The Fargo forum and daily republican. [volume] (Fargo, N.D.) 1894-1957, 1918-05-20
THE MINOT PLATFORM.

We likewise believe that the farmers Of
state will not knowingly want to con-
tinue at the head Of any farmers organiza
ton gang Of men who, while enthusinR
for governmental reform. have un5ustly and
treacherously utilized our enthusiasm to
undermine our state credit. undo important
work of the Society Of Equity and the Farm
ers' union. in the interests Of agriculture,
and now promoting personal interests and
private corporations that have parallel
in the gold brick industry Of state We
urge upon the voters of every legislative
district in North Dakota that be brought
out regardless Of party lines candidates
for legislative positions whose loyalty is
unquestoned and who are, in the main, in
sympathy with this program and will pledge
themselves to not be a party to any unit
rule" or secret caucus" interfering with the
free. independent and separate action all
measures in our legislative chambers. Like
wise men who will vote in favor Of the
legislature taking over or purchasing for the
state any capital stock or securities real
personal property from any individual
or corporation, except for the maintenance
Of state institutions without first submitting
the proposition to the voters Of the state
for majority approval and then only the
basis Of physical valuation.
The foregoing paragraph from the
Minot platform needs no defense, and so
clearly is it worded that it does not need
much explanation to anyone familiar with
the political affairs of North Dakota dur
ing the last two or three years.
Undermining our state credit" refers,
among other things, to the half-baked
seed and feed law which threatened for
weeks to drive the federal land bank from
the state, which cost the farmers a snug
sum to bring it back, and which has seri-
ously restricted the flow of private capital
to North Dakota,
The Consumers store plan, exposed by
The Forum, is not defended even by the
local daily organ of the Nonpartisan
league. 1t has never yet even referred to
the plan, which is so palpably wrong
economically, and such a bare-faced at
tempt to capitalize prejudice, that even
Mr.. Townley's organ dare not say a word
publicly in defense Of it. It permits paid
advertisements to run In it's columns, the
money coming out Of the farmers pockets,
cussion of the plan.
We wish that the election Of loyal men
to the legislature was not an issue, but
how can it be anything else but very
live issue when the Nonpartisan league
has among it's speakers one man convicted
of disloyalty another under Indictment for
disloyalty, and a governor who not only
countenances them as speakers, but uses
his official position to force their speeches
upon indignant communities
The paragraph regarding the purchase
Of securities by the state, may be much
more important one than appears on the
surface. When the leagues band of So
cialist leaders grow weary of carrying the
burden Of improbable stores and unproft-
able newspapers, the state will be handy
dumping ground for them. New England
is dotted with the remains Of cooperative
stores. The consumers stores are not even
cooperative, but are advertised as such.
Do the taxpayers of the state want to buy
fine collection of such stores when they
are no longer useful for propaganda pur-
poses and the burden Of carrying them be-
comes a drain even on the educational
fund" of the league?