The enterprise. [volume] (Harlem, Mont.) 1899-1926, 1916-02-10
,ORADO POLITICS AND
MONTANA FARMERS.

hi November E. II. Parker, Colo
b Commissioner OF Insurance,
gested to Mrs. G.. c. Van Orsdall,
Ef executive OF the Women OF
iodcraft, that it would be mex
|ieut for her association to invest
Montana Farm Loan Bonds.
The Colorado law declares that
investment is proper ii permit
by the laws of the state OF incor-
al ton. The Oregon statute per
Is investments in farm mortgage
hrities even though not executed
Ter state supervision.
The Women OF Woodcraft's ex-
Rive committee, carefully re-
wed the situation and found that
y had legal right, under the by
Is OF their association, and the
+ OF Oregon, under which they
g. incorporated, to invest in the
ntana Farm Loan Bonds, it is
Il in conformity with the Mon
II law, and they accordingly, per
he'd in their intention to invest
70 600, in these bonds at pa an1
ten thousand dollars, as an ad-
Ice payment to the treasurer OF
.tana. Subject to certain cOndl-
is.
later the Colorado Commissioner
insurance commanded the NOn-
pf Woodcraft not to invest in the
htana Farm Loan Bonds. The
men OF Woodcraft were advised
their legal department in Port
that the insurance commission
bf !. Colorado had no legal auth
" to issue any such order
seyertheless he had issued it and
remaining in effect seriously EN-
rassed the work of the Women
Voodcraft in Colorado.
s!914, the sugar beet growers
Colorado, Nebraska, Wyoming
Montana, organized the Inter-
e Farmers Association, and
r first annual convention met in
,rado, at Fort Collins last De-
Der and took notice of the OBJ
les thrown in the way of the
lers of Montana by Colorado
, officials, and adjourned to
It again in Denver, January ~,
and 10 of this year. The Far
$ Union and the grange OF Col
10 were to hold their annual
, conventions in Denver at the
e. time, and we were assured
all three would go the limit
lelping the farmers of Montana
secure freedom from the inter
nee of Colorado state officials"
accepted an invitation to at
all three conventions, and
le for an hour in forenoon OF
lary 18th, in the state conven-
OF the Farmers Union. and for
EhOur in the afternoon OF the
e day in the State Grange meet
9TH these conventions elected
hbers of joint committee with
Interstate Farmers association
ike up the question of the inter
nee Of Colorado state officials
the operation OF the Montana
n Loan Law.
accepted an invitation to accom-
that joint committee on its Wis
the Colorado commissioner of
rance and attorney general.
found p. r. Harper. Insur-
Commissioner, on his own dec
ion a strong friend Of the FAR
+. ''In fact" says he, II arn a
er myself, ETC. He favored us
a fatherly lecture ON the in
itnde of the farmers generally,
Especially on their failure to ap-
late his long and arduous la
in their behalf, extending over
ty years, etc.
lrlng all that time he had faith
struggled to keep his feet III
public trough in Colorado, had
time been lieutenant governor,
all the time had been actively
cified with the political ring Of
state.
read us copy of letter he
written Mrs. VanOrsdall, ON
larry 17h in which he pointedly
sed her that if the Women of
dcraft invested any money in
Montana Farm Loan Bonds, she
dispose of them before the LIST
1arch, or he would not renew
license in Colorado for the en-
3 year.
e mildly asked him to show us
tie us to the law which gave
authority to issue that order
IKE that position. We knew
in this question we touched the
because of the rage in which
hrieked at us that it was the
Ole law, not found in any sec
or in any one place, but all
e came armed only in the JUS
of our cause and asking for a
and honest administration of
Colorado department of insur-
but our Glands were empty"
we found that we were wholly
med against program" We
d that we were beating our
is out against a wall of fixed in
on.
e knew that there was nothing
Ne law of Colorado that would
ort the arbitrary action of z.
farper, but we knew that the
left with him the granting or
holding of that license i'm the
instance.
lat no matter how unreasonable
st or venal his action in refus-
he license might he there is no
in that state. We found that