The Fargo forum and daily republican. [volume] (Fargo, N.D.) 1894-1957, 1917-03-30
Nonpartisan League
Day at Grand Forks
Ultimate Aim Is the
Capital at Washington
Farmers Must Stick to League Until Its Opponents Find
Some Better Wa yto Cure Conditions" is outstand-
ing Statement of League Organizer.
(By n. D. Paulson.,

Grand Forks. N. D.. March 30.-The
Nonpartisan league, its future, House
Bill A and thesleague in national pol
itics. formed the topics of discussion
for speakers participating in an all
day league meeting which opened
here this morning, and which win not
be concluded till 10 o'clock tonight.
Declaring house bill forty-four the
rallying cry around which they expect
to unite North Dakota farmers once
more in carrying the state election,
and expressing confidence that
the people will next year return Nom
partisans to state administrative of
fees, as well as giving the league
complete control of the legislature. the
speakers dwelt upon the criticisms
that have been made of the league
program, assaults that have been
made upon league leaders. and scored
league opponents as stumbling blocks
in the way Of the greatest progress
sive movement the agricultural world
has known.
House Bill No. A was declared by
A. M. Thomason, prominently known
league organizer, as the most famous
doctrine, in the history of American
politics." That it's main feature, con-
tained in article twenty -four, by
which the state would be permitted to
engage in any kind OF business that
individuals may engage in. must be
adopted, not only by North Dakota.
but by every state in the union with
the single exception Of Oklahoma
which already has this provision in
its constitution. was made plain by
Thomason in his opening talk.
House Bill a was killed in the
state senate by twenty-eight senator's.
but its soul still lives. Its soul is
alive, and win continue over every op-
position" declared Thomason. Then
he read his rather famous poem, THE
Spirit Of House Bill a. Goes Marching
On" amid no slight outburst OF en-
thusiasm, as he made his most telling
points. Only once during the morning
session were speakers interrupted.
That was when Thomason, on the
platform for a second time, in making
a point with respect to attacks that
have been made upon the league lead
ers, questioning their honesty, refer
red to Peer Stromme Of Grand Forks,
as my friend Stromme."
Don't say that" called Stromme,
'For i know you are a crook"
Thomason continued with his dis
cussion, in which he was comparing
the leaders Of the Nonpartisan league
mQyement go far as they had been
s5Vn1pOltC0 " CuLGE tHC SAILtC1Su1 anu
attack by opponents, to the criticisms,
attacks, and questioning Of motives
that fell to the lot of such famed men
OF history as Abraham Lincoln, Wen
dell Phillips and to Jesus Christ. who
was crucifed. r.#.e
The crowd that heard the opening
features Of the Nonpartisan rally
numbered probably about 400, with a
generous sprinkling OF Grand Forks
citizens present. Numerous league or
gaTizers are in the city, this being
the league mecca for today. President
Townley of the league is carded to
speak at the afternoon session. Frank
Bohn, New York newspapern1an, and
A. M. Thomason. also, are on the af-
ternoon program. Townley and Thom-
ason will deal with the leagues future,
with the record OF the last legislature,
and similar matters. while Bohn will
tell the audience what New York
thinks OF the movement.