The Oakes times. [volume] (Oakes, N.D.) 1906-current, 1916-06-01
MEMBER DlSCl0SES
INSIDE WORKINGS
GOT HIS "MONEY's WORTH" IN
BRIEF TIME
Pulled Out When He Discovered III,
Old Gang Tactics Used
BY the Leaders

June is, 1915, Mr.. Becker, organic
er for the Farmers Nonpartisan Poit-
ical League, Forded in to my yard
and within fifteen minutes was .
member Of the League and he had my
check for six dollars, but not until he
answered affirmatively the question,
"Will q mass meeting be called to ef-
feet organization and will the money
be accounted for in detail?"
February % at our precinct meet
ing held for that purpose Of selecting
\ delegate to the legislative cenven-
tion for the twenty-second district my
name having been one Of two propos-
ed for delegates, stated that before
the meeting proceeded to vote ! wish
ed the members present to know that
l was not in full sympathy with the
organization because Of the mystery
in which it was shrouded. That If it
was to be IN organization Of the farm
ers, by the farmers, I was heartily
with it, but il it meant the exploita-
tion Of the farmers Of North Daolxta
by few for personal qualification I
would be anti. Well, was elected
delegate to the legislative convention.
Griffith Bossed the job
The Towner county, or twenty
second legislative district convention
was held at Ege!and, March 2Srd.
There were present twenty-six dele
gates and Mr.. Griffith who represent
ed headquarters. Mr.. Griffith called
the meeting to order and after stat
ing that our business was to endorse
Two representatives for tho 22nd leg
islative district and to select one delo-
gate to the mass convention at Fargo,
he turned the meeting over to the del
egates, but took the floor to land .
broadside against endorsement Of Q
member of the last Legislature whoss
name appeared on . black list publish
ed in the Leader.
Our two representatives and senator
were black listed because they voted
against the building Of terminal
elevator in St. Paul. These men are
Nh farmers, not Of the meteoric kind
like the Leagues self-constituted head.
but farmers who have resided on their
farms twenty-five to thirty years; who
withstood the hardships Of pioneer
days; men who made . success Of
farming and whom their constituency
esteem citizens Of the highest type.
Why These Farmers Were Denounced.
Such are the men denounced by the
League leaders rs unworthy Of our
confidence rs betrayers Of our trust
and unfit to represent US. Why did the
"Leader" and leaders prefer this
charge as the one great offense COM
mitted by our legislators? ? Plainly be-
cause they had nothing else to offer
and therefore devised this political
ruse as the thing most likely to secure
the effect they desired.
Let me quote the Leagues represen-
tative on this much emphasized issue.
Fletcher in his address at Bisbee in
January stated, II wouldn't have voted
for 4 terminal elevator to be located
in st. Paul either" Griffith said at
Egeland, II would have voted for a
terminal elevator though its location
were to have been IN Chicago" OBJ
serve the harmony Of these statments.
See how they parallel. Yet on this pro-
found argument we are ordered to
turn down our respected fellow-farm-
Concluded on page eight