Grand Forks daily herald., 1916-05-26

statement sent 10 me CellnR me tndt
the league" would have. to oppose
signatures. The great majority of the
league members in my district did not
even know about this meeting. This
is what the leaders call democracy
and the rule Of the people.
The Leader" says that was asked
to prove the assertions made in my
article tssa to ths courier,News and. and that T.,
that article was not mere assertions.
1t was facts that had already been
proven by actions and events that
had taken place. Those present, in
cluding the gentlemen from Fargo,
could not disprove my statements in
said article.
was asked to retract what I had
written. I told them that I was will
ling to retract whatever they could
prove to be untrue, but under no other
circumstances would I do 80. AS !
have already said, they failed to do
this.
Few Farmers Join.
was a little surprised and disap-
pointed to find few farmers join
to retrAct what they must know is
true. have always considered the
farmers to be as honest q class Of
people as could be found. 1 do not
yet believe that 1 have been mistaken
and I feel assured that when these
few farmers think over what they
asked me to do. they will see their
error.
., Broken Promises.
The Leader" also states that was
asked to show a single instance OF
where the league or it's, officers bad
broken a promise made to the mem
hership: and that I could give no in
stance. can not recollect that any
such question was asked at this
meeting, but have heard this state-
nent that no promises have been
broken time and time again. am
are referring to. About the only
promise they have made and kept, AZ
far as can see, is that they would
take six or nine dollars from each OF
US. Yes. they also promised US two
publications and, of course, we got a
socialist magasine and the Non
a league controlled BY the farmers;
we did not get It. They promised to
endorse ticket Of farmers, but have
not done so. CAS- far as / am con-
cerned. this promise was unnecessary.
I do not believe that occupation
should be made a qualification for Of
fice. What should be considered when
a man is to be picked for public SER
vice should be his character and rec
stands.) They promised US con-
vention at Fargo on March 81 and
April !; we did not get 1t, but in place
we got lot Of "hot air" and re-
quests for moro money. OF course,
they have done . great number of
other things, but they are things they
did not promise nor dared to tell us
q hoYlt \ n ~ :, VUnn1d hnva YrovonfoH
them from getting the membership
they dtd. They did not say that the
league was to be- governed by hve
men whom we would have no voice in
choosing and whose term Of service
should Be unlimited, but this has been
.donG. They did not say that we
were to help finance. . great printing
be owned by q few men and In which
we were to have no share or control,
but this has been done. They did not
say that socialist agitators from all
over the country were to be brought
here and employed in the service of
the. league and their salaries to be
paid by the farmers. but this has been
league was to have no bylaws or con-
stitution. but that its work was to be
guided by rules and regulations laid
down by the executive committee
which We had no> voice In choosing,
but this has been done. They did not
say that they knew we were incom-
nssent, pete, Of Of eSnauctins .n.i our own conysn-
have q man there to tell us what to
do and how to do It,. but this has
been done. They did not tell N that
the, conventions were to Be: secret and
that outside Of delegates no one was
allowed to bs present except league
leaders or their Representatives., but
this has been done. They did not say
or their representatives had d right
to speak. though not to vote. while
the rest Of us who were league mons
'hsrs were even to he ignorant of the
time Of the conventions but this, was
also done. 80
.Challenee 70 Leader.
II the ''L1Ader" can prove that any
Of fsthe above statements are not true. i
!st T. come out ana 90 %. shall
know there are many others that will.
The "Lsader" made capital OF
mistake made at the. above mem
TONED meettnE when. statsd that
Thomas Hall was member Of the
board Of equalization. I. admit that
I was wrong. It had slippped my
Q member OF this board. The Leader
seems to draw the conclusion that be-
cause Of this error am utterly un-
familtar with the machinery Of gov
ernment 1t Bismarck and q result,
I supposs. not qualified for the once
sSr whicn! a.n fahdidtts. How
eyer. zelnd sthat Va hot the only
The ..'fSsad sr'. lays tint the msmbers
present Were not sure OF the member.
IhiH OF the board or EQUALIZATION. and.