The Bismarck tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, N.D.) 1916-current, 1917-02-08
N0N.PART|SAN
BALLOT WEAPON
To FIGHT EVIL
Straube Predicts This Political
Emancipation Will Spread
Like Prairie Fire
TENTH CONVENTION OF
EQUITY SOCIETY OPENS
Governor Frazier Gave Address
at Mass Meeting Held This
Morning
PARADE 70 CAPITOL.

:
PARADE TO CAPITOL.
Headed by their officers, men,
bers Of the North Dakota Society
Of Equity left the downtown dis
trct at 2:45 o'clock and we're CIV
en- audience at joint session Of
the senate and house. Officers of
the society discussed the Equity
principles; namely, for state
owned terminal elevator and bet
ter marketing facilities. Repre-
sentative Anthony Walton Of MI
not, Nonpartsan house leader and
a member Of the committee on
arrangement for the Equity con-
vention, introduced the concur-
rent resolution for the joint ses-
sion. Meeting at Commercial
club rooms adjourned at 1890
o'clock. Principal speaker to.
niqht will be L. p. Straube.
The weapon to fight the evils of the
present marketing system is the non
partisan ballot, Governor Lynn ]. Fraz-
ier declared in giving the address of
welcome in behalf of the state OF
North Dakota at the morning session
held in the Commercial club rooms.
"The unbought ballot intelligently
voted is the greatest power in the
country. When we can elect men to
represent the people then we can
solve our marketing problems and not
until then. We must band together to
fight Big Business or it will control
everything It's time we are stick.
ing and we are going to do it."
Given Rising ovation.
Introduced,M,M P. Johnson, presi'
dent of the North Dakota Equity ex'
change, Governor Frazier was given
a great ovation which lasted several
minutes. The members Of the society
arose, waved their hats and cheered
the executivegaf the state most spirit.
edly. adt aa. .s.
"Times are changing" said the gov
ernor. You know how popular your
society was two years ago. Look at
yourselves now. | am getting letters
from all parts of the United States
and even from Canada asking for In
formation about the farmers move
ment in North Dakota. which is be-
coming national through the work OF
the Society of Equity. In order to
make it national and to bring the
producer and the consumer closer to-
gether we must have something to
say in national as we'll as state poll.
tics. It's the law which legalizes the
operations of the grain and the pack
ing combines. It's hard to change pub
lie opinion. 1t has been. ,the custom
for mOnied interests to cOntrola legis:
lation and it is very natural that mon'
ey will fight any change, so, stand up
for your rights and fight ina band."
Movement Not to End. a
Governor Frazier stated the Equit"
movement is not going to stop because
it has realized few of it's aims. It's
going to continue, he asserted, until
the producer and the consumer will
be closer together! He stated big
crops are all Hight, ahan big farms to
produce them are Also All right, but
1--WE must get big prices"
Farm mortgages are on steady in
crease" added Governor Frazier.
Consequently the rate OF interest has
been on the increase and the amount
of farm lands is increasing in the
hands of the spectators, which natur-
ally means tenants
Farmer Gets no War Profits.
The farmers are not getting any of
the war profits, the governor told the
morning convention. He said the far
mer is taking the prices which the
packing and the grain combines are
giving him.
ITO get results we must look after
the political end, but we are told we
must keep out of politics. The gamb-
lers in the grain pits and packing
plants are fixing the prices. We must
take their prices or take our wheat
home. That's what the farmer has to
contend with.
"Co.operation in buying and selling
is necessary to bring the farmer and
the consumer closer. The Equity Co.
operative exchange has done a re-
markable piece of work for the grain
growers of the northwest. When l
was at the convention in st. Paul last
fall l was criticised for making the
statement that it is a genral fact the
producer can get from One-fourth to
one-half cent more per pound for his
(Couf;nrod m pHpe Throol