The nonpartisan leader. [volume], May 31, 1920, Image 3

About The nonpartisan leader. [volume] (Fargo, N.D.) 1915-1921

Image provided by: State Historical Society of North Dakota

                
IN THE INTEREST OF A SQUARE
DEAL FOR THE FARMERS
Batered as second-class matter at the postoffice at
Minneapolis, Minn., under the act of March 3, 1879.
Publication address. 427 Sixth avenue 8., Minneapolis,
Minn. Address all remittances to The Nonpartisan
Leader, Box 2075, Minneapolis, Minn.
Arates
HOMESTEADERSthe
0
YEAR ago the kept press of the country was calling for the
return of the railroads to their stockholders—first, because
under government operation service was poor second, be
cause had been increased third, because in spite of increased
rates a big deficit had been accumulated. At that time the Leader
predicted that if the roads were turned back there would be the
same complaints as to service, "rates will be just as high, if not
a little higher the deficit will be just as great, or perhaps a little
greater."
Now every prediction we made has been more than verified.
Deliveries of freight can not be counted upon at all shippers from
one end of the country to the other are calling for cars and failing
to get them. The roads are demanding that the interstate com­
ern Pacific land grant (an 80-mile strip, 40 miles on each
side of the railroad track from Lake Superior to Puget
sound) have been made victims of one of the most barefaced
grafts in the history of our country.
More than one year ago, in April, 1919, the supreme court of
the United States decided that homesteaders should pay only $1.25
an acre for such land, though $2.50 had been charged and collected
by the department of the interior. In December, 1919, eight months
later, the general land office sent out a notice to local land offices
announcing this new policy, but saying nothing about a refund to
those who had paid $2.50 an acre.
But in the meantime "shark" lawyers, who knew that a re
fund was due the homesteaders and could be collected by the mere
filing of a claim, were busy signing up the farmers to "collect"
their claims with a 50 per cent fee.
In April, 1920, a year after the original decision of the supreme
court, and after nearly all homesteaders had assigned their claims
to the sharks, the Bismarck (N. D.) land office has announced
publicly that homesteaders are entitled to a refund of $1.25 per
acre, or $200 per quarter section, that no legal action is necessary
and that all that is needed is to fill out blanks that will be furnished
by local land offices.
Alexander T. L. Vogelsang, first assistant secretary of the
interior, called upon to explain why this graft on the homesteaders
was permitted, handed out this lame excuse:
It is impossible to send a special notice to each person interested
because the department does not know names and addresses.
Where, then, did the shark lawyers get the names and ad
dresses? Where else but from the department's own files?
The North Dakota Leader, first paper in the United States to
expose this monumental graft, offers this advice to homesteaders
affected:
If you haven't already as
signed your claim, don't assign
it but make application direct to -MX
your local land office for refund. LAWYER
If you have signed a con-
ate^
tract assigning your claim, re
voke it and make direct appli- —li
cation for refund. •JULiai^
Official Magazine of the National Nonpartisan League—Every Week
OLIVER S. MORRIS, Editor.
VOL. 10, NO. 20 MINNEAPOLIS, MINNESOTA, MAY 31,1920 WHOLE NUMBER 243
Private Railroad Operation Is a Failure
BML&oad
AAA&/VCR5
on odd-numbered sections in the North­
Let's Have Honest Government!
Wof
PAGE THREE
A MAGAZINE THAT DARES TO
PRINT THE TRUTH
One year, In advance, $2.50
merce commission allow them to increase their rates 25 to 40 per
cent and declare that if they are not given these increases congress
will have to appropriate millions, if not billions, to make up their
deficits.
We stated, when we made our prediction, that "if the return of
the roads to full private operation (they never have been under
complete government operation) accomplishes all the miracles that
Wall street claims (as to bettered service, reduced rates, etc.) the
Nonpartisan Leader offers to withdraw its fight for public owner
ship."
Well, we're still in the fight. Private railroad operation is a
proved failure. The sooner the public realizes this the better it
will be.
But there is one more important bit of advice that we would
like to add. This is:
PUT HONEST MEN IN STATE AND NATIONAL OFFICES
SO THAT NO FUTURE GRAFT OF THIS KIND EVER WILL BE
POSSIBLE.
FREEDOM OF SPEECH
HILE lovers of liberty in all lands have urged the necessity
freedom of speech, none put the case more pointedly
than Voltaire when he said: "I wholly disapprove of what
you say—and will defend to the death your right to say it."
MR. PALMER'S MAY "REVOLUTION*
RIOTINGrevolutionUnitedupDAY
and the blowing of public men with bombs, if not
actual and the setting up of a Soviet regime,
were due in the States May 1, international Labor
Day. This great event was scheduled by Mr. Palmer, United States
attorney general. Newspapers throughout the country were filled
for days with his predictions. He claimed to have a list of public
men who would be blown up by anarchists. He said he had wind
of several big "red radical" plots. He ordered a lot of "agitators"
jailed he warned public functionaries to have troops and home
guards under arms in readiness.
May 1 came and went. We confess to getting up early Sunday
morning to read in the papers what the casualties were. The first
paper we got didn't have a word about the "revolution" happening,
or failing to happen. Perhaps the revolutionists had cut down a.!l
the telegraph wires! We anxiously bought another paper. Noth
ing on the front page. Nothing anywhere in the paper—no, here
it is, a little item on page 16: "May Day marked by quiet and
orderly demonstrations by labor."
BIX
But what does Palmer say about it Anxiously we read. Here
it is^ "Attorney General Pal
mer a statement said that the
vigilance of his department, to
gether with the full warning he
gave to the public and federal
and state peace officers, prevent
ed any outbreaks."
months, $1.50. Clas­
sified rates on classified page other advertising rates
on appUcauon. Member Audit Bureau of Circulations.
8. C. Beckwlth Special Agenw, advertising represen
tatives, No* York. Chicago, St. Louis. Kansas City.
Well, well! What will Ms
next "red radical" fake be?