The evening times. [volume] (Grand Forks, N.D.) 1906-1914, 1913-09-30
A GRAVE

A GRAVE SITUATION.
The address of President McNey on
SOCIALISM and Syndicalism" is a time
IN and thoughtful presentation of facts
which are of the highest Importance
10 society. The relations between Ia
Dor and capital affect every branch of
industry and have their bearing on the
welfare of every individual.
There has been a tendency in agri'
cultural states such as our own to
look upon labor complications with
those troubles are usually associated
with factories which employ many
men. and have their place in cities
where population is congested. and
the wage workers form a very large
element of the population.
In North Dakota we V no fac
tories of great size, no great body of
laborers in any II place. and appar-
emily none Of the conditions which
contribute so greatly to the aggrava-
ton of labor troubles in the east. Yet
as President Mcyey points out. but a
few weeks ago the city of Minot was
the center of a disturbance which
threatened the peace of the city and
the welfare of a large district Of which
the city is the center A few agitators
were able to influence transient labor
ers to the point of violence, and even
had there been no violnce, and no
these men in refusing to work except
for wages which were eXtortionate
would nave created a very serious sit
ustion.
North Dakota is at the present time
peculiarly vulnerable to attacks of this
kind. The basis of the entire prosper
ity of the state is its agricultural
wealth. A very large part of that
wealth is exceedingly %perishable until
it il safely housed. The farmers of
the state carry on large operations.
They invest their time and effort dur
ing the entire year in the production
Of a big crop of grain which they al
not handle. They must depend on out
side help. Transients by the thou
sand come into the state. some of
them in search of work. and some
in search of the easy pickings which
they have learned are to be found at
harvest time. A failure of the labor
supply would mean the loss Of mill
ions, and it is possible that the labor
supply, if it does not fail entirely. may
be subjected to such interference az to
cause disaster.
The I. w. W. agitators achieved lit
tie this year. They created a disturb
ance. and caused some inconvenience.
That was about all. Some of the lead
ers announce that this was but a be-
ginning, n that they will be here
next year to organize on a more am
bilious plan, and they hope hen to
have the situation in their own hands
If that should ever happen. God help
the state.
1t need not be expected that these
agitators will ever be able to profit as
they seek to profit by INJECTING loss
and inconvenience OF others. But it is
quite possible that. without beneftine
themselves. they ma infict untold in
fury on the state.
The conditions make this an invit-
ing field for their efforts. For a few
weeks the state has need of a tremen-
dous amount of outside labor. The
men who n here in response to the
demand are strangers, non-residents,
having no interest and no stake in the
state. and without incentive to consult
the interests Of those whose hopes
n interests are here. Suppose that
with a heavy crop to handle, the ON
ditions which prevailed at Minot last
month should suddenly become prev
alent all over the state at the begin.
ming Of harvest. and men should re.
fuse to go to the fields for any price
which the farmers could afford to pay
There would be excitement, and anger
and disturbance. Most important OF
all, SO far as the immediate necessities
VI Sao ~ 1lCuS JIG
would be delay. Delay at a critica
period of the harvest season might
easily mean the destruction of prac.
tically an entire crop.
All Of this would not benefit the la.
borers. But it would be ruinous to the
farmers. Such a condition is one t.
be thought over and planned against
We nno afford to risk even the re.
mote possibility Of it. The state needs
first, sane and careful planning fol-
the immediate handling of the labor
question in the best possible manner
and, second. the development of agri.
cultural conditions which will result ir
the existence of a labor body perma.
nent1y resident in the state.
PHILIPPINE SLAVERY.