The Ward County independent. [volume] (Minot, Ward County, N.D.) 1902-1965, 1916-06-22

the promises which have been made by the irrespon,
sble solicitors who represent nobody and are bound
by nothing.
The plans of the organization included the capture
of the machinery of the Republican party at the ap-
preaching primary election through the nomination
for legislative and state Offices This work was car
red in the various legislative districts during the
late winter under the personal direction of represent
tatives of the selfapponted board of control, and
completed at the state convention of March 81
and April l. convention which violated the spirit of
the primary election law, and which exceeded in the
elements of autocratic personal control anything
previously witnessed in the state.
The situation that exists today is that there is in
the state organization of many thousand men,
bers, most of whom have acted in entire good faith,
and with the intent of bringing about economic i'm
provements in legitimate ways; that these members
have paid dues, and most of them suppose that they
have proprietary interest in the organization and
a voice in its management; that they have, in fact
such interest and voice; that the five who
stitute the eXecutive committee" hold office by their
appointment, not responsible to the members
or anyone else not removable and have absolute
control of both policy and funds. These employ
solicitors, fix salaries, make purchases dispose of
funds they see fit, and shape the policies of the
league according to their own WILL and are answer
able to
THE MENACE OF CONTROL.
With control SO centralized in the hands of men of
whom nothing creditable is known the citizens of the
state are urged to go to the polls and nominate
have been chosen in this manner. If this should be
done and the nominated should be elected, the
control OF the political destlnles of the state of
its vast in lands minerals, money and the
power of taxation will pass into the hands of five
men, not one of whom has succeeded in retain
ing for any length of time the confidence and respect
of his own neighbors in demonstrating the pos
session of any business capacity whatever. Men who
have failed in everything that they have undertaken
will become the dictators of the state and if their
plans work out according to statements published in
their official organ and made from the public plat
form, will be able to dictate the enactment of laws,
the administration thereof and the Interpretation of
hQno nv he
OUR DUTY IN THIS CRISIS.
No man whose home and interests are in North Da-
kota, who expects to be in the future part of the
life of this state, regard such situation without
How extensive the movement organized
by this little unta may be no man can tell but it be-
hooves every man who has regard for the reputation
of his state the soundness of its credit and the sue
ces of its enterprises to to it that negligence
on his part shall contribute to the success of a
which goes to make up the real life of our people,
If the plans of the committee of five should be car
ried out the people of the state would be committed
to the Inauguration of a series of enterprises wholly
experimental in character, under the leadership of
failures and incompetents. The horde of imported
solicitors who have for the past year been subssting
on funds contributed by the actual farmers of the
state will be active candidates for positions of trust
and emolument. They will have served their mas
tiers we'll, and they must be suitably cared for in
order that they may be available for future useful
ness. Millions Of dollars in cash and property will
be at the absolute disposal of bankrupts whose ony
profession is that of agitation Failure will be in
evltabe And failure will mean not only the de-
be met, and there will be no means of meeting them
save from the proceeds of taxation. The farmer the
merchant the banker, the professional man-all who
are interested in the future of the state and have
stake IN 1t are concerned in this matter and they can
not afford to overlook the very real and present dan
ger that confronts the state.