The Fargo forum and daily republican. [volume] (Fargo, N.D.) 1894-1957, 1917-03-26

know as much about these things as
you do yourselves"
Illustrating his charge that the Nom
partisan league does not practice de-
mocracy, but is close corporation.
mr; Lee asserted that the in Inc. ,,sa
David Paquin, Todd county socialist
farmer. as president Of the league In
Minnesota. "How many Of you had
voice in that?" he demanded.
Denies Demand For 0ruanixation.
About 500 Of u.s." called q man In
II wouldn't dispute you." said Mr..
members Of the league have told me
that they had nothing to say about the
selection"
II have shown" said Mr.. Lee in con-
clusion. "thAt there Is no demand for
this political organization. have
sold YOU out when they had chance,
and IL they will do this when the
movement IL in it's infancy. how much
more will they when they have built
up q powerful rnachiner
Calls Il Close Corporation.
II have shown that their program IL
Socialfstic and that Its leaders are So
calists, who propose to bond the state
for vast sums that YOU would have to
their schemes. I have shown that they
preach Democratic rule and yet run
their organization as close corpora
ton. They are the most alright. hide
bound. boss controlled organization in
the country. They are raising great
fund, and / get the impression that the
money end counts with them more
than anything else. Finally, ! have
shown you that the farmers Of Mime
sofa are solving these problems for
themselves by cooperative effort.
II have the interests Of the farmers
at heart. and IL l believed that this
new party would benefit the farmers I
would gladly support 1t. But Mr.. Ran
dali has failed to show US today any
thing to convince YOU or me that
farmers ought to Join and maintain
such an organization in this state"
Randall Takes Floor for Closing.
Mr.. Randall had the floor for a brief
closing argument.
THE first thing we ought to do, !
suppose" he said. us to go out and
kill all the Socialists. Well / don't
know what they would do In Europe
today IL It wasn't for the warning ma
tions adopting the principles Of So
ton.
II happened at one time to belong to
the Socialist party. got ell my
education In life from reading works
on economics. ] am not member or
the party: and win not be so long as
organization. but am o Socialist. I'll
be frank about It. And We have got
to have the philosophy or Socialism to
save this nation.
"Mr. Lee has told US more about the
finances Of the Nonpartisan league
than / ever knew. MY answer 70 that
is to let your chairman appoint a. COM
mittee Of farmers to investigate and
we will pay all their expenses. Oh.
have no use for all this stun and CAM
paign dope.
"ae says cooperation is solving the
problems OF the farmer. You have
eliminated the local buyer and that's
all. Still you are exploited. Your
creamery manager runs up against the
shortage proposition everyalittle while.
AS long as r. E. Cobb can raise the
test in one place and lower IL In am
other he controls the value Of cream
cry products just as much as IL he NIX
ed prices"
Mr.. Randall read of the failure of
the Farmers Cooperative Packing Co.
OF La Crosse. due to generous promo.
ton fees" and other causes TO show
that cooperative enterprises do not
always succeed.
Mr.. Lee hasn't said yet whether ne
believes 1t is right for farmers to
organize politically so they can build
up their institutions and have some-
thing besides q Job" continued Mr..
Randall. "We want the farmer to
have something here and now, and not
some time in the future.
II want to say to YOU business men
that the 33 per cent the farmers gets
of the value Of his products has to do
for the farmers and for YOU, too. II
we can build strong organization
and with the help OF others affiliated
with US get more for the farmer, how
will il harm you? To the farmer /
will say. are you going to listen to the
OF the present system
of. exploitation or listen to your own
common sense, knowing that in unity
of your power there is strength"
Mr.. Randall then resumed reading
from q government REPORT he had been
quoting when time was called on the
debate.
"Tn finish on the street" he CALI
ed.
II the scandal of high prices OF any
thing rises to the heavens 1t Is that of
he