The Bottineau courant. (Bottineau, Bottineau County, N.D.) 1895-1929, 1918-11-21
IMPORTANT LEA
CUE GAINS

The delayed election returns from
the Northwestern states show that
the organized farmers and organized
workers, who combined forces to Sc
cure political representation, have
made very important gains in the last
two years. They show that the
League idea, which spread from North
Dakota to 13 other states after the
farmer labor victory there in 1916,
has gotten we'll established in the
minds of these producers. The next
two years ought to see wonderful
development Of this Elective alliance
of the common people.
In North Dakota the League has
again carried the state ticket. 1t has
increased it's representation in the as
sembly. It has for the first time Sc
cured control Of the senate, the hold
over members of which were able to
block much reform legislation in the
1917 session. It has grabbed all the
congressman, three in number, as op-
posed to the one it had previously. 1t
has secured the place. in the supreme
court to be filled this year. 1t has
passed constitutional amendments
which open the way to effective laws
in the interests of the people. The
North Dakota people had had two
years Of government by real repre-
sentatives of the common people and
they showed their appreciation of the
new order by their votes.
Outside of North Dakota the League
and labor have secured over 100 state
Legislators, who will make the inter-
ests Of these classes heard in the
legislatures of six states. In Mime
sofa it has elected one state officer
and one congressman. In Montana
the two state officers up for election.
In Idaho the two United States sena-
tors indorsed by the League were ell
ected and one state officer, the state
treasurer.
BY running second to the successful
old party candidates in Minnesota and
South Dakota, the League and labor
alliance becomes the dominant opposi-
tion to the plunderbund in these
states. Montana and Idaho have shown
great League strength. All that is
needed to make the League successful
in these states in 1920 is further or
ganization of the farmers and the
spread of the gospel among the city
workers. The election results indi-
cate that the League wins the organ
lied rural territory and the city votes
where the workers have had chance
to get the issues straight.
In Minnesota the League and labor
will have at least Is state senators out
of 81, and 36 house members out of
134, something that has not happened
since the old Farmers alliance days.
They will form a solid block for the
reform platform which will put the
other members on record for 1920
and which will prohably put across
good deal of the present program.
In South Dakota there will be at
least five state senators and eight rep
resentatives, probably more when the
returns are all in. The situation, IN
this state is peculiar in that both old
parties indorsed the League program
to secure the votes and so are bound
to carry it out. With representatives
in both houses the League men will
give them chance to go on record.
The principle of "let the old gang do
it" however, will probably be found
very disappointing and the voters of
South Dakota will be. thoroughly dis
satisfied with their trust in politicians
before 1920 comes around.
Montana will have not less than 16
League and labor men in the lower
house and four in the upper. Idaho
will have 10 assemblymen and six
senators, possibly more. Nebraska
one senator and seven asemblymen.
In the latter state, with a membership
of slightly more than 10000, the
League polled 10000 votes. Colorado
will have two senators and two assem-
blymen.
Il lone Ct these states outside q
North Dakota are the farmers yet
fully organized. There has not been
time, and in addition to this the
League has faced great obstacles in
the mob violence, the petty persecu-
ton, and the loss Of organizers
through the war. It has had to face
the most vicious and unprincipled cam
paign ever waged in America, center
in q around tho fa1co Ulovol+x,O ;ccuo