Grand Forks herald. [volume] (Grand Forks, N.D.) 1916-1955, 1917-12-20

la ana vansIkar spoke. ana, his 81
fort to stamp the federal prosecution
iot Kate Richards O'Hare as a politi-
move,4 the league members who
Ehavesthe cause of America at heart
are found to be very willing to- cline
up with this new farmers orgarfiza-
ton which Is composed OF farmers
and Controlled by.farmers.
Stair Was There.
At the convention in Omemee the
Nonpartisan league was represented
by L. A. Kn6ke Of Willow City, who
ran for state office on the Socialist
ticket at the last election. and L. l.
Stair OF Bottineau, also very .promi-
nent in the Socialist party in this
state. They produced a series Of
questions pertaining to the aims Of
the new party and we're answered. by
M. Tiegen of Kramer, one of the or
g%anizers Of the. party. Mr.. Tiegen
is M of the states most prominent
farmers and was one Of the men who
first Joined the Nonpartisan league.
His desire to do his own thinking
attention and Tlegen's %insistent de-
mand that the farmers have a.voice
in the executive work of the league
placed him in bad graces with the
head of the league. Tiegen has been
identified with the Equity since its or
ganization and the differences : be-
tween him and Townley widened
greatly when NJ P. Johnson, PRESS
dent Of the Equity. gave out = state
ment, criticizing the action Of Cover
nor Frazier in vetoing the Equity
measure for a terminal elevator
passed at the last session. They met.
at an impromptu meeting of the Nom
partisan league leaders held in Fargo.
after the annual convention Of the
Equity society last spring. 1t was
at this meeting that Townley opened
fire on Tiegen and Johnson, declaring
he would not be dictated to by any
white haired Norwegian or long
faced Swede."
The convention at Omemee had to
be adjourned to>permit many OF" the
farmers in attendance to make train
connections for their homes. Plans
were made before adjournment, how
ever. for a meeting early in January
when .Nonpartisan representatives
bers of the new league on the plat
form of the two organizations
Their Platform.
The platform, of the North Dakota
Farmers league as announced to the
meeting by Mr.. Tiegen follows:
Believing hat the North Dakota
farmers should Organize and that the
organization should be under the alb
solute control of the North Dakota
farmers and for the purpose of de-,
feating certain vicious measures that
have been agitated during the past
eighteen months n for the purpose
of furthering certain measures that
we believe would be beneficial both
from a social and economic stand
point, we hereby organize ourselves
a the North Dakota Farmers league
and submit to the voters the follow
ing platform and program:
We are unalterably opposed to the.
passage of any such as that
known in the late legislative assembly
as House Bill No. A. We believe that
article 1 in section "a Of the |Declara-
ton of Rights in that measure abso-
lutely paves the way for Unsafe and
detrimental enterprises.
We are opposed to the section in
House Bill Nc. Al which makes it
possible to bring about the unlimited
bonding of the state and its political
subdivisions; removing the safeguards
regard to bonding questions since
North Dakota was admitted as a state,
would, in our judgment, place our
We view with distrust and are firm
in our opposition to that section .of
House Bill No. a. which would make
it possible to curtail our political!
privileges by taking from us the right
to elect state, county and township
direct conflict with the spirit Of de-
mocracy that has yer been held dear
to American hearts. I
We favor the enaction of. laws thai
will enable the farmers of North Da-
kota to enter upon enlarged fields
OF cooperation. We favor the erec-
ton by the state of flour mills, grain
elevators, and cold storage and pack
ing plants, based on laws similar to
character are operated in the vest
ern provinces of Canada.
We favor the principle of state in
surance but are of the opinion that
the present law covering the same
will remain imperative until it is
simplified and made more definite by
remedial legislation.
We believe that the abnormal and
enforced marketing of grain in the
farmers and that some provision
should be made by the state whereby
they would be enabled to retain
physical control Of the grain that they
do not wish to sell. For this reason
we favor the enactment Of legislation
which would enable farmers to Sc
cure cash advances at reasonable in
terest rates on grain in the bin.
We deplore the fac that the poll
teal agitation of h past eighteen
months has served to %engender class
hatred; that the arraying Of one class
| against another will never serve to
bring about constructive legislation
of material benefit to the farmers, but
will only result in retarding progress
sive legislation.
We stand united behind our pres
ident and our government in his
great crisis in which the freedom and
liberty of the world is threatened. We
stand prepared to make every sacri-
flee that the cause of the allies may
! triumph and that the world may be
made safe for democracy.
Fvorv+h;nn poadv