The Ward County independent. [volume] (Minot, Ward County, N.D.) 1902-1965, 1917-06-07
Estimate Made that 10000 Visitors
Come to Minot Today to Hear
Governor Frazier and Others
Farmers are Dead in Earnest.

Farmers are Dead in Earnest.
Without question, the largest
crowd that Minot has ever seen gath
cred here today to hear the addresses
of Governor Lynn J. Frazier, A. c.
,Townley, A. E. Bowen, 0. M. Thoma-
san and j. w. Brinton, the states
foremost Nonpartisan league advo-
Gates at gigantic meeting held at
Riverside Park.
1t is estimated that farmers and
their families to the number of 1O,-
900 visited the city during the day,
the larger number of whom came by
auto, some from fully hundred miles
away. There perhaps has been as
large a number Of people on our
streets and in our park, at gatherings
when the city folks mingled with their
country cousins, but at ttoday's meet
ing, the farmers predominated by
sturdy North Dakota farmers, the real
producers of all our wealth, who dur
ing the past few years have learned to
think out political problems and act
together for their own good. Today's
crowd was representative of the citi-
zenry that makes up the great Com
monwealth of Northwestern North
Dakota, men who realize that in the
years gone by they have not had a
square deal in many ways, and who
now are in dead earnest in fighting
for those things which they believe
will make life on the farm more profit
able and enjoyable. Talk with any of
them and you will find them we'll read
and able to discuss the various sub
jects which deal with their political
life in an intelligent, fair minded man
ner.
eve are after the middlemen," one
of the farmers stated to representa-
tive of the Independent, "and by the
middlemen, we mean the men who
have become millionaires at the ex-
pense of the farmers and merchants
of North Dakota. When we say mid
dlemen,' we do not refer to the mer-
chants at all, for you must realize
that unless we are prosperous, the
merchants cannot hope to prosper.
We are willing to put butter on the
bread of the merchant-yes, and it
we get what's coming to us, We'll put
jelly on top of that" This explains
the attitude of the farmers toward
the merchants as clearly as the In
dependent is able to do so. AKA
{ The day was ideal for the big nom
partisan demonstration. Hundreds
spent the noon hour in beautiful Riv-
erside park, where sumptuous dinners
as can only be prepared by the wives
of North Dakota farmers fromlfood
grown on North Dakota's fertile soil,
were spread. Plans had been made
for the speakers to give their adj
dresses from the regular platform in
the park, but after the crowd had been
seated, Chairman Thomason announc-
ed that the speakers wuold talk from
an automobile located in shady nook
where the crowd could be better &C
commodated. Practically everybody
had to stand but few of the more
athletic fellows climbed up into the
trees, where they secured good re-
served seats. The speaking began at
2 o'clock and the crowd stood tirelessly
until nearly six until the last speaker
had finished.
Will the farmers stick? The ques-
ton was easily answered by those who
attended today's meeting. On every
hand it w9s freely predicted today that
the Nonpartisan League will not only
carry the house and the senate by
great odds at the next election, but
will put back into office the state Of
ficials, congressman, and when the
time comes, win in the U. S. Senate.
Before the addresses began, young
men of the organization entertained
the crowd by singing nonpartisar
league songs, written by 0. M. Thorn.
ason, in which respects were paid tG
number of those who have been most
energetic in fighting the league:
The first speaker was 0. M. Thom'
ason, one of the leagues spell-binders
z He explained why Governor Frazier
had vetoed House Bill "a, which pro
vided for building terminal elevator
in the state at cost of 100000. He
said that in the first place, the ele'
vator which was to have been con.
!, structed at Paramount, N. D., Woulc
Ynot have accommodated the wheat
from Sergeant county alone. The bill
provided for raising the 100000 by
taxation, whereas the league proposes
to build such elevators and, mills witt
bonds for security, letting. the profit:
.sof the state-owned enterprises pay OF
the Indebtedness. He referred to tn:
unfair freight rates within the state
Figures show that to ship a car o.
wheat from seven certain towns II
the state to the proposed elevator
would have cost about 5000, wherea:
the same wheat could be shipped
clear across the state of Minnesota tx
Minneapolis for 5000 less. And OF
the flour back, the Minneapolis pro
duct could be shipped back to those
towns for $500 less than from Fair
mount to those points.
He referred to the bill enacted b!
the last legislature, providing for
state weigher to be located in eacf
town where such towns provide public
scales. The weigher is installed b!
Dr.. Laid and he not only weighs tn
grain but grades and docks it. TIL!
grain buyers must accept sucl
weights. He said that while there
were undoubtedly great many hon
est grain buyers, yet such an arrange