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TOUR ADVERTISING SHOULD REFLECT THE STORE SPIRIT- PRINT A BIG SMILE VOL. XXII, NO. 41. An appeal different froTn those which have been heard in this'vicinity by the Non-partisan league organiz ers was made at Pioneer Hall Tues day when J. Arthur Williams ad dressed a crowd of farmers and busi ness men at Pioneer Hall Tuesday night. Mr. Williams is one of the most forceful men the Farmers have in the fiield and many were disappointed when it was learned that he would be unable to speak in Williston, be cause of illness. Here is what Mr. Williams had to say of House Bill 44, the big bone of contention in the last legislature: "A new constitution had to be drafted and at once. This, when submitted to the people and ratified by them, would take the place of the old constitution and permit the peo ple of the state to build the various enterprises we so sorely need. House bill 44 was this new constitution. It carried in the house by an over whelming majority. But the hold over senators were on guard to pro tect the interests and the people of North Dakota were refused even the right to say whether or not they thot themselves fit to govern themselves, which the old constitution does not permit. "Much has been said by opposition papers to defend the position of the reactionary senators. This has taken the form of defending the old consti tution as something Holy and con demning' those who thot it should be changed to suit the time. But, as a matter of plain horse sense, this is simply tommyrot and anyone, at all aware of the methods employed by the old gang in this state is tempted to smile at their eleventh hour at tempt at political piety. "At any rate, there is the way the proposition stood. It was unconsti tutional for the farmers' candidates to do anything for the farmers and the holdover senators said the farm ers would not be permitted to do any thing for themselves. It was up to the league men then, to do the best they could under the circumstances. FARMERS' LEAGUE LEADERS WOULD CO-OPERATE WITH BUSINESS MEN TO BUILD BIC6ER AND BETTER CITIES Organization Speaker Tuesday Night Says Movement Needs and Wants The Business man of the Small Towns—-Says The League Will Put Farmer in White House in 1924 With A Bump That Will Be Heard Around the world. "The first of this year the people of North Dakota had a new experience," said J. Arthur Williams of Grand Forks, speaking at Pioneer Hall Tuesday night. "For perhaps the first tiire in the history of the state a group of elected men stood for the same principles after election as they did the day before. "The farmers of the state took charge. Organized into the Farmers Nonpartisan Political League they had, in a little over a year, broken the political ring that controlled this state and elect ed over a hundred of their .candidates to office. Today North Da kota is poor pickings for Big Business. While the professional politician has landed on the scrap-heap, where he belonged years ago. "With control of the Supreme Court, of every state office but that of state Treasurer, and eighty-one out of one hundred and thirteen in the house the farmers and other citizens of this state were at last in a fair way to make some laws in the interest of the common people. Half the senate held over, however, and on a test vote it was shown that vested interests had twenty nine men to our one. Nevertheless the League men went right ahead and organized to get results, and a hall was hired where nightly meet ings could be held and matters talked over. Each man reasserted his belief in the program of the League and ways and means were sought in caucus with which to enact this program into law. But of course our state constitution prevented this. Big business had seen to it years ago that it is unconstitutional for the farmers of this state to do things for themselves. In spite of perhaps the worst op-j means more money to spend over position ever faced by a North Da kota legislature these earnest men stuck together and finally put thru a minoT program of legislation they need not be ashamed of. In addition they prevented all vicious laws from passage which alone -was unique in North Dakota politics "A resolution for a constitutional chasing power to the average farm amendment to exempt farm improve ments from taxation, a reduction in the assessed valuation of livestock, farm tools, autos, threshing outfits, flour mills, and warehouses from 25 per cent to 20 per cent and a raise on -railway property and bank stock from 25 per cent to 30 per cent, were among the tax measures. "A North Dakota grain gradine system was established, measures protecting warehouse receipts and making it easier to secure money on them, laws to compel railways to give the farmers a square deal in alloting cars and elevator sites, dairy acts to protect and build that indus try and reimburse the owner of con demned cattle in cash in case they must be destroyed, and the guaranty of state bank deposites, will one and all have their effect indirectly to benefit the pocketbook and peace of mind of the common citizen of this state. "State highway laws which secure federal aid in building UD a system of roads in this state to the extent of a dollar for every dollar we spend were enacted and are now laws. Oil and hotel inspectorships which were formerly used to pay off political debts have been put under the pure food commissioner and will from now on be handled more cheaply and effi ciently. In addition, from now on it is optional with each county wheth er or not it retains the county agent, while the Torrens title system can now be substituted in each county in place of the present somewhat cost ly and cumbersome abstract system upon a vote of the people. "There were many other laws pass ed, of course, and practically no bad laws for the average citizen. It is •impossible to enumerate ^nd describe them all' but the terminal bill Gover nor Frazier vetoed is, perhaps, worth special mention. "This was a law which originated in the senate and which was calcu lated to get the league in bad. The house passed it in the rush the last minute and it went to the Governor. J£e saw the joke our holdover friends were putting over on us and vetoed it. That is his business, to protect us. He did it and had no apology to make, Neither have I. That ends the first round with Big Biz. It didn't cost over nine dollars apiece and it was worth a hundred. Just the fun of seeing the politicians equirm and squeal was worth the money, while the legislation we have secured will more than reimburse us thf first year it is in force. "Now what will we do for the fu ture? Will we disband and let Non partisan League die, the gang get back in again and throw the hooks into us worse than ever, or will we organ ize for two years more and retain the advantage we have won? We have friends down at Bismarck today in stead. of enemies. Shall we desert them or shall we continue to stand back of them as long as they do all they sincerely can? "This is the question that each citi zen must answer, whether he is a farmer, business man, working man, or professional. The farmers are an swering it now. They are reorgan izing for two years more. In addi tion, they are strengthening their organization by slightly increasing the funds available. "This means much to you business men of Williams county. It means farmers are determined to secure bet ter pay for their year's work and that your counters. It means in time, less funds going down east to build cities for other peoples, and more to be spent with you dentists, doctors, carpen-r ters, plumbers, painters, and Features That Williston is Proud Of every man and woman who in any way has a service to perform for the farmers. It means the increasing of the pur- er. If you understand economics you realize what that means to YOU. "Much has been said of Mr. fown ley and the rest of us- Of course that is to be expected. You cannot carry on a successful fight like this with out criticism. I have known Mr. Townley and the leading spirits of this league for many years. I have been associated with them in other attempts to organize the fai-mers. I, personally, was born :and raised in this state and ran into this town as express messenger for nearly ten years. I have found every man sin cere and honest. Long "before the league was heard of they were mak ing sacrifices to preach organization. No one can make me believe they could change so suddenly. In fact I know they have not. The big idea is. what trips them,—the idea of break ing the back of big business in this country and establishing conditions that are fair to r.ll. "We desire to build, not destroy. !f anyone can show me the league if. not constructive I will quit it that very moment. We wish to increase your patronage, Mr. Businessman,— to compel you to triple your stock, double your salesforce, and extend your warehouse. We want to fi!l your office and ante-room, Mr. Profes sionalman,—you have the training and ability to care for more people, so why not? We want these farm- Williston Graphic "It certainly is one of the most re markable gains ever made by a bank in this section of the country." That was the comment of a prominent busi ness man last week after reading the announcement in the Graphic that the Williams County State Bank had passed the Million dolar mark in re sources. The sentiment has been echoed by many this week and officials of the bank have been receiving congratula tions on every side. The officers of the bank are justifiably proud of the attainment as there are very few banks in North Dakota that can claim this volume and this is the only state bant in the Western part of North Dakota that has risen to this point. The Williams County State Bank enjoys a position in the community of which any institution might well be proud. The officials have always been known as boosters for the good things for the community and for their patrons. They have hit the ball every day in the week for a good this city and the surrounding terri ers to build bigger and better homes, Mr. Worker,—to make it possible so they can order more carpenter work done, and painting, and plumbing, and job printing, and the hundred and That's the Nonpartisan league, friends, and remember,—in 11)20 we will have a great deal to say with re- THE one other things they want now but an honest-to-God farmer into the cannot afford. "That's the proposition, friends,— no more, no less. To do this we have built up the most powerful organiza tion in the northwest. Everyday it is getting bigger. Minesota is or ganizing with over sixteen thousand already. South Dakota has around thirteen thousand. Montana has close to ten. Colorado is calling for us. Wisconsin insists we come at orce. Iowa has invited us to start there. Wyoming is sore because we do not drop everything and start there at once. The whole United States is aroused. "No power under Heaven can stop us. With the best farmers all in the league or joining, with the brightest busines smen behind us to a man, with the more progressive profession al and union men doing all they can to cooperate and aid us, the Farmers Nonpartisan Political League will never stop until it extends from coast to coast. Big business is doomed. We'll sew them up in a bag and in less than ten years. Organized greed must come to a halt. This is not a fight of dollars but of red blood, and manhood and womanhood, and the intelligence. We have that in full measure. Their dirty dollars got them no where in North Dakota and the result will be the same in the United States. By maiden and youth, penance free, pleasure dreaming, The child's gleeful quest, success and amaze, By chaste, stately lilies through softened light gleaming, Each brief light a rapture of exquisite praise By the joy of the chorus in ecstasy swelling And the vibrating note of the great organ's roll Then the silence, the fragrance, the deep calm compelling An answering peace in each world-weary soul, I know that Easter as here. WILLISTON, WILLIAMS COUNTY, NORTH DAKOTA, THURSDAY MARCH 29, 1917. $1.50 PER YEAR IN ADVANCE tory. The bank also carries deposits many years and the commodious home in the Odd Fellows building is the source of advice for many citizens of for smaller banks in this vicinity and the officers of the Williston institution stand high among their fellow bank ers, both as bankers and as men. "We are certainly gratified at the confidence which the people of this gard to who will be the next Presi dent of the United States. While in 1924 we will place an ordinary citi zen in congress and the senata from each district! and, in addition, put Presidential chair with a bumo that they will hear around the entire world. Then we'll see if privilege will run this country, or if the producer, in both country and city, wil lhave the most to say. So don't buck- boost We need you and you need us. Let's pull together for a squarer deal—why not? Why be the goat for big busi ness forever? That's all friends, and I thank you very, very much." RI LING ON HOMESTEADS The following order has been is sued from the U. S. Land office at Miles City, relating to the 640 acre homestead law and will be of interest to Williston people who are taking up additional claims: Those entrymen who have made additional entries, not adjoining the original entries, will be required to live on the additionals, and those who do not intend to live thereon should notify the land office withdrawing the additional entries, so that their fees and commission may be returned. E. B. McCutcheon, well known in Williston thru his work as state game warden is being urged for reappoint ment by sportsmen over the state. At a recent meeting of the First Dis trict Sportsmen's association* held at Mi not he was unanimously endorsed for the post. Williston shooters will he glad to seehimland. WILLISTON WAY community have placed in us," said Cashier O. J. Helland today. "A bank is not built in a day and the steady progress which the Williafns County State has made speaks well for care and efficiency. As a million dollar bank our patrons will find us just as ready to take care of their business as the day the institution opened." The growth of the bank has shown WONDERLAND TRAIL WILL BE EXTENDED AUTO ROUTE THRU WILLISTON MAY SEE MILITARY ACTIV ITY IF WAR COMES One of the important states events having to do with Good Roads and maintenance was the meeting of the State Wonderland Trail Association at Minot Thursday, March 22, attend ed by active boosters from all over the (State, to discuss the year's Trail program within the state. One of the steps decided upon is an automobile tour on the highway from Duluth, Minnesota, to Glacier National Park during the coming summer. Renewed interest in the Wonder land Trail, which was conceived and organized by the Grand Forks Com mercial Club, also headquarters of Interstate Association, obtains from the fact that it has been recog nized by the National Highways As sociation, and being the northermost east and west highway, will have an important part in any transportation scheme having to do with military activity. Plans now under way by the Wonderland Trail Interstate As sociation will result in the extension from Seattle to Duluth, as originally planned, eastward from Duluth to Ashland, Wisconsin, thence to Chi cago and east to Buffalo, thence along the south shore of Lake Ontario across northern New York, passing through Plattsburgh, northern Ver mont and New Hampshire, central Maine and terminating at Ea.stport. Field on Committee State Officers elected at the Minot meeting are: President F. B. Feet ham, Grand Forks Vice Presidents, F. P. Mann, Devils Lake J. W. Jack son, Williston A. .J. Ross, Stanley Clint DierdorfF, Minot C. A. Stub bins, Granville L. H. Bratton, Rugby A. Hughart, Leeds Jas. Gronna, La kota Secretary—W. E. Holbein, Mi not Treasurer,—E. Bylin, Tioga. The Executive Committee is composed of the above officers and J. W. Bliss of Bismarck chairman local organiza tion committee. Will Hawkins, Devils Lake Legislative Committee, G. H. Reishus, Mipot route Committee, Chas. Field, Williston. Williston boosters have committed themselves to furnish $50 to push the work of renewing the trail. Mr. Field was the only local man present and it is expected that the county commissioners will be glad to furnish the money for this work as it will be of great help in getting national road funds in conjunction with state and county work in Williams county. LIBRARY NOTES "The Bent Twig," by Dorothy Can field, which is added to the fiction this week, is one of the strongest novels of recent publication. Here is what one review says of it: An interesting and thoughtful novel, a vivid portrayal of an un conventional professor's family in a middle western university town. The contrast between their unassuming simplicity and fineness and the more spectacular standards of the social leaders of the town makes a test for proving the character of Sylvia. She wavers, but the long and beautiful influence of her home training pre vails. All the characters are true to type: the mother is a positive in spiration. Poetry recently added includes: Riley's "Pipes o' Pan." Repplier's "Book of Famous Verse" Le Row. "Pieces for Every Occa sion." A new Tomlinson series which every boy will welcome has these three titles in it: Camping on the St. Lawrence. House-boat on the St. Lawrence. Cruising on the St. Lawrence. For smaller folk there is "When Molly was six." GET BUSY NOW FOR WILLISTON'S BIGGEST FOURTH OF JULY CELEBRATION People Who Are Boosting Our Town greatest in the last few years. Fol lowing consolidation with the Farm ers and Merchants Bank new life was taken on by the institution and bigger things were undertaken and successfully accomplished. The great, gain that has been made however can best be noted when it is remembered that at that time the deposits of the institution were only a little over :M0,000. Today over three times that: amount show on the books and there is a steady consistent growth that growth that will make the second million an easier goal. The present officials of the bank are: M. E. Wilson, Pres. L. C. Win gate, Vice Pres. B. J. Schoregge, Vice Pres. O. J. Helland, Cashier V. M. Pike, Asst. Cash. C. G. Vikan, Asst. Cash. The Graphic joins with the business community of Williston in congratu lations and wishes for success in the onward march. It's the Williston way. BIDICK TO FURL IN MAGAZINE STORY WILLISTON CITIZEN WHO RAN FOR GOVERNOR SUBJECT OF INTEREST North Dakota, its farmer govern ment, and the political condition of the state at the present time is to be the subject of a series of articles which are soon to be published in The Country Gentleman, probably the most widely circulated high class farm publication in the country. A representative of the Curtis com pany in this city the other day stated that Usher L. Burdick of Williston would have a place in the story be cause of the fact that the local man was a candidate for governor in the fight which ultimately resulted in the overthrow of the old parties in the government. There is little doubt in the minds of Mr. Burdick's friends here, £i)d over the* state for that matter, that he would now be in the governor's chair if the Non-partisan league had not taken a hold of politics just when it did. This will make the story very interesting to Williston people, who. are curious to know just how the mat ter will be treated in the article. One of the staff writers of the paper has been assigned to this state for the story. MAKING WILLISTON BIG DAIRY CENTER FARMER'S CREAMERY PUTTING AUTO ROUTES INTO SERVICE Expansion of the business of the" Williston Farmer's Creamery and produce company put into effect this week will make this city the most im portant in the territory to hundreds of dairy farmer in all directions 25 miles from town. As briefly stated Jast week the com pany is putting on a motor truck, service which will make at least three trips a week in every direction from: this city for a distance of 25 miles,, covering one route going and another returning thus being enabled to take in 50 miles of territory in a day. The routes as they are now being laid out are as follows: Bonetraill route taking in all terri tory between here and that town. Marmon Route taking in all terri tory to Marmon and making two routes in that direction. Nesson route, taking in southeast territory to that town. McKenzie county route taking ir the big dairy territory of our neigh bor county. Trenton and Buford route which will open up a big territory in that direction. Manager Erickson is working out the proposition so that service will be given to the greatest number of farmers. It is probable that many farmers besides those directly on the routes can be served by making sta tions at convenient points. The autos will make the trip on stated days and will be able to make schedule time almost as well as train service so there will be no danger of disappoint ment. The directors of the creamery be lieve that 500 milk cows can be placed: to advantage this season with farm ers in the territory. It is now planned to furnish that number, getting any kind of stock that the dairy men want—with Holstein and Durhaas pure breds in the choice and plenty of registered grade stock. As soon as this undertaking can: be well perfected Williston will have a position in this vicinity as center for dairy products that many cities of much larger size would be proud' to claim.