The Bottineau courant. (Bottineau, Bottineau County, N.D.) 1895-1929, 1917-02-22
WHICH SIDE ARE YOU ON?
Editorial by J. H. Worst.)

Editorial by j. H. Worst) >
The economic situation in North Dakota is peculiar. Unlike
several other states that are dominated by corporation interests,
the farmers here are in the clutches of grain and livestock man.
ipulators of an adjoining state. Minnesota farmers suffer the
same as North Dakota farmers do, but the evils that confront
them are domestic. They can clean house whenever they stand
united for a fair deal. The big interests that have the farming
interests by the throat are domicied within their own state and
are amenable to their own state and are anenable to their own
laws.
Not so here. The big interests of Minnesota are not amena-
BILE to the laws of North Dakota. The only remedy for us is to
make ourselves, as far as possible, independent of foreign infuen-
ces. individuals cannot successfully combat a power so strongly
entrenched and so highly capitalized as the chamber of commerce
of Minneapolis, the board Of trade of Duluth or the packing trusts
Of Chicago. Hence the appeal of North Dakota farmers to their
state government to come to their relief.
This naturally involves what naturally may be termed a modi-
fled form of socialism. Be it even so. Is it not better to adopt
a reasonable form of socialism than to submit longer to a looting
process that already has robbed the farmers of this state of
countless millions of dollars?
That there should be a deep seated prejudice against social
ism in any form is to be expected. We have stood for the individ-
uaistic idea so long that we have become obsessed with it; until
in fact the shreWd element, taking advantage OF the situation,
have in a large measure monopoized the natural resources of the
country and piled up monumental fortunes and at the same time
filled our cities with slums and impoverished millions of our fell
low citizens.
In this controversy as between individuaistic and state con-
troll of certain dominant industries Of the state, those opposed
to the latter-many of them-are unquestionably honest in their
conviction. But it places them in the peculiar position of fight
ing for the big interests and against the leading industries of the
state for the sake of convictions. This is exactly what those
mercenary interests wish them to do.
If, on the other hand, those opposed to state control OF such
utilities as terminal elevators, packing houses and flour mills will
suggest some other plan that will insure a fair degree of economic
independence, they will at least demonstrate their loyalty to the
farming interests and clear themselves of the suspicion that they
are, whether unconsciously or otherwise, working in the interests
of the big combines that are reapng the profits that legitmately
belong to our own farmers.
p It s a notorious fact that two per cent of American individuals
now own and control sixty per cent of the national wealth. This
has resulted from the established theory of individualstc indie
t pendence. A condition has arisen, that will force the several
e states to adopt state control Of their leading industries or compel
e their citizens to submit to the ruthless exploitation OF the money
power. North Dakota is today fighting the battle that every state
: must take up sooner or later or let the working and producing
c classes degenerate into a peasantry not unlike that OF European
t countries.
The question is, which side are you on?
y Cut out this Nonpartsan League foolishness, or you will have
that mortgage on your farm forecosed on you. That is the ad-
monition contained in a news story in the Grand Forks Herald's
Saturday issue. According to the Herald, a Mr.. Allen, represent
ing the Security Trust Company of New York, was in Grand Forks
recently to look over the League. He was much amazed at what
he saw and heard and declared that eastern banking interests"
- looked askanse at this farmers movement. He even ventured
~ that in the event the league program became an actually 1t would
g. mean Withdrawal of moneys to loan in the state, and in many
- cases actual foreclosure of mortgages" And this is put up as an
- argument against the league. What better justification OF the
W farmers organization than this very thing? Eastern banking
~ interests, or big Biz" to use a more common term, actually
Ill appears on the scene and threatens to withdraw money and fore
;, close mortgages if the farmers attempt to organize so as to pro-
y tect themselves and their interests. Are you going to be bluffed
- down by any such brazen proposition as that?
When the Courant suggested a couple of weeks ago that the
state fair be located permanently at Bottneau, the Valley City
e Times-Record becomes wrothy and declares that there will DC
g nothing doing on that proposition, and that the fair should be
located at Valley City. All right, we are willing to be generous
e about it, and you can have tiff you can get 1t.
st The Courant is proud of it's critics. There are just three o.
a them, namely: Matt johnson, editor of the Omemee Herald; =
L. Garden, editor of the souris Messenger and F. {. Falkensteln
editor of the Bottineau County News. This triumvirate has beer
lie fighting the Nonpartisan League with a logged, II unsuccessful
D. perseverance. When the Courant was purchased by several nun
dred farmers of Bottineau county a few months ago and the papea
r continued it's advocacy of the Nonpartisan League program i