The Ward County independent. [volume] (Minot, Ward County, N.D.) 1902-1965, 1917-02-01


Northern, could the Minneapolis mill
ers pay you $1.00 less for Feed D than
they do for your No. l Northern?
elbow much less have you been pay
ing for Irvine in this state since they
have had their state-owned Irvine mills
at Bismarck? About five cents per
pound is what the average farmer in
this audience agrees on. Figure the
saving.
OF all the senators and representa-
tives down at Bismarck no one says
that he is against the League except
just one man. Some say they believe
in some Of it but not all of it. The one
man who is against the very things
the people want is Twitchell.
In 1912, according to Prof. Crane,
the farmers also lost much money on
Weed Seed. Prof. Crane said in a
speech given couple of months ago
that Weed Seed at the rate Of $12 per
ton brought $4,500,0O0 annually.
The old constitution does not permit
the state to build Terminal elevators,
Flour Mills, and other things Of that
nature. The only way that it can be
done is by adopting new constitution
and for that purpose we are submit
ting new constitution to you, one
that will permit the State of North
Dakota to issue bonds, build terminal
elevators, flour mills, and anything
that the people need.
Mr.. Townley continuing his speech,
said: "You farmers have spent $780,
900 in building up an organization and
mere handful of hold-over senators
stand in your way of carrying out the
League program. Too many lawyers,
business men and bankers dictate to
the senator's. Most Of them believe
they are right, that they are the saw
Tors of the state. They can't trust you
farmers. They are saving the state
for big business, they simply say it
isn't safe or constitutional.
"The constitution Of North Dakota
doesn't say how new constitution
shall be adopted. Lawyers in any town
in the state disagree on this point. Lee
Combs of Valley City, says it is consti-
tutional. 1t is only proposed consti-
tuition, anyway. The people of the
state would have to vote on it June %.
The opposition thinks the farmers are
not normal. The house passed House
Bill Al by a vote of 81 to g."
Mr.. Townley read list of the six
teen members Of the State Affairs
committee which recommended the bill
for indefinite postponement in the SEN
ate. This committee was named by
Kraabel, who had the League endorse
ment and who says he is a friend to
the League.
A good many questions were asked
by those present who were DESTROYS OF
securing as much information as pos
sible concerning the proposed new con:
stitution. The following is list OF
some of the questions asked, and the
answers: .G.H
John j. Lee-"Is $5OO,OOO the debt
limit of the state under the proposed
constitution 2"
Mr.. Townley-"Yes. 100000 is all
that the state can then levy as direct
tax for the taxpayers to repay, but un-
der the new proposed constitution they
can issue bonds for any amount OF
money to loan to the, people Of the
state and have the bonds secured by
first mortgages on the property Of the
people who make use of the money"
Attorney Lambert" Supposing the
flour mills don't make success Of it.
supposing they get into debt $4,000.
900. How are they going to pay it?'
Mr.. Townley-"T people do not
intend to build more than one floul
mill and one elevator to experiment
with and so the state could not get into
debt for that large an amount to starr
with, but will admit that the people
would have to pay it by extra taxa
ton, if the state should lose money"
Mr.. Youmans-"Suppose they die
lose the 100000, what of it? Better
keep in mind how much more they are
losing now. That is what he shoult
want to know"
Mr.. Townley-"No, he doesn't want t.
be told that. He wanted to be tolt
what I told him."
CHEERS. Uproar Of Laughter.)
Question" Should we build our ele
vator in this state ?"
Mr.. Townley-"That is what thu
League is after"
John j. Lee-"What is the objection
to placing debt limit ?"
Mr.. Townley-"They say that tn
sky is on one side and hell on the 9th
er, that that is the limit. They sa.
that we will 60 too heavily into deb
and that North Dakota might b.
placed in the hands of receiver"
E. S. Waterman-"I understand yo1
say that it is impossible to carry GU
the League program unless the ney
constitution is adopted. Is that right :?
Mr.. Townley-"That is it, exactly.
Question-"You spoke of buildin
one elevator. Would one elevator b
sufficient to beat down the power 9
the Minneapolis Milling Trust?"
Mr.. Townley-" personally ! woul
like to build more than one elevator
personally I believe it would be SAT
enough to build enough elevators t
handle all the wheat in North Dakot;
but one elevator would prove to tn
people and to the Minneapolis Mile,