The Bismarck tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, N.D.) 1916-current, 1917-05-09
Powell on Intolerance

EDITORS NOTE-Because Of
the length Of MIR. POwelPs let
ter, It will be run in three In.
stallments.
Walter D. Powell, general merchant
OF Jud, in. all open letter to Governor
Frazier discusses some pertinent facts
associated with the Non-Partisan
league Whether Tribune readers
agree with Mr.. Powell's surmises or
not. they will find his arguments in
teresting, and for this reason his letter
will be- published in full in these
columns, tlfe first installment appear
ing bel6W!: 'hj III ..,'
7e712 o99p Jtil,hN. D., May 4, 1917.
Hon; Lynn a. Frazier,
Governor Of North Dakota,
Bismarck, N. d. 2""1
Dear Governor:-Thep press report Of
your speech delivered recently in
Copper Union, New York city, con-
tanned this paragraph: 1.-The farmers
of North Dakota in the fall of 1916
sold their potatoes for 75c and SOC
per bushel, when at the time, potatoes
were selling in Kansas City and Chi
cago for $3.50 and SITS per bushel."
(YOu do not state whether this latter
price was wholesale or retail.)
The very fact that you are the gov
ernor of this state, also as they all
say, farmer governor, you should be
in position to know the facts, and
therefore, the above statement hav-
ing been circulatedi nthroughOut the
whole country would naturally COM
ing from you, be taken as an absolute
fact. Now, did you make this state
ment for any particular reason other
than that you were misinformed as
to the facts? Do you know these to
be facts? viz: That what potatoes
were sold last fall for 75c and SOC per
bushel were sold before digging time?
Do you know that more potatoes
froze in cellars throughout this state
than were sold at these prices? Do
you know that after digging started
that practically no potatoes were sold
under $1.OO per bushel? Do you know
that since Jan. / practically no pota-
toes could be bought here for less
than 5000 per bushel, yet the stock is
ample and to spare? Do you know
that one man in your home cOmmun-
ity has 900 bushels Of potatoes for
sale and recently refused $500 per
bushel for them?
Do you realize that when you tell
the government commission investi-
eating food conditions about the ex-
tremely low price paid the farmers
of North Dakota for their products
onJ ~ thot bnoo bovo hoan
taken by the middlemen, you are max
ing a charge that has no foundation
in fact?
You tell the government food COM
mission and congress, the farmer
wants only a square deal. Who is it
that is not giving the farmer square
deal? You will say, Of course, it's the
middlemen and stock gamblers. Do
you know that city merchants have
been raking the whole country for
food products, offering faulous prices
for the same? Would they be doing
this if they had a stock on hand.
bought at the low prices you claim
the producer was forced to take last
fall? You certainly cannot be misin-
formed as to these conditions. In
which case, your motive before the
New York consumers and federal food
commission must be Interior, in that
you are influencing support for a poll
tical faction, dominated by few men
who are either ignorant of economic
conditions or criminally guilty of at
tempting to mislead the country. One
of your editors told me recently, that
in his OniniOn Mr. TOwnlev would he
the next elected president of this
country. -
l came to Dakota territory in 1883.
believe in farm organizations, | be-
lieve in cooperation. | believe if the
people of North Dakota want state
owned institutions for business, they
should have them. OF course, would
be on the conservative side. However,
my idea is, there Is only one system