The Bottineau courant. (Bottineau, Bottineau County, N.D.) 1895-1929, 1917-03-08
WHY THEY DIDN'T AMEND 1T.

Finding no other way to squi1m out of the defence of the Hen
erickson "2-cent rate" joke, the souris Messenger and the One
NEE Herald want to know why the house didn't "amend it." And
Faky, after reading the Messenger and Herald, chips right in
with the same suggestion. Wonderful idea! Funny, however,
that this trio did not suggest this method to the House of Lords
when it killed House Bill "A, without even permitting a debate on
the bill.
The reason, perhaps, why the house did not amend it was that
the league members were not there simply to play horse. Hen
drickson's bill did not contain any merit, except for the railroads
and if it had the senate would have killed it just as it did House
Bill "A. 1t is noteworthy that no 2-cent fare bill was introduced
in the upper house.
r To get right down to cases, a two cent passenger rate in
North Dakota was positively not an issue in the past campaign.
None of the political parties had touched on the matter in their
platforms or at any time during the campaign.
Under penalty of being accused by the anti-league cloverleaf
of being in league with the railroads, the Courant dares to assert
that the 2Hc passenger rate in North Dakota is not so exorbi-
tant, if comparisons with rates of other northwestern states,
more densely populated, count for anything.
At all events, it does not represent the tremendous extortion
of the discriminating freight rates which House Bill 298 attempt
ed to correct, and which the standpat senate promptly put to
death, without even offering to "amend it."
The tactics of the Old Guard in the late assembly will not
fool any considerable number of voters of North Dakota. The
league members were there to carry out a stipulated program of
reforms. The Old Guard was there to head it off. One favorite
method was to introduce all kinds of fool bills, with some apparent
tinge Of reform cooring, in order to put the farmer members in
a hole and thus proclaim through such fellows as Matt, Garden and
Falky that the league was not sincere, that it was dominated by
Townley, that it was owned body and breeches by the railroads,
ETC., etc.
We trust these fellows are enjoying their frantic efforts at
discrediting the league. It's a cinch the farmers are enjoying it.
1t is little wonder that the Old Gang is so Jumping not at Pres
dent Townley. They have good cause. He has built up an organ
izaton Of farmers that all their money, influence and paid pup
pets have failed to make a dent in. They have turned over heav-
en- and earth several times in an effort to find where he has mis-
appropriated a cent of League funds without success. They have
tried to scare the members by designating it as socialism, only to
be laughed at. They have called the farmers "six dollar rubes,"
only to live and see the same farmers dig up sixteen dollars more
for the same cause. They have tried to engender suspicion and
dstrust of the president of the league, with the result that the
league has passed a resolution of confidence in Townley. They
have played every card in the deck without winning a trick. Do
you blame them for being mad?
The United Press Association, publicity agents for the Nation
al Liquor Dealers association, is sending out "absoutely free" in
plate form and address delivered by w. F. Wiley, editor of that
recognized whiskey publication, the Cincinnati Enquirer. The ad-
dress contains a yelled defense of the liquor traffic, but not so veil
ed that it is not easily discernible. Yet we look for a number of
North Dakota newspapers to publish this speech" just because
the plate is free. It will be interesting to note how many will
fall into this crudely baited trap.
Matt johnson Estates specifically" that Representative Stair
would like to legilate all the small newspapers in Bottineau coun-
ty out of business. Such legislation would be utterly useless. The
course Of the Omemee Herald, the Souris Messenger and the Nus"
has plainly marked the way.