Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1916-05-03
iF;ARMERS' LEAGUE IN NORTH DA-
koTA SEEKS TO CONTROL
PUBLIC LEGISLATION.
NoNPARTisAN ORGANIZATION
WITH $4,000 MEMBERS
Campaign to BE Managed by Five Men,
Who Raise $4,000 to Promote
Ideas Of Assoeiation--Nsw Party De-
oIared to Be socialistic in Its Aims-
Members Pledged in Writing.

sues peculiar to the state OF North Da-
| kota, group of five men in this state
has succeeded in building up the most
| remarkable political organization the
state ever has witnessed-the Farmers
Nonpartisan Political League. Boast
[ ing membership of 10000 farmers,
which may be above or below the ac-
tual number of soil tillers who have
pledged themselves to support the
leagues propaganda, largely socialistic
in doctrine, the league today stands as
the one big element in the state politi-
cal situation that close observers OF
things political have been unable to
fathom, so far as it's effect upon the
election this year is concerned.
Supporting it's own ticket Of candi-
dates for state and legislative offices,
this league will seek to dictate to the
republican party of North Dakota Its
choice Of candidates-from governor
down These candidates were nominal
ed in a state convention recently in
Fargo.
Raises 100000 Fund.
The league has provided itself with
modern newspaper plant in Fargo,
and is publishing its own weekly
newspaper; II is the owner Of between
forty and fifty automobiles, which will
be used by organizers and political
campaigners just prior to the state
wide primary election: it has collected
a sum of money estimated at approx
mately 1900 000 and has spent most OF
it. and the league is now going into
new fields-principaHy that of union
labor, where an effort will be made to
effect working agreement between
the union men and the farmers. ~
The organization Is remarkable In
that five officers. "the Big Five they
have been termed by the opposition,
handle all its finances. fix it's program
and policies, and are today responsible
only to themselves. With its fund OF
5000. 600, the league is not incorporat-
ed it has no legal standing, and there
is no way that the league members
can make check on the manner in
which the business is conducted. nor
could they change officials II they
wanted to. These five men are: A..
c. Townley, Fargo, president; F. B.
Wood, Deering, vice president c. ..
Evans, Fargo. secretary treasurer; 7.
c. Nelson, New England, and 2. A.
Bowman, Kuhn. The past association
Of several Of the officials, and Of q
great many of the organizers has been
with the socialist party, and that fact
has laid the league open to attack as
a socialist organization.
III Starts in Legislative Fight.
The Nonpartisan league really got
it's start prior to the last state legis-
lature, but 1t was in a small way. In
the session Of the state assembly In
1916 when stirring scenes were en-
acted during the fight to establish a
state owned terminal elevator in st.
Paul. E. A. Bowman, of Kuhn, former
socialist candidate for governor, an
nounced the plan to create the new
political party. the Farmers Nonparti-
san League. a." ..-....e
From that time on, rumors were rife
as to the work of organizers in the
field. Reports came from many sec
tons, of men travelling about in auto
mobiles, signing up the farmers as
members Of the league. promising them
a magazine and such other publica-
tons as the league may issue"
To the signers, the league presented
this program: g. g.. ., -
stock yards, packing houses. and cold
storage plants. a
State hail insurance. . il
Exemption Of farm improvements
from taxation.
State inspection of dockage and
grading. .s-- s
Rural credit banks operated at cost.
Members Pledged in Writing.
Members, as they were procured,
were obliged to sign themselves to sup
port the policy Of the league and to
support its ticket Of candidates for Of
fee. in the following manner:
1--WE the undersigned, to secure the
enactment Of such legislation dndi-
eating the foregoing program) each
pledge ourselve to aid and support the
work Of organization. by paying sum
equal to Is cents per month. or 50 for
one year.
at IS understood and agreed: First,
that the work Of organization and In
vestigation herein contemplated, is to
be carried on by and under the super
vision OF an executive committee OF
five men;
second, that the members Of the
league will use their best endeavors to
secure the nomination and election OF
men for Office within the state, whom
the Investigation Of this league show
by conviction, record and conduct do
approve ana Will support legislation
necessary for the purpose above ex-
pressed.
Attacked do soeialistic.
| Attacks on the league were opened
two or three months ago, prior to the
state convention. It was charged
against the league that it was simply
a socialistic organization, that 1t plans