square deal . for the farmers Toonnartigin Rader Ofliclal Magazine of the National Nonpartisan League VOL. 9, NO. 12 A magazine . that dares to print the truth ST. PAUL, MINNESOTA, SEPTEMBER 22, 1919 WHOLE NUMBER 209 North Dakota BuildingWorker’s Home First House of Member of State Home Building Association Now Under battling with the inter- est explmter and rent shark. The first local league of 10 members under the home building law was organized, appropriately enough, in the capital city of North Dakota. The first member of the local league to begin con- struction of a home was John B. Adams, an ex- pert accountant connect- ed with the board of rail- way commissioners. The home complete will have cost about $5,000. It will be of the bungalow type. Other local’home build- ers’ leagues, which will become affiliated with the ‘ state home builders’ as- sociation, are being form- ed in Fargo and Grand Forks. At the same time steps are being taken for the co-operation of farm- ers and the formation of leagues in the country for the erection of farm homes. Organization of the various. state utilities and enterprises author- ized by the farmers’ leg- islature, and indorsed by the voters by a huge ma- jority at the referendum election June 26, has pro- ceeded rapidly. In some respects the organization of the home builders’ as-. sociation, which is the state’s parent organiza- tion of the local leagues of 10 members or more, has been confronted with many difficulties. 10 TO 20 YEARS TO PAY BACK Robert B. Blakemore, manager of the associa- tion for the state, has sailed out into uncharted seas. be ; considered carefully. Each contract to be made will extend over a period’ of from 10 to 20 years. Every deal involves a man’s home. The rates of payment and the sys- tem of accounting in- volve in some ways dif- ficulties which, for in- stance, have never been HE first pnvate home built by state aid in the hlstory of the United States is in course of . construction in Bismarck. This marks the peint of departure in the Nonpartisan league’s program which recognizes that every man is entitled to his own roof and fireside without Each tack had to - Construction in Bismarck—Details of the New Plan ‘faced by banks ‘or building and loan associations under private operation. And another angle to the problems confronting the state in this humane enterprise has been the legislature’s wise avoidance of paternalism in pass- ing the law creating the home builders’ associa- tion. That man is worthy of help who shall demon- strate that he wants a home seriously enough to help earn it. That was the policy followed in the law and which is being pursued by the state. When a man shall have accumulated one-fifth of Bismarck Bureau; Nonpartisan Leader. want, of course. WATCHING IT GROW “YUST WATCH THIS LITTLE SPROUT DEMOCRACY' GROW ! " OF * —Drawn expressly for the Leader by Congressman John M. Baer. Away back in 1915, one man, perhaps more than any other, was convinced that the .paramount need of the farmers was a free and fearless publication devoted to their interests. He realized the power of the press was enchained by special interests. This man was A. C. Townley, president of the Na- tional Nonpartisan league. So Mr. Townley, away back in 1915, made the establishment of an untram- meled farmers’ publication one of the chief items in the prospectus of the farmers’ organization which, early in 1915, he laid before the farmers of North Dakota. The above cartoon is Congressman John M. Baer'’s tribute to the foresight and genius of Mr. Townley, who is, more than any one : else, responsnble both_for the existence ‘of the Nonpartisan league and the Leader. RN the sum total necessary to build the home and buy the property, or shall have accumulated property equal in appraised value to one-fifth of that sum, then the state will step in, providing he is a mem- ber of one of the local leagues, and provide the money as well as its greater buying power and see that his home goes up. elect what architectural design and details he may The man himself will Bonds will be sold to take care of 50 per cent of the value of the home. The home builder provides 20 per cent. The rest of the money neces- sary for the erection of each house is pro- vided from the de- posits made with the state by home build- ers and prospective home builders. These deposits represent the collective credit offered by every per- son in the state who intends to build a home under the plan. DEPOSITS ARE GROWING STEADILY Despite the time- re- quired under this ar- rangement the state is now in the position to go ahead. A vast amount of work is still involved, but deposits are coming in in growing volume. By this fall additional strides in building will have been made. By next spring the state will be in a position to attack the rent profiteers on all fronts in North Dakota. No better investment: opportunity could be of- fered than deposits in the home building asso- ciation. They pay 5 per cent, compounded semi- annually. Any person can open an account at any of the banks in the state, or directly with the state .association or the Bank of North Da- kota. Absolutely secure through the operation of the state bank guaranty law and the resources back of the Bank of North Dakota, the high interest rate paid on these savings is only a secondary consideration. The speculative peril- which has caused a sad ’ history to thousands of persons who have been caught in the crash of private home building associations throughout the country is eliminated for the depositor of funds in the home build- ing association. The appeal of this in- (Continued-on page 13)