Jamestown weekly alert. [volume] (Jamestown, Stutsman County, D.T. [N.D.]) 1882-1925, 1916-01-13
NON partisan LEAGUE
HELD MEETING
Farmers Declare Intention to
Unite Politically y.

Although the attendance at the
meeting of the Non-Partisan league
of North Dakota held at the Bijou
theater Monday afternoon was small,
those present showed a keen inter-
est in the purpose and work of the
organization, and while there has not
been much publicity about the league
it was stated that there are at this
date approximately $4,000 farmers
of North Dakota enrolled in the or
ganization. The organizers assert
that their purpose is to secure CO.
operation both politically and other
wise amongst the farmers. They de-
clared that while farmers comprise
about 80 per cent. of the population
of this state and pay about the same
proportion of the taxes, that their
representation in the legislature and
their force in directing state matters
is very small comparatively.
Dissa tisfactlon with the action of
the last legislature upon the termin-
al elevator bill, and other legisla-
tion of special Importance to farm
ers, is said to have aroused the or
ganizers of the Non-Partisan league
to effect a more compact co-opera-
ton and effort of the farmers to
elect representatives who are in &C
cord with the farmers desires and
interests. Lawyers, merchants and
professional men control the upper
and lower houses, it is claimed, al
though the farmers pay the greater
share of the taxes, and are in the
majority in numbers in this state.
The organizers started In Ward
county last summer, covering the
county by auto, having one outfit at
first, which soon was increased un-
til in the fall there were AZ outfits
working over the state, securing
members in every county. The men,
bership fee is Sc. ~
The league states they will enter
the primary and general elections ac-
lively, uniting to nominate and elect
their candidates, both for the state
Legislature and also for the state Of
fees. Their program is ambitious
and includes also support of local
and terminal elevators, state flour
mill, packing plant, stockyards and a
general cooperation amongst the
farmers to further their own inter-
ests.
Several speakers addressed the
members along these lines at the
jamestown meeting Monday, among
them Edward Wood of Deering, N.
D., Mr.. Kee, pioneer farmer and
Equity man of Sanborn, A. E. Bowen
of Fargo, and others. A speaker
emphasized the point that the farmer
of today does not get in return for
his produce nearly as much buying
power as the farmer of other days
received. That while there has been
some increase in the price for his
produce, yet the price of other arti-
cles-necessities which he must buy
have increased at a much greater
proportion. This was illustrated by
the speaker, who asserted that his
grandfather could take load of 70
bushels of wheat to the mill and
return with the equivalent of 60
bushels or $500 pounds of -four and
1000 pounds of bran and shorts.
Today the farmer would have to ad-
vance $50 in addition to his 70 BUSH
els of wheat to get in return the
same -four and feed that his grand
father received. The miller and the
middleman and the railroads are
making unreasonable profits, it was
asserted.
To secure the nomination and cleo
tion of their own candidates, it was
urged Monday that the members of
the league all enroll as Republicans
previous to the June primaries and
previous to the primary election
meet in their precincts and unite on
their candidates.
The organizers left for Cleveland
and Medina to hold meetings and
further local and a state meeting
were proposed for the later during
the campaign.