The daily telegram. [volume] (Clarksburg, W. Va.) 1901-1926, 1916-05-05
NORTH DAKOTA
FARMERS WAR
ON POLITICIANS
Smarting under Injuries, They
Are Considering Putting a
Ticket in the Field.

FARGO, n. D.. May 5-The far
mers of North Dakoln are in rebel.
lion against injustices they saw have
made farming Improbable in one o,
the richest agricultural regions IN
the world. They have formed an
organization OF 10000, over half tbs
farmers Of the state. each one n,
whom has contributed Sc or 50 To n
tund intended to accomplish n revo-
luton in state affairs. and tho con
oltions under which farmers work
and live.
Here are 10000 farmers in a state
that raises the finest hard sprinc
wheat, with as rich and productive
soil as can be found anywhere. de-
c!aring that farming under present
conditions does not pay. and that
with bumper crops and high prices
farmers have difficulty in making
Doth ends meet, let alone get ahead.
Farmers Pay Most Taxes.
North Dakota is almost exclusive
!" an agricultural state. Farmers
cast over seventy per cent of the
votes and pay about eighty per cent
OF the taxes. The largest city has
scarcely 10000 inhabitants. and like
all towns in the commonwealth. ia
supported entirely by the farming
industry.
Yet North Dakota has never had a
farmer governor or one entirely In
sympathy with them and their bust
ness, nor have farmers ever had a
majority in the legislature. The
state has been governed and the laws
made by politicians, business and
professional men OF the towns and
cities.
A long series OF attempts by the
farmers to gain legislation which
they thought their industry needed,
eliminated in the legislature of Jan
uary, 1915, in defeat. This legisla-
ture rejected plan for state-owneG
terminal elevator, after the people
a. two elections had voted over.
whelmingly for one.
Predict 10000 Members.
The farmers then were an unor.
sanized factor, unable to force on the
legislature their demands. Today
they are organized, with every pros
pect Of having over $4,000 members
before November, and with every
prospect of electing farmer COVER
For and legislature.
When the 1915 legislature tam
pied the terminal elevator PROPOSE
tion and other farmers legislation
under foot, group oil influential
farmers. who had been ut Bismarck
the capital, in the interests of this
legislation, resolved that some.ning
should be done. One of them, A. c.
Townley, of Beach. suggested nom
partisan organization. to include the
voters of all parties. dedicated to
the purpose of solldifying the farm
Ell vote and electing I farmer gov
ernor and Legislature.
Farmers Rush to Join.
The idea was accepted and he was
made president of the Farmers Non
partisan Political League of North
Dakota, then and there organized.
With money borrowed from these
few farmers and automobiles started
out to get members for the new or
ganization at Sc each. This was to
find out how the farmers would take
to the proposition,
They took to II with enthusiasm.
In a few weeks over 1000 had Joined
and the organization paid pack the
money it had borrowed and bought
several other automobiles in which
to send out organizers among the
farmers.
The organizers signed up farmers
as fast as they could sec taem and
write receipts for the IS. BY July,
about forty automobiles were in the
field with organizers and nearly 25,-
600 had Joined.
Newspaper Printed for Members.
The organization promised to
cleanse state politics, turn out the
corrupt officeholders, and divorce the
state government from an unholy al.
lance with crooked big business.
In September, the first issue OF the
Non-partisan Leader, tie farmers
newspaper, appeared, and since has
been going weekly to every member
OF the league and to 10000 non
members. 1t has introduced new
kind Of journalism in North Dakota
the fearless kind-and it claims to
have exposed by fact recitals, public
records, court evidence and uncon-
troverted facts rottenness of the
state government and political cor
runt'on that has existed since state
hood.
4AIs spring conventions were held
and a complete legislative and state
ticket. headed by farmer for COVER
nor, has been placed in the field.
The energies OF the organization