The Ward County independent. [volume] (Minot, Ward County, N.D.) 1902-1965, 1917-02-01
FARMERS ADOPT
RESOLUTIONS
President Townley Holds Interesting
Meeting at Sons of Norway Hall
Interesting Questions Answered

Despite the cold weather Tuesday,
a good-sized crowd Of farmers and 9TH
or citizens gathered at the Sons OF
Norway hall to hear addresses by
President Townley Of the Nonpartisan
League of North Dakota and J. w.
Brinton, former mayor OF Beach, N.
D.
CO. Carlson, chairman Of the meet
ing, introduced the first speaker, Mr..
Brinton, who said:
"Tweive men drove 40 miles thru
the cold to Tolley and went from there
by train to Kenmare yesterday, just
to hear League speakers explain House
Bill IA at a big meeting there with
over 400 farmers present. mention
this to show you the great interest
that is being taken by the people OF
the state in the political affairs down
at Bismarck this session. The farmers
of North Dakota during the past two
years have perfected an organization
numbering about $4,000 farmers OF the
state, an organization built by them,
an organization which will benefit the
whole people Of this state. Now. when
the session convened at Bismarck, the
farmers had elected ninety-nine repre-
sentatives pledged to the Nonpartisan
League program. They sent these
men down to Bismarck after spend
ing about half million dollars in
building the organization. When the
men got down there they found that
in order to carry out the league pro-
gram it was necessary to adopt new
constitution for North Dakota or fix
the old constitution that they now
have, either one or the other, and it
was decided upon to draft new con-
stitution and submit it to the people
of this state for their ratification or
rejection which would, allow the rep
resentatives and senator's to carry out
the league program. A new constitu-
ton was drawn up known as House
Bill AZ. Our train goes at 4:35 so we
must limit the time, but we will be
glad to give half an hour to those who
wish to take the floor and give reasons
why the bill should not be passed. If
there is anyone here let him come for
ward. We would like to hear from
anybody that is against the bill"
"There is one question l would like
to ask you, and that is, how does the
new constitution stand on the prohibi-
ton question of North Dakota? ?"
Mr.. B.: ut leaves it as it is at pres
Eent. House Bill a. is for prohibition"
II will introduce to you Mr.. A. c.
Townley, president of the Nonpartisan
League:
Address in part given by Mr.. Town
ley:
'"Gentlemen: I am disappointed in
not finding more of the opposing side
here. 1t makes meeting more inter-
esting and enlightening to both those
in favor of the bill and to those who
are against it. We would all leave
here with a clearer understanding if
both sides were better represented.
"Without going through the form of
a debate we shall be glad to give the
floor any time to anyone wishing to
oppose House Bill A.. Now, am 60
ing to discuss it largely from the
standpoint of the farmers. l want to
discuss it in such way as to make
you see why House Bill Al should be
passed and why a new constitution
should be submitted to the people OF
this state in June of this year. / want
to do what can to make you see the
advisability of immediate action. The
proposed constitution makes only a
few changes. The principal changes
are necessary to permit the League
senator's and representatives of the
League to carry out the League pro
gram Anticipating that others will
use the floor before get through,
am going to make my remarks brief
The farmers of this state till the sol
and work hard. Let's see, one of the
products they raised last year was
Feed D. They brought it to town t.
sell it to get the money to pay thei1
bills. Feed D. weighs about As pounds
to the bushel. How much did it pay
you? We raised about 40 million
bushels Of Feed D wheat in the state
and sold it for an average Of rs cent!
per bushel, while No. l Northern SOLE
for $1.75 per bushel. Prof. Ladd o:
Fargo has a little mill down there a
the college where he experiments will
all these things. He ground up som'
Feed D wheat and Northern No. ant
he claims that Feed D is much bette
wheat, that it produces good flour, :
-four that is stronger in gluten, an,
that there are only about four pound
of flour less in that Feed D than Their
are in No. Northern, and the differ
ence in price is $1.00 per bushel. I
we had state owned flour mills and j
the farmers could have their whea
ground and have their Feed D max