The nonpartisan leader. [volume], September 05, 1921, Image 5

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

Image provided by: State Historical Society of North Dakota

                
NEBRASKA
BY THE STATE MANAGER
MONG the dangerous and reactionary
laws passed by the last legislature
in Nebraska was one to compel farm
ers to register and declare their party
affiliations before they can have the
right to vote. Another makes it im­
possible to start a new bank in any town unless it
can be shown that public necessity and convenience
..demands that such a bank be started. One makes
«^it a criminal offense for laboring men to picket and
another takes away from the voters the right to
select delegates to the national political conventions
and places that right in the hands of party con
ventions.
Following the adjournment of the legislature-the
Nonpartisan league, with the help of organized
labor, prepared petitions and circulated them for the
purpose of exercising the referendum against these
laws and making them inactive till the people can
vote on them. Later the Fanners' union, Farm Bu
reau and Senator Capper's Nebraska paper joined in
the campaign. It was necessary to secure 37,824
signatures not later than July 28 in
order to comply with the law and
make the referendum effective.
The enthusiasm of the farmers and
workers of the state far exceeded the
expectations of those having direct
charge of the work. The petitions
were circulated by over 1,500 men and
women. Several days prior to the
date necessary for filing C. A. Soren
sen, Nonpartisan league attorney, who
had direct charge of the campaign,
sent out word that the petitions would
be filed with the secretary of state on
July 25. This news brought to the
statehouse in Lincoln delegates from
the different farm and labor organiza
tions throughout the state. The peti
tions were presented by Mr. Sorensen
and speeches were made by promi
nent Leaguers and others.
A financial statement was presented
showing that the entire cost of print
ing, postage, labor, etc., would not
exceed $3,000. Signatures secured
numbered 66,077 for referring the reg
istration law, and almost as many on
the other three. Not since the League
has been organized in this state has
anything happened that has so startled
the politicians and other agents of the
interests. They are now convinced
of the harmony existing between the
different farm organizations and or
ganized labor. Nothing that has hap
pened in the state has so greatly encouraged the
League members and others interested in its
growth." To know that they are sufficiently organ
ized and have the power to render dangerous laws
inactive and permit the voters of the state to pass
upon-them is a great satisfaction.
MINNESOTA
BY EDITOR, MINNESOTA LEADER
Wwhether
HILE Mr. Townley's attorneys are still
attempting to get his case appealed to the
United States supreme court, it is doubtful
that court will consider the case
on its merits, as the Minnesota so-called "sedition"
law, a vicious measure which is in force in peace as
well as war time,, has already been held constitu
tional by the U. S. high court in a divided opinion,
several of the judges holding it unconstitutional
but a majority of them sustaining it.
It appears, .therefore, that Mr. Townley must go
to jail down Jackson county, where the political
gang had the case framed up against him during the'
1918 state political campaign and where a bitterly
prejudiced judge and prosecutor got him convicted.
The charge was "interfering with enlistments," the
"interference" being Mr. Townley's advocacy of
conscription of wealth as well as men to win the war.
Tr5„ NONPARTISAN LEAGUE NEWS
Wi
HERE'S A NEW QAME
IT'S CAUUED
"TAKE-ALL'.
•WAIT
A
But Minnesota farmers are not taking the prospect
of Townley going to jail in silence. Protest meetings
are being held all over the state. These meetings
are having an effect on public opinion. Mr. Town
ley for several months has been in Colorado with his
wife, who has been seriously ill and was ordered
there by physicians. This has taken him from ac
tive League work temporarily, but Mrs. Townley is
better now and he expected to get back into active
work next month. Instead he will probably have to
go to jail for three months, during the North Dakota
recall campaign, when his services on the stump will
be needed by North Dakota farmers. The Minne
sota political gang has apparently won a temporary
victory, but in time this persecution of a farmers'
leader can not but aid the cause of the farmers.
KANSAS
BY THE STATE MANAGER
"HILE Leader readers are reading this,
Leaguers of Kansas will be holding a big
state meeting at Salina, at which plans for
the fall and winter's organization and edu
cational work will be decided upon. The meeting
"TODDLE-TOP"—NEW NAME, OLD GAME
YOU" BET YOUR
-\CROP AND IT'S
SIMPLE AS A
TAKE ALL
THAT5 NOTHIM
N E W
-Drawn expressly for the Leader by John M. Baer.
was scheduled for September 3 and all parts of the
state will be represented. The organization work
will be done by farmers now members of the
League, instead of depending on professional or
outside organizers. The meeting was largely for
the purpose of getting volunteers for this work.
The farmer members who undertake it will be paid
the usual compensation of organizers. Dozens of
prominent Leaguers have already come forward
with offers to devote a part of the time to the work
and the success of the plan is assured. The League
is also encouraging the formation of local county
League bodies, in charge of local farmers, so that an
active part can be takenln local as well as state-wide
politics. The time was never riper in Kansas for
building the League into an irresistible power.
COLORADO
BY EDITOR, COLORADO LEADER
MASSMEETING of the League is being
held at Carpenters' hall, 1947 Stout street,
Denver, September 3 and 4. The meeting
is one of the most important ever held by
the League. Plans for the fall and winter organ
ization and educational work are being put under
way at the meeting: The League has a good foot
hold in Colorado and the interest and spirit of the
farmers were never better.
PAGE FIVE
If
]i
Ti
Big»V«
NORTH DAKOTA
BY EDITOR, COURIER-NEWS
HAT the recall election in North Dako
ta will be held early in November is
the assertion of Theodore ("Two-Bit")
Nelson, secretary of~the I. V. A. He
claims he now has 70,000 signatures
to the recall petitions and that they
will be filed with the secretary of state on Septem
ber 19. The number of signers needed is 68,000,
but the I. V. A.s claim they will have at least 80,000
names. They will need that number, as many who
have signed are not qualified voters.
More and more, as the day for the election ap
proaches, it is evident the recall has been forced
upon the people of the state against their will by
outside interests. Many of the I. V. A.s are openly
opposed to the recall. It is generally believed the
Alex McKenzie old guard will either not go to the
polls or else vote against the recall. They do not
love the Nonpartisan league, but they consider the
present V. A. leadership a detriment to their
cause. They argue they will be in better shape for the
1922 election if the League officials remain in office.
President Usher L. Burdick of the
North Dakota Farm Bureau federa
tion has aroused the ire of the I. V.
A. editors by declaring he has found
no interest among farmers in the
proposed recall. What farmers are
interested in, he says, is in securing
a new marketing system that will
protect their interests. It is signifi
cant that he has repeatedly declared
himself in favor of the completion of
the Grand Forks state terminal ele
vator, and of the building of an ele
vator in Fargo to handle grain in the
southern part of the state. The I. V.
A. program of initiated laws pro
fesses to provide funds for complet
ing the Grand Forks elevator, but
would give it no operating capital
and would specifically forbid the
building of further elevators.
Elevator interests, supporting the
I. V. A. candidates, are now concen
trating in an attack on the North
Dakota grain inspection law. This
law has been held unconstitutional
by the United States circuit court of
appeals and is now before the United
States supreme court. The fight
against the law, which provides for
fair grades, compels elevators to pay
farmers for dockage and limits the
charge for handling, was begun by
Sveinbjorn Johnson, I. V. A. candi
date for attorney general. Joseph
I. V. A. candidate for commissioner of
and labor, has just declared himself
A. Kitchen,
agriculture
against the law on the ground that the lower grades
of wheat are of no value for milling.
Now that the haryest has practically been ended,
League officials willconduct as vigorous a campaign
as their lack of adequate finances will permit. De
spite the Wall street boycott, the industrial com
mission has been carrying on the sale of bonds, and
the situation of the Bank of North Dakota grows
constantly better. League officials say that, due to
the control by the opposition of most of the sources
of news, and to the League's lack of funds, the re
call fight will be a hard one, but they have no fear
of the outcome.
MONTANA
BY THE STATE MANAGER
I HE results of last year's election have all
been in favor of the League. The administra
tion, elected on specious lies, half-truths and
general misinformation, generously mixed
with slander, have, as was expected, done nothing
for the producers. The legislative program of the
Republican majority was, as usual, to keep the cop
per trust free from taxation and to see that nothing
(Continued on page 13)