The Dickinson press., 1916-03-18
NON-PARTTSAN LEAGUE; THE
MOST DANGEROUS POLIT-
ICAL MACHINE IN STATE
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in this matter will create surprise
and disappointment in many quart
ers; but it has always been the prin-
ciple Of this newspaper to tell the
truth, such as it sees it, regardless
Of consequences. The policies of
Normanden have never been die
tated from personal or pecuniary
gain. The Normanden has always
been a spokesman for equity, cooper
alton and the interests of farmers
in general. A t%wenty-nine years
record along these lines cannot easily
be explained away. ;
The information which the Nor
manden possesses regarding the Non
Partisan league is of such a nature
that it would be nothing less than
journalistic deception to keep still.
Those Of the readers of this paper
who are members of the league-and
there are many of them-are re-
spectfully requested to read this
with as unprecedented a mind as is
possible under the circumstances, and
this done, they will have to ask
themselves the question if it was
thus they expected the organization
to act when they Joined it and paid
in their money.
Hidden Program of the League
Whatever may be said of the Off
cial program of this "non-partisan'
good in 1.-THE dangerous part is in
the "hidden" program, a program
which is not published in the official
organ of the organization, and which
is not spoken of openly outside of a
small circle of the initiated. Some
of these "planks" may be summed
up as follows: /,
Complete control of the executive,
administrative and legislative affairs
of the state.
Election of a governor who is
willing to obey orders from the
commanding generals of the league.
Election of men of the same
calibre to other state officers-sec-
rotary, treasurer, auditor, attorney
general and members of the various
public commissions.
Election of such members to the
legislature as will abide by the die
tation of the leaders of the league.
The calling of a constitutional con-
vention for North Dakota by means
of an obedient legislature.
Bossism at the Helm
1t was understood from the begin
ming that the Non-Partisan league
was to act absolutely non-partisan in
politics and use it's power and money
to secure the nomination of good
men on the different party tickets.
This working plan appears to have
been thrown on the scrap heap and
judging from the information OBJ
tanned by representatives of the Nor
manden it is now the purpose of the
league to put it's own ticket in the
field.
With this in view there have al
ready been held precinct meetings,
where delegates to county conven-
tons were elected. AS regards the
precinct meetings Director Wood of
the league declares that only men,
bers of the league were admitted to
the meetings. When the meeting was
called to order, all those present had
to show membership certificates, and
those who did not have them was
asked to leave the hall. Then the
doors were locked and the necessity
of keeping the deliberations secret
was impressed upon the gathering.
They were told not to tell any
outsider what took place or who
was elected delegate. They were
told not to discuss affairs of the
league, or the plans or programs,
with anyone who was not already
initiated in the secrets of the league,
and it is reasonable to suppose that
the elected delegates to the county
conventions will not know or meet
their co-delegates until they arrive
at the convention and are taken in
hand by the representatives from the
head office. This representative will
be the leading spirit at the meeting.
Working Plan, Continued
From this it will be seer that
everything is done to get a conven-
ton of "unbiased and uninf1uenced"
delegates whose sole object is to obey
orders. To give the trusted agents
of the elmer council"-and there are
not very many of them-a chance to
be present and control these county
conventions, in case the delegates
should be so insane as to act &C
cording to the dictation of their con-
science and sound sense, these con-
ventions are spread over a period Of
several weeks. The dates are kept
very secret. at any rate until the
time when this is written.
State Convention March goth
The date for the state convention,
when the crown is to be put on all
the achievements, a also to be
kept secret except for the few Sc