Morris tribune., 1917-03-30
The Non-Partisan League


Editor Morris Tribune
We are now being told that the
Non-Partisan League will invade
our county as soon as the roads and
transportation facilities permit.
They are going to make house to
house canvass, that is, they are go
ing to canvass every farmer in the
county, showing how he is being
abused in all sorts of ways; how he is
not getting the price that he ought
to get for his products, etc.
The organizers that will call on
you soon will tell you how all this
can be remedied by paying into the
league treasury the small sum of
$1,000. 1t may sound good Brother
Farmer, but my advice is, keep your
$1,000. We have had a few stunts
pulled over our eyes before; let us
not bite so quick this time. A few
years ago a certain spell binder
went thru the county, telling the
farmers how to become independent
of all the retailers in the towns by
paying $4,000 in cash or by giving
a note due in 80 days or so, which
would entitle him to buy all his sup
plies at wholesale. Quite a number
did bite on this hook.
But what of it? Why shall the
farmer always be the one to be eX-
plotted by those strangers? Is it
really so that the great number of
the farmers are easy marks?
These Non-Partisan organizers
will tells us how much good they
have done in North Dakota. Good
and we'll, I believe North Dakota
needed a shake-up, at least it seems
so. They are continually on the war
path, and of course, the league has
led them on Of late. But for what
purpose?
Is it a square deal for the farmers
or square deal for the leaders of
the league? Have we here a farm
ers' movement or merely a farmers
following? Stop and think it over
Think before you act this time
Then you will not be kicking after
wards. Again they will tell you
this is a political movement. No
better way to ruin a good farmer or
a good business man than to get him
into r0litics. Then you have him
agoing.
Is tie state of Minnesota in such
a corrupt condition that we need the
N. P. L. to come in and do our house
cleaning? 1 say no. The state of
Minnesota is in pretty fair condt-
ton at present. What guarantee is
there that this is a movement for
the people? Has it been created by
the people? Is it plastic to the will
of the people? We find that there
are voices in North Dakota who are
telling the NOn-Partisan League to
do house-cIeaning at their own door
and these requests are coming from
their members.
To my mind there are greater and
more important matters for the
farmers to take advantage of at pres
ent, then to listen to those N. P. L
demagogs. The government crop re
port recently issued states that the
wheat reserves in the United States
are the lowest in fifty years. Corr
reserves the lowest in ten years
Oats reserves are less than veal
ago. There is only enough whea
left in the country for home require
ments and spring seeding.
That there is shortage in grai1
supplies is reflected in the prices
paid. Wheat sells around $500; fla
around $500; corn around $1.OO
barley around $1.OO; potatoes
around $500 per bushel Hogs how
er around $14. to SIS. Under suc1
conditions the farmers have a mos
exceptional opportunity for profits
as we'll as duty to perform.
Instead of spending valuable tim
and good money in organizing an
supporting leagues, whether they b
partisan or nOn-partisan, let us stic]
closely to the farming business an
we will get farther ahead and shoy
a better profit at the end of the yea
than by helping along the scheme
of the professional agitator and tn
loud mouthed demagogs that com
along.