The Oakes times. [volume] (Oakes, N.D.) 1906-current, 1916-03-09
MOST DANGEROUS
POLITICAL MACHINE
80 SAYS THE NORMANDEN OF
GRAND FORKS
Aseat the Nsapsrtisan Lssgue Wheh
aas Beeeae So Active In
State Politics

Grand Forks, N. D., March 7-One
Of the most interesting among recent
political events in North Dakota Is
the publication in the Normanden Of
this city. Of an article giving some Of
the inside history Of the Nonpardsan
League with = statement Of its pur-
poses md methods. The Normanden
is tie most widely read paper pub
lished in the Norwegian Language in
this section Of the northwest, and has
been prominently identified with the
progressive faction Of the republican
party. It will he q shock, therefore.
to many persons who have been led to
believe that the Nonpartisan League
is really organized for tho purpose Of
.cdecting political reforms to find that
organization denounced by such q
paper as the Normanden - "the most
dangerous political machine in North
Dakota"
The most dangerous political ma
chine in North Dakota today IL the
Nonpaztisan League. It is dangerous,
because, in its management, It repre-
sents the most extreme case Of boas-
ism known to the political history o4
the state; becaase it makes 30 Of I'll
the tricks, underhanded tac4ics and
arbitrary methods peculiar "a thaa
brand Of politics; because It Il sailina
under false colors by means Of which
It has grown numerically streng and
abo obtained IN immense capital tha,
can be used at the pleasure Of the
sslf-constituted leaders, who, appar.
emily, are responsible to no ono.
The Nonpartisan League u not only
tie most dangerous political pove,
in the stahe; It is At tho present hme
the strongest Quietly tho organissr.
set to work, and as quietly thei1
agents spread over the state, unit
finally the leaders Of the league con
sidered themselves strong enough Il
cene ut n tho open . . politica
powsE. The number Of members NJ,
10 great that it was evident thst th.
league Vas to be reckoned With II tn
right men were behind tho organise,
ton Political parties, candidates ant
aspirauts for Offices were duped ane
scared out Of their boots, and th,
newspapers decided either to await
further developments or they meekl,
Joined the band wagon to bask in tha
sunshine Of popularity surrounding
the new movement.
From . progressive point of view
there ut first was no real reason t,
look upon the movement with dis
pleasure. The only thing about i
which might have been viewed viii
suspicion was the secretive method
employed by the paid agents Of th'
organization. But that could, O
course, be explained in various ways
and the majority Of the people wer'
inclined to let it go 1t that. It i
safe to say that the Nonpaxtisa,
League up till the present time b.
enjoyed the active and moral supper
Of progressive people all over th'
state. regardless Of political parie
and 1acional leanings.
Lately, however, there have aoate,
TO the surface several things whicl
tend to show that everything is no
as It should be within the league
There il reason to believe that tn
leaders, whoever they may be, do no
intend to act in good faith toward
the members. Their manner of pru
oeeding too often tastes Of gang poll
tics, and they do not come out in tn
open, not even as far rs their owl
members are concerned. Secretive
Concluded on page seven
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