Grand Forks herald., 1917-03-10
EAGUERS ARE NOW
In RECEPTIVE MOOD
FOR ENLIGHTENMENT
anger of a. to Farmer and
State Clearly Shown in
Debate.
! (By Tom Parker Junkinl

SQBy Tom Parker Junkin)
I believe the people Of North Dako-
are ready to listen to reason in re-
trd to the purpose of the efforts
the leaders of the Non-Partisan
ague in getting control Of the ma
I'd particularly to the dangers that
ere-and are-involved in the much
scussed House Bill Al.
1t is we'll to speak Of these dan
!rs as still present, because the
smpaign Of the next two years will
made on the basis of House Bill
1, unless those who have opposed
,at measure see to 1t that it is kill
| as effectually as q campaign doc
nent as it was by the recent legis-
ture as a possible revision Of the
,ould not be difficult to do this, If
first impression that the people
,'e ready to listen should prove cor
ct.
l base my conclusion on the re-
Its of my first opportunity, since
ie legislature adjourned, to get in
UGH with the people most affected
House Bill 44-the farmers. This
as at meeting called by organizers
the Non-partisan league held at
.e town of Neche, in Pembina coun-
F., up on the very border Of Canada.
ccompanying the call for this meet
le to appear and oppose House Bill
in the midst Of its friends. And
there is a section of the state
here the Non-partisan league has
more loyal following, devoted to
,e worship of House Bill "A, I have
It to hear of 1t.
Sorlie Accepted Challenge.
The meeting was called at the sug-
estion Of Walter e. Quigley, who
as been engaged in organization
ork for the league, and the challenge
debate was accepted by o. J. sor-
Of Buxton, who volunteered to
AXE the trip to Neche at his own
tpense for the reason that he be-
eyed this document to be men
:e to the welfare of the state and to
le very people who SO warmly de-
,nded it.
o. Slagerman Of Bathgate, one of
,e strongest dyed In the wool
aguers in the north country, was
1airman of the meeting, and for the
,ason that Mr.. Sorlie was obliged to
Ike the afternoon train at 1855 back
, Grand Forks in order to attend
meeting at Belmont Saturday aft
noon, the chairman allotted him the
the remaining time and to continue
ter Mr.. Sorlie had left.
Mr.. Sorlie opened with statement
his interest in the two years fight
lat Is just opening by saying that
was not opposed to the Non-par-
san league as a farmers organiza-
on. He believed the farmers should
organized, and had always believed
,. In fact, he was the first member
the Non-partisan league in his
ommunity, If not in his county. II
join when he was approached by
;. r. Bowen and asked for six dollars
membership fee.
Leaders Arc Socialists.
But when he learned the character
the men who were at the head OF
ne league and the methods in which
1ey were conducting its affairs, it did
OF have the appearance Of q safe
Undertaking and his enthusiasm soon
ooled. He found the leaders and
rganiZers were all socialists and L
V. w. soap box orators of the type
70 have been accustomed to see
landing on the street corners agi-
ating workers into state of dissitis-
led frenzy. They were not men OF
landing such as the farmers Of the
tate should have to lead them in
uch movement. They were not men
f religious or moral standing-in
act they were more infidel than any
hing else.
ITO be successful in such an un-
!ertaking as this you must have mon
f personality and whose rulings you
AN respect instead of fear" said
Ir. Sorlie.
"These men took the direction OF
he affairs of the farmers of the state
nto their own hands without asking
our consent or mine. They made
themselves the officers and the d.
ectors, and ordered precinct CAUCUS
,s. and county conventions without
consulting you. There was no precinct
Meeting held in my community, and
ret I was called on the phone and
ordered to come to the county con-
,ention they had called at Hillsboro.
Conventions and caucuses. yes, In
Iced. and we had been fighting In
he legislature for years to abolish
conventions.
"And these men were the bosses
If the convention called. Their will
was law"
HI. b. "A like tho Leaders,.
Mr.. Sorlie then took up the discus
ZION Of House Bill "A, which, he said,
pictures the personality Of these lead
srs. The first paragraph Of the con-
'titution proposed in this bill calls
lpon the members Of the legislature
% violate the oath they took before
.hey had taken their seats the first
lime.
He referred to the provisions Of the
Dill which enabled the state or any
oOlitical s1hdfviaiOn-that Ia .rtfv
township or county-to engage in any
kind Of business the majority of the
voters of that subdivision might de-
,ire-and the taxpayers would have to
pay the bill.
The bill. in section 50, enabled the
governor to build up the greatest po-
litical machine ever heard Of In any
state and to make himself and his
followers tnvulnerable in office. II
would enable tho governor to appoint
every state officer and every officer
IF county and township.
The board Of Cancellation section
of the present constitution was wip-
I'd out-a provision that nearly every
state in the union has fought to get
into their constitutions to meet the
great labor strikes and such troubles
is the I. W. w. brings upon North
Dakota.
The only provisions Of the present
constitution which gave the state any
legree Of authority over the railroads,
sections 40 and 141, were also cut
,ut.
The state was to be placed on a
single tax basis-made the expert
p1lAs CueaA IN 4 "a ~ n,ve