Emmons County record. [volume] (Williamsport, D.T. [i.e. N.D.]) 1884-current, 1917-07-12
LEAGUE HAS SCHEME
Newspaper in Every County Freeze Out Opposition
Is Plan. Then Political Tricks Can
Be Covered Up

Some weeks ago the Record told of
an attempt that was to. be made by
outsiders to cram down the necks of
the farmers Of this county newspa-
per the editorial policy Of which was
to be in the hands of outsiders and the
bills Of which were to be paid by the
local people.
From all reports we have been able
to gather the scheme is not going like
wild fire in Emmons county Several
farmers have told us that they were
approached on the matter. One man
who is prominent farmers elevator
official and farmers union man told
us that he couldn't see any call nor
excuse for the farmers going into the
newspaper business here and that he
for one would not go into it. Others
told Us that when they wanted to start
newspaper, they'd do it themselves
and not leave it to someone else to
do it on their money.
OF the directors fixed up for the
made-to-ofder incorporation, four are
from the north end Of the county and
three from the south end-none from
Linton or vicinity The four from the
north end are the real thing-Fay
Harding, G. A. Ward, Ole Sjerslee and
George Shepard. The first two are
politicians and it win perhaps be Of
considerable advantage to have control
Of q Newspaper to boost their political
fortunes in the next campaign. Last
year, when they ran for election, even
their campaign expenses and cam
paign cards were furnished free Of
chasge to them by the parties in Fargo
who expected to need to use them
when the legislature met.
We have heard before where inter-
ested persons have furnished the cam
paiSn funds to put ACROSS favorite
candidates, but last years procedure
was the most striking. Next year
they will have an inspired newspaper,
too. to help them out-if the farmers
come across financially.
As to the three directors from the
south end Of thecounty-Messrs. Steve
Kraft, Arend Hasper and A. p. Sey-
mour-we have heard little. We un-
derstand that in one or more instances
men were put on the "board of direct
ors," whether or no. One or two ef-
forts to get meeting. in Linton dur
ing chautauqua didn't pan out, and
some Of our friends are wondering Just
where they are at.
Here is what the Bismarck Tribune
has to say of the filing of articles of
incorporation:
''The leagues plan Of smoking out
the opposition is bearing fruit in the
incorporation Of at least dozen Ear
mers' Press" Newspaper companies in
the last month. -Four Of these were
incorporated Friday. The articles of
Incorporation and the corporate style
Of title are the same in every instance
All Of the articles are in printed form,
and each provides for the issuance of
$50 shares Of common stock at 81 the
share, to pay expenses Of promotion
and organization, and 1850 shares of
preferred stock, at SO the share, to
be exempt from liability.
"It is understood that Geo. E. Tot
ten, at various times a clergyman and
newspaper publisher at Bowman and
abstracter at Wahpeton, is actively en-
gagged in the organization of THEN
Farmers Press Associations. Mr..
Totten, one of the appointees for the
state board of regents whom the SEN
ate did not confirm, recently retired
from the publication of his Bowman
paper, publishing parting statement
to the effect that he had been frozen
out by Big Business
1t will be seen from the above that
there are several "niggers in the wood
pile" First of all, the farmers OF
Emmons county are not organizing
the paper at all. Instead, it is being
organized for them by Mr.. Geo, E.
Totten, who failed in running his own
newspaper. The fact is that Mr.. Tot.
ten came here with printed forms, etc.
ready to start Incorporation to be
known as the. "Emmons Farmers
Press" He hunted up Townley's mar
Friday-Fay Harding-and, with the
aid of our own Heinie Hanson, who
promoted" another newspaper fol
Linton once upon time which proved
to be pretty much Of fzz!e, they