The daily telegram. [volume] (Clarksburg, W. Va.) 1901-1926, 1916-05-05
NORTH DAKOTA
FARMERS WAR
ON POLITICIANS
Smarting under Injuries, They
Are Considering Putting a
Ticket in the Field.

FARGO, N. D., May 5-The far
mers of North Dakota are in rebel.
lion against injustices they say have
made farming Improbable in one OF
the richest agricultural regions in
the world. They have formed an
organization of 10000, over half the
farmers of the state, each one OF
whom has contributed $6 or 50 to n
fund intended to accomplish reyo.
luton In state affairs, and the con
dltions under which farmers work
and live.
Here are 10000 farmers in a state
| that raises the finest hard spring
wheat. with as rich and productive
soil as can be found anywhere, de-
c!aring that farming under present
conditions does not pay, and that
with bumper crops and high prices
farmers have difficulty in making
both ends meet, let alone get ahead.
Farmers Pay Most Taxes.
North Dakota is almost exclusive
~ an agricultural state. Farmers
cast over seventy per cent of the
votes and pay about eighty per cent
| OF the taxes. The largest city has
scarcely 10000 inhabitants, and like
all towns in the commonwealth, is
supported entirely by the farming
industry.
Yet North Dakota has never had a
farmer governor or one entirely III
sympathy with them and their bust
ness, nor have farmers ever had a
majority in the legislature. The
state has been governed and the laws
made by politicians, business and
professional men of the towns and
cities.
A long series OF attempts by the
farmers to gain legislation which
they thought their industry needed,
eliminated in the legislature of Jan
uary, 1915, in defeat. This leglsla-
ture rejected plan for y state-ownec
terminal elevator. after the people
AZ two elections had voted over.
whelmingly for one.
Predict $4,000 Members.
The farmers then were an unor
Ganized factor, unable to force on the
legislature their demands. To-day
they are organized, with every pros
pect of having over $4,000 members
before November, and with every
prospect of electing farmer COVER
ror and legislature.
When the 1915 legislature tram
pied the terminal elevator PROPOSE
tion and other farmers legislation
under foot, group oil influential
farmers, who had been Mt Bismarck
the capital, in the interests of this
legislation, resolved that some.ning
should be done. One of them, A. c.
Townley, of Beach. suggested nom
partisan organization, TO include the
voters of all parties, dedicated to
the purpose of solidifying the farm
er vote and electing farmer gov
rrnor and legislature.
Farmers Rush TO Join.
The idea was accepted and he was
made president of the Farmers Nom
partisan Political League of North
Dakota, then and there organized.
With money borrowed from these
few farmers and automobiles started
out to get members for the new or
ganization at Sc each. This was to
find out how the farmers would take
to the proposition.
They took to 1t with enthusiasm
In few weeks over 1000 had joined
and the organization paid pack the
money 1t had borrowed and bought
several other automobiles in which
TO send out organizers among the
| farmers.
The organizers signed UP farmers
as fast as they could sec taem and
write receipts for the Sc. BY July.
,bou+ Forty automobiles were in the
field with organizers and nearly 26,'
900 had Joined.
Newspaper Printed for Members.
The organization promised to
cleanse state politics, turn out the
corrupt officeholders, and divorce the
state government from an unholy al.
lance with crooked big business.
In September, the first issue OF the
Nom partisan Leader, tie farmers
newspaper, appeared, and since has
been going weekly to every member
CT the league and to 10000 non
members. It has introduced new
kind Of Journalism in North Dakota
the fearless kind-and 1t claims to
have exposed by fact recitals, public
records, court evidence and uncon-
troverted facts rottenness of the
state government and political cor
,rrflon that has existed since state
hood.
auis spring conventions were held
and a complete legislative and state
ticket, headed by farmer for COVER
nor, has been placed in the field.
The energies Of the organization