The Fargo forum and daily republican. [volume] (Fargo, N.D.) 1894-1957, 1917-01-02

er of the house. was another Of the
Howard Woods father, Frank b.
Wood. today vice president OF the
league, was another OF the first three
members of the league.
The Movement Disappears.
After the 1915 legislature. the Nom
partisan political movement seemed to
drop from sight Then, along in the
summer of that year. rumblings were
heard from different sections OF the
state, of a political movement among
farmers.
They were said to be signing up for
membership in q league. paying So.
and binding themselves to support the
leagues program.
Here and there newspapers touched
on the situation, but the work was
so quietly conducted, that little was
known Of the actual developments for
some time.
Ultimately, the story came to the
surface, and the people of North Da-
kota knew that the Farmers Non
partisan Political league was on the
map.
Membership and Progress. d
Soon the membership fee was raised
to 50 for the period up to December
i, 1915, and Of course that was used
by the league opposition.
Over a year ago, the league estab-
lished weekly newspaper in Fargo
The Nonpartisan Leader-and it
was sent to all members.
BY the use Of that magazine, II has
been possible to conduct among the
farmers OF this state, the most re-
markable campaign ever staged in
rural district.
More recently, the league interests
have purchased daily newspaper.
After the leagues success in the
June primary election in North Dako-
Ia, the leaders began to look for 9TH
er fields.
Minnesota, and a separate state or
ganization has been effected there.
Montana was organized on the same
basis, as was South Dakota, and it is
now understood that the Nebraska
field is being developed rapidly and
satisfactorily.
The membership fee for o two year
period has now been increased to SIG.
Dakota in New Campaign.
All North Dakota league member
ships expired on Dec. 1. last. and
new organization campaign is under
way in this state. All memberships
possible are being renewed, on + the
basis OF SIC for two years.
There are approximately 10000
men who signed up for membership
prior to Dec. 1, and presuming these
should all join the league again a fund
of approximately $4,000 is created.
Just what percentage of the mem
bers are renewing, is an uncertain
element at this time, for weather con-
ditions have been such as to interfere
to material extent with the devlop-
ment of the program.
Financial Feature Interesting.
1NNG Yn.rl
has handled since it was organized, is
also unknown outside the organiza-
ton. That the sum has long since
passed the million dollar mark is no
longer disputed.
And practically the entire sum has
been forthcoming from the farmers.
The Future?
Just what the future will bring |
forth for the Nonpartisan league is |
uncertain.
There were men in this state who, |
D few months ago, were willing to |
grant the league another six months
existence.
Today, these men are out of the
class.
They admit they don't know.
They concede their surprise at the
effective organization work to date.
They profess amaZement at the |
manner in which the league so sue
and thoroughly organized
he house of representatives during
the past week.
AS for the leagues future-they are
silent.
They See Permanently.
The league leaders see in their Or
sanization a permanent association Of
producers that will ultimately extend
over the entire nation.
The league leaders proclaim their
organization as the means by which
he living conditions on the farms
will be beforehand they reason
hat bettered farm conditions mean
better city living conditions.
The league leaders have no fear of
he disruption of their organization;
hey have weathered the fiercest Of
storms, they have faced terrific bat
les in the two short years OF the
eague's existence, and they look upon
he future as productive of greater re-
suits, of greater political accomplish
nents. and they firmly insist that
hese political accomplishments mean
improved economic conditions.
1t is idle to speculate-the future
only will tell.