The Fargo forum and daily republican. [volume] (Fargo, N.D.) 1894-1957, 1914-03-17
TUESDAY, MARcH II, 1914.
AN EXHIBITION OF GALL.

dlOtltSL % aJiA NlSlhAltlS . ~ Tx
farmers of North Dakota, not alone as
to tho problem of marketing grain. but
in matters purely personal to them, is
an exhibition of gall that has seldom
been equaled in modern times. If
these exhibitions occurred in Russia or
Mexico, one could make some allow
ance. but in u own commonwealth
they are reprehensible to the last de-
gree.
1t must be humiliati ting to conserva-
tive farmers to take their instruction
from an outsider who Is not a farmer
himself and whose interest in their
welfare is evidently prompted by per-
sonal gain. To listen by the hour to
denunciation OF the agencies that have
contributed powerfully to the upbuild-
ing OF the state. and to defamation Of
the character Of men who have devot-
ed their best years to the promotion
of our agricultural and business inter-
ests may. as a business proposition,
appeal to a certain class, but certainly
not 20 sober thinking farmers.
With this man and his lieutenants
nothIng is sacred except the Equity
Cooperative exchange, of which he is
the business manager, and every mar
and every institution of the state that
does not patronize it and Work for it
is an enemy Of the people and subject
10 abuse and TRADE such as only one
m has long p~racticed the use Of
V~ituperative epithets can offer. He
even ssumes to dictate with whom
the farmers may deal and whom they
shah boycott. He goes further and by
1nnuendo and insinuation seeks to
hlacken the reputation of every man
that does not fall for his schemes. To
stir up strife between neighbors. to
SOW the seeds of discord in hitherto
peaceful communities and to plant the
seeds OF pessimism as widely as pos
sible seems to be his method of build
ing up a private business.
And all for what?
The cuttlefish elects an inky sub
stance that surrounds its movements
with uncertainty. and by the same
token as long as the farmers can be
made to listen to harangues against
public men and later, quarrel among
themselves, there is less likelihood Of
their investigating the exact methods
employed at the terminal market"
which their money is solicited to
maintain. There is method in his mad
ness, after ali. Newspapers that do
not recognize him as the farmers onlv
friend-as the self-sacri6cinp mis-
lonar to save the farmer from the
thieves and robbers that would devour
hfm~-are rotten n utterly disrepu-
table.
The American Society Of Equity is
a I'D Of honest, well-meaning
farmers. A number Of them have sub
sorihed stock for the building of a ter
Tnlns1 Many have shipped
grain to the Equity exchange. This
1s their right n If this concern can
demonstrate any advantage to the
darfner ~ handling his grain, it's bust
hess viii grow by leaps and bounds.
There is no necessity, therefore for
holding meetings for the purpose 1f
creating dissension in neighborhoods
and embroiling man against man
without n possible advantage to anv
one save to himself and clique.
Already there is evidence, however
that he has overplayed his hand. Re-
action is apparent. Sensible men do
not propose to encourage a dictator
not only in the grain business, but in
matters that are not the business of
TINS meddlesome busybody. There are
always those that will revel in this
sort Of atmosphere, but sober thinking
men, men who take some pride in their
MANHOOD and Judgment and who are
not ready to dance to this fellows mu-
sic, will leave him to his idol.
The people are always ready tn lis
ten to argument, but where prejudice
is skilfully created to promote a cause,
the purpose thereof may well be in
Vestigated before venturing too far
into its support.
n Forum Is loyal to the farming
interests Of the state and having No
lax to grind" aims to look upon both
sides of this controversy without bias
Its counsel is: Beware when big
stakes are being played for. When
this "fussing" has run its course and
farmers come to look with candor
upon the methods employed by this
actor to make business, they must
conclude that their own judgment was
given but little consideration.
"=E a. --------