Willmar tribune. [volume] (Willmar, Minn.) 1895-1931, 1917-01-24
tated ought to be done in their own

interest.
Or, take another case: Suppose
farmers in the American Society OF
Equity, or the National Grange should
resolve upon some course OF action
collectively which the courts enjoined
them from doing, although common
sense showed it was the only sensible
thing that farmers could do to benefit
themselves as a class, they would
thus be rendered helpless in the mat
ter. What then is the way out of the
difficulty in both instances, that OF the
farmer and the railroad worker or any
other wage worker, save getting suf-
ficient political power to enable them
to legalize their actions which their
common sense dictated were neces-
sary to their respective interests.
Political power has to do with the
making of laws, and laws are but
rules of action to determine the rela-
lions Of men in state and nation to-
ward each other. If then the making
of these laws is left always to those
whom farmers and wageworkers have
to organize against on the economic
field, it can readily be seen that they
will always be hampered and prevent
ed from carrying out their purposes
effectively. When all various econ
omic groups are each represented pol
itically according to their respective
numerical strength they will be fore
ed to recognize each oth"rs claims and
as a result justice will prevail in our
laws. Until this is done farmers and
wageowners, although far greater in
numbers than all other groups com
bined, will be treated with the con
tempt which their own lack Of intelli-
gence and self-respect invites
The farmers Of North Dakota have
repeatedly experienced being scorned
and flouted whenever they presented
rquests to the law making power OF
their state came to the conclusion
| that it was because they divided their
forces on the political field and as a
result they came together into one
organization and called it the Farm
ers Nonpartisan Political League OF
North Dakota. 1t made no difference
to them as to whether some believed
in protection and others free trade, OF
whether some we're in favor of the
election of Mr. Wilson as president
of the United States and others pre-
they all knew they were trying tt
make a living by farming in North
Dakota and therefore as farmers theil
interests in the state were alike. Hav
ing arrived at this sensible cornelius
ion and being organized they drew W
a program embracing the kind of leg
islation they desired enacted and the1
endorsed as a body only those candi
dates who stood pledged to carry on
this program. The farmers in THU
state being greatly in a majority, the!
had no difficulty in electing the me1
whom they endorsed and voted for
with the result that they possess con
troll today of the law making and Law
interpreting powers of the state hav
ing elected the governor, other stat,
executives and majority of the leg
islature as we'll as a majority of tn
supreme court.
What the farmer of North Dakot:
has done the farmer of Minnesota cal
do newspaper editors, bankers an,
certain other business interests to tn,
contrary Notwithstanding. say h
can do so if he wants it done and
will never be done except he wants
done for without the farmer realize
his weakness both economically an
politically as an individual and Cal
grasp the possibility of his economi
and political strength collectively, n
man on earth can build an organizs
ton of farmers.
The farmer is the key to the situa
ton. He must first see the necessit
Of organization; secondly, the nece:
sity of financing his own organize
ton and then STICK and that is al
there is to it.