Little Falls herald. [volume] (Little Falls, Morrison County, Minn.) 1889-1950, 1917-01-05
FORM N0N.PARTISAN LEAGUE
DARK HORSE SUBJECT OF MUCH
SPECULATION BY POLITICAL
DOPESTERS

the subject of much speculation among
political dopesters since the recent
general election is the non-partisan
league which is now being organized
in this state and which elected it's en-
tire ticket in North Dakota last No
vember.
Wadena county was partially organ
lied this fall and inasmuch as the
league announces that it will bend it's
full energies toward the completion
two the following review of its past
history and it's purposes will be Of par
ticular interest,":
"Less than two years ago the farm
ers Of the northwest were helpless in
the hand Of the professional politi-
clans. Today, one state has cleaned
itself entirely of this latter pest and
three more states are we'll on the way
to achieve the, same result. It was
done by organization.
"Beginning with an old second
hand Ford in March, 1915, the Farm
crs Non-partisan league began it's
career in the state of North Dakota.
Its purpose was to band all the farm
ers Of the state together, not as re-
publicans, not as democrats, but as
farmers, to stick together as farmers,
to vote together as farmers.
"After months of painstaking work
entailing the purchase of numberless
automobiles, and one or more visits
to every farm in the state, such union
or league was finally built. With
more than forty thousand members the
league nominated an entire state tick
ct, including three men for the su-
preme court, a farmer for governor,
state railroad commission, and farm
er for every legislative place.
ga bitter fight was waged against
the farmers ticket but it carried
practically unanimously in the June
primaries, and at the regular election
in November simply swept the state.
In January farmer takes the gov
ernor's chair Of North Dakota and ev-
cry other Office but that of state treas
urer and few legislative seats. TO
give some idea of its strength it might
be remarked that the farmer candl-
date received more than four times
the number of votes cast for his op-
?oonent, while the farmer candidates
for the supreme court carried by more
than thirty thousand.
FEToday the farmers, backed up by
the more progressive business and pro-
fessional men and supported by the
trades unions Of the state, are in alb
solute control of the state Of North
Dakota. Today, for the first time in
the history of that commonwealth, the
producer actually has fair chance.
Legislation opposed for years by the
interests can now be passed. Laws
that have lain idle on the statute
books for years will now be enforced.
The people, as whole, are now run
ming their own state and the people,
as whole, are very liable to run it
better than paid politicians have in
the past.
"Naturally so successful an organi-
zation became famous. A large del
uge of requests from other agricul-
tural states demanded aid in building
similar organizations. It was finally
decided, therefore, to loan the large
battalion of automobiles used in North
Dakota to the farmers OF Montana,
South Dakota and Minnesota to at
least give them a start.
HMinnesOta received between so and
90 cars, each equipped with train
ed organizer, and supervised by ex-
perienced superintendent. These men,
under the supervision Of an executive
committee Of FIVE farmers from Mime
sofa counties, are carrying on the
work of building the league in this
state.
"Every farmer in the state will be
visited once and an opportunity given
him to do his part. The organizer
will politely state his business and
record each man. s answer yes or no.
When the canvass is finished every
farmer in Minnesota will be on record
for or against the league made up of
his brother farmers, ana no man will
feel sighted or ignored.
"The purpose, pure and simple, Is
to have a huge organization so that
in the spring of 1918 the farmers OF
Minnesota can nominate an entire
ticket and elect it in the fall Of the
same year. Thereafter the farmers
and small business men will have
some show and the larger interests
will not be able to control the state
to it's undoing as they have in the
past.
"Every effort is made to carry on
the work of organization with as little
friction as possible. Local laws and
customs are strictly adhered to by the
organizers. Cash is paid for all SER
vices and supplies. Now and then a
man is careless in these details, it is
true, but swift action from the league
headquarters is assured upon any in
fraction Of this policy. 1t is impossible
in an organization employing hundreds
Of individuals to be able to guard IN
advance against all delinquencies.
: ''The business policy of the league
is modelled after the best industrial
concerns. Every employee is under
heavy bonds, all bills paid by check
accounts are strictly entered and aud
tied and final report made to the
delegates sent by the whole member
ship to the state convention.
Gin short, the Farmers Non. Partl
san league embodies in practical form
the hopes and aspirations Of the
thousands of farms, business, PROBES
sional and working men ard women
of the state of Minnesota. Energetl