The Fargo forum and daily republican. [volume] (Fargo, N.D.) 1894-1957, 1917-07-12
REFERENDUM TO
ADOPT WORKING
AGREEMENT With.
FARM LABORERS.
League Officials at Close of
Minot Conference, Indi-
cate General Vote
40 CENTS AN HOUR;
SAME FOR OVERTIME
Only Members of .Nonpar-
tisan League and [. w. w.
Admitted to Meeting
1snecial to The Forum.l

Especial to The Forum.)
Minot, N. D., July 12.-The ques-
ton Of ratifying or rejecting the
proposal made to the farmers or
North Dakota by the Industrial
| Workers Of the World will be decid-
ed by referendum. At the conclusion
of the first of the four district con-
yentions of Nonpartisan league mem
bers, held in Minot yesterday after
noon, league officials announced that
the conventions we're merely to ex-
plain the offer to the members ana
then vote would be taken among
members Of the league by mail. Only
those voting in favor of accepting the
agreement will be bound by its terms.
: 4. w. w. on Hand. .
The convention in Minot yesterday
was attended by some 200 league
members. Agent Belanger of the 500
line and Chief of Police Dan Dough.
erty informed a representative or
The Forum that so l. w. w. beat
their way into Minot on a fast freight
Tuesday, but D. c. Coates, OF the
league, claimed none were present.
Other league members interviewed
stated a small quota were at the
meeting. Mr. Coates said the meet
ing decided not to bar /. w. W., ana
this probably explains the reason for
the men at the door asking all en-
tering IL they belonged to the league
or had /. w. w. cards.
The convention was secret and
held behind closed doors. The Forum
representative asked President
Townley If the press would be ad-
mitted, and he replied in the mega
tive, asserting that the matter was
purely and simply league matter,
q. nvr1xy Com
missioner Of Agriculture and Labor
Hagan stated 1t was not a move on
the part of the state officials. but was
a matter between the Nonpartisan
league as a farmers organization and
the Industrial Workers of the World
as a labor organization. All officials
declined to give out the terms OF the
agreement. Mr.. Hagan stated that it
might be available after the meeting,
but when the gathering broke up,
Mr.. Coates said 1t was the desire or
the officers of the hague to keep the
agreement secret until the conYen-.
tions at Valley City, Bismarck and
Devils Lake are held.
johnson ExpIains Agreement.
The Forum representative inter
viewed L. M. Johnson of Des Lacs,
N. D., member of the league, who
was present at the meeting, and he
stated that the Industrial Workers
of the World sought to provide the
farmers with labor, the farmers to
pay 40 cents per hour for 10-hour
day, the same rate of 40 cents per
hour for all overtime and Sunday
work. They did not ask double pay
for Sunday. The farmers should, ac-
cording to Johnson's report Of the
agreement, give the laborers the best
sleeping accommodations they could,
but the laborers are not opposed to
providing their own bedding and
sleeping in barns and granaries.
Must Board Laborers.
In event of a Iay-up on account of
rain, the farmer must board the la
borers for three days after which
they will pay the farmer board at the
rate of 81 per day. In event of a
breakdown in the field the laborers
are willing to be docked IL the
breakdown is for a longer period
than 15 minutes.
Fearful Of /. w. w. Attitude.
Mr.. Johnson said there were about
ten opposed to the proposition. He
claimed they were dubious about the
!. w. w. living up to their agree
ment in view of past records. Mr..
Coates, on the other hand, said there
were ten opposed, but said they
merely expressed a desire to secure
laborers other than I. w. w. Mr..
Coates also asserted that the l. w.
w. agreed not to molest farmers not
hiring men of their ranks, while Mr..
johnson said the /. w. w. were will
ing to work in the field with non-I.
w. w, and would not ask to be
given the preference of work from
members who did not favor the pro-
posal.
Many Turned Away.
A number of farmers who do not
belong to the league, as well as citi-
zens, appeared at the door of the
convention and were turned away.
Cne, a retired farmer named Race,
now a resident Of Minot, who farm
ed near this city for many years, \
entertained the throhg outside with
speech denouncing the closed meet
ing. The meeting lasted four hours.
Mr.. Coates said 1t was good general
discussion and other league members
interviewed said there was strong
opposition.
lie Seuer on Hand.
Arthur LeSeuer, formerly Of Mi
CONTINUED on Page 3D.