Bismarck daily tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, Dakota [N.D.]) 1881-1916, 1916-04-15
D|SS[NT|0N
IN RANKS Of
NON.PART|SAN
w. J. Burnett, Endorsed for Leg.
islature, Denounces Its
Leadership.
NELSON COUNTY FARMER
R0AsTs SINGLE TAX
Signs of Dissolution Are Seen
Among the Rank and
File.

Fargo, N D., April 1i.-Signs Of
dissolution Of the Non-partisan league
are manifest on every side. The
Courier-News is in receipt of a letter
from Nv. J. burnett cn the candidates
endorsed rejecting the nomination
and assaiing the nonresident leader
ship.
The following from the Courier,
News is of interest to the farmers:
Editor Courier-News: am sur
prised at the action Of the Non-parti-
san League convention recently held
in Fargo That North Dakota is pure
ly an agricultural state no person
will deny, and any law that will adj
vance or help agriculture will benefit
directly or indirectly every citizen Of
this state.
"The majority Of the farmers Of
North Dakota believe that they have
not received just compensation for
their labor and products. They blame
the laws, or more properly the legis-
lature, for most Of their troubles.
Hence, they turn to the legislature
for redress and correction of their
wrongs, and declare that none but
farmers shall represent them. AS a
result a reform movement has grown
up in past years to correct these
abuses, and give to the farmers what
rightly belongs to them.
Pioneer Progressivcs Turned Down
"Now. what surprises me is that
most Of the men who originated and
are the pioneers Of the progressive
movement for reform in the political
affairs Of our state, and have given
their time and means to accomplish
it, and are still standing by and work
ing for it, were turned down by the
convention and new men, unknown
to majority OF the people, without
experience and who have given but
little Of their time to the cause, have
been endorsed by the league to carry
the reforms through, and give the
farmers redress and correct the
abuses complained of. While the
orfginators of the movement for re-
form in state politics are expected
to put their shoulder to the wheel,
give their time, means and expert
ence to these new men and put the
deal through. cannot approve Of
such methods, as they are selfish and
jealous and not in accordance with
the high standard of equity and JUS
tice which is claimed as the cardinal
principle of the lNon-partisan league.
Burdick Logical Candidate.
Hon. y. L. Burdick is the acknoWl-
edged and logical candidate of the re-
form forces of this state at the pres
ent time. And without any animosity
toward Mr.. l.. J. Frazier will say
that if he is a conscientious and true
reformer, and wants to correct the
abuses complained of by the farmers,
he will decline the honors thrust
upon him by the convention at Fargo
and do all he can for the nomination
and election of Hon. U. l.. Burdick
for governor of North Dakota.
Another grave mistake was the
turning down of all three of the
present railroad commissioners. One,
at least, should have been retained
as it will take new men almost the
length of their term of office to be.
come efficient
Ignore Farmer Candidate.
Auu j CdlluUI why
convention of farmers would refuse
to endorse farmer who has given
his time and means for our cause,
and whose farm was selected as the
model farm of North Dakota, and who
stood by us for our rights as a men,
Der of the board of equalization,
namely, Hon. John Steen. I believe
the farmers are entitled to relief from
the injustices of which they complain
and | shall in the future, as in the
past, do what | honestly can to re-
lieve and better their condition. I
joined the Non-partisan league for
that purpose, and l am not willing it
shall be perverted to the selfish per-
sonal ambitions of any set of men.
"lf we expect to get reforms
through the law, we should obey and
respect the law. The Fargo conven-
tion was ruthless disregard of the
intent and spirit of our present prim-
airy election law.
"W. J. BURNETT =
The Courier-News comments:
"Mr. w. J. Burnett was in dorsed
by the Non.partisan league as candi-
date for representative from the
Eighth district. His logic has pene-
trated the disguise of the leaders OF
the movement The farmers and
progressives of the state have been
shamelessly betrayed by the manipu-
lations of those who are paying them
selves salaries and building up big
printing plant out of the money paid
in by the farmers.
In order to accomplish this they
planned and carried out the so-called
convention at Fargo, at which their
fiery, soap-box trained coterie Of so
( Continued on page Three)