Denver labor bulletin., 1917-03-17

would destroy the graft of the land
speculator' and free vast tracts of
land for use and cultivation.
The method of carrying this pro-
gram into effect is modelled on plan
of complete thoroness and goes to the
grass roots. 1t is simply ideal DEM
ocracy applied, and applied with dy-
manic living vigor from the founda-
ton to the capstone.
First, the farmers, who constitute
the majority of the population OF the
state, were organized.
Secondly, this organization ignored
all political divisions and subdivisions.
Animated by one master passion-the
relief of the farmer-it sent delegates
to all county and state conventions
fully instructed to vote for men in
full sympathy with its objects. Pol
itical lines were wiped out Of exist
ence. One grand idea, fired with an
enthusiasm born of suffering, swept
all conventions. The farmers candi-
dates were nominated. The flaming
zeal for freedom and justice swept
North Dakota like n prairie fire. All
the farmer candidates were elected
with large majorities winning almost
every office in the state.
Captured the Trenches,
Will they succeed in carrying out
their program? Up to the present
they have succeeded magnifcently.
They have overcome powerful enemies
who had dug themselves in and were
protected in bomb-proof trenches and
supplied with unliuoited arms and am
munitiou. Without the loss Of n man.
the farmers captured these trenches,
with all the guns Of their enemies,
and drove their oppressors from the
state
The farmers OF North Dakota have
taught the American people valuable
lessons In one master stroke they
have shown US how TO destroy the OPP
pressions of monopoly. They have
shown us that the American system
of government contains within itself
the principle that will solve all prob
lens They have shown us that the
mightiest power is neither the strike
nor the lockout-neither the violence
of the I. w. w. nor the sour outbursts
of the discontented Socialist. acccn-
tuated by the fiery harungues of the
demagog. All these are negative and
distinctive. The mightiest power in
the world is the silent votes of
splendid organization of intelligent.
thinking, resolute men: men who know
what they want and whose votes are
living, dynamic expressions of their
Wcll-cOnSlderel ucNlanuh.
Valuable Lessons Taught.
The North Dakota farmers have
shown us that we, the people, are re-
sponsible for the conditions which pro-
duce the parasites that prey upon us.
Out of the womb of the conditions that
we create have come the Rockcfcllcrs.
the Morgans, the Guggenheims, the
Wall street, the Minneapolis
grain gambler. the coal trust of Den
vef. the loan shark. and the grating
politician. From us are born the fcas
and the vampires that suck our blood.
From the conditions that obtain by
our own consent in our own system
grow the parasites that suck away
our vigor.
The North Dakota farmers have
shown us how to get rid of these
parasites:
Change the conditions and the para
sites must go, because there is nothing
them or to feed them. They have left
North Dakota and have come to Colo
RADIO, thereby adding TO our social
plaques.
Changing the Conditions.
The farmers of North Dakota have
shown us how to change the condi-
tions. Investigation, agitation, edu-
cation, organization. These are the
remedies.
Investigation: Learn the facts in
the case. The president of the State
Agricultural college, true to the chal-
lenge of his office, showed the farmers
how the stock gamblers of Minneapolis
robbed the farmers of the state each
year Of s55,000,000. Experts were
employed who demonstrated how the
Ii a..
at every turn.
Agitation: Capable speakers gath
cred the farmers together and pro-
claimed these facts to them.
Education: Newspapers were pur-
chased, pamphlets were printed and n
campaign of education was carried to
every farm house.
Organization: The truth revealing
the causes of their sufferings entered
every farmers mind and in the clear
light Of the truth the farmers organ
lied and won.
aye shall know the truth, and the
truth shall make ye free" This great
declaration was signolly verified in the
success of the farmers of North Da-
kota.
They have also shown us the weak
ness of government by commission.
They first thought that the salvation
lay with n commission, but as Ray
McKaig, one Of the leaders. said in
the Denver Post. Every time we put
n law thru somebody pulled its teeth"
Must Govern Ourselves.
The supreme court and the handy
injunction took care of our reform
measures. The commission sided with
our .oppressors. The only kind Of eff
fective government is the direct, naked
grasp of the wheel Of government bv
the people themselves. The further
the government is away from the peo-