The Fargo forum and daily republican., 1910-04-15
Batchelor Replies to Criticism
Made by Anderson Of A. 5. Of E.

To The Forum: In a recent issue o
several papers a communication wal
published from one j. M. Anderson
secretary and treasurer OF the Ameri-
can Society Of Equity for North Dako.
ta The Daily News and The Search
| light were fair enough to publish my
reply to Mr.. Anderson. but The Crane
Forks Herald declined to publish it
though 1t had used the Anderson arti-
Gle.
Mr.. Anderson seems particularly EN-.
bittered against me and declares that
foisted myself on the American Society
of Equity as deputy state organizer, and
that ! acted as such having no authori
ty so to do. This statement Is false
and when he made the statement he
knew that 1t was false.
will ask Charles u. Pierson, re-
siding at Casselton, former secretary
and treasurer of the North Dakota
rtate Union of the American Society
of Equity, and now president thereof
to state over his own signature thai
I acted as deputy state organizer Of
the American Society of Equity with
out any authority for so doing. wA
ask that gentleman how much the
membership Of this society has in
creased since he first became secretary
and treasurer.
Mr.. Anderson is very emphatic in his
statement that the society is not in pol
itics and in support of that statement
he quotes a resolution passed at the
convention OF the society held in Valley
City, Oct. % and %, 1909, but he die
not quote a resolution that was passed
which recommended the appointment
of committee to represent the society
at Washington, d. G. and Bismarck
N. d.
1t is a fact that tie society, as {
body, does not wish to go into partisan
politics. 1t is also a fact that the Of
ficers, or some of them. want tc &c
into politics, to the extent of influence
ing legislation that will boost or aic
the society. Mr.. Anderson cannot deny
these statements, and if he does, sucf
a denial win be of little value, as
will be contrary to the facts, which are
known to all people who have KEEP
track of the society and it's doings.
The earnest and sincere men who
compose the rank and file of the society
have made many sacrifices for the
principles involved and for the purpose
of securing just and fair treatment
for the farmers of this state but they
are not directed by men who are cap
able of leading them on to victory. The
policy of some of the officers is sc
uncertain and is trimmed so frequent
ly, after the manner of ward healers
that it is small wonder that many
earnest and sincere men deeply de-
pIore the continued decline Of the
society's influence.
The society which started in this
state in 1907, so full of hope and
promise, for giving relief to the grain
grower, and which, by reason of its
promises, obtained membership up
wards of 10000 people Eut no sooner
did the officers feel a sense of their
power than they commenced to quar-
rel among themselves. The contracts
made with j. A. Everitt were repud-
lated and the able writer was treated
with contumely. Ever since that day
there has been a decline in member
ship and a general dist-ust of some OF
the officers, so that when the conven-
tion met in Valley City last fall the
membership did not exceed 1900.
It is now UP to the officers to dc
something to make good their predic-
tions and to give the grain grower some
relief from the extortions and robber-
les now so prevalent at terminal points
For more than two years much talk