The Bottineau courant. (Bottineau, Bottineau County, N.D.) 1895-1929, 1918-05-02
SECRET FIGHT on
FARMERS LEAGUE
South Dakota Paper Exposes
Underhand Campaign by
Big Business.

What appears to be q part of IN
organized campaign by Big Business
to injure the Nonpartisan league came
to light in a secret meeting called at
Aberdeen. South Dakota, by represen.
tatives Of a Philadelphia organization.
This is in line with the Carpenter in.
cident in Minnesota, in which a Min.
neapolis capitalist is charged with
having attempted to corrupt a league
employee; it is Of the same order as
the fight being waged against the
farmers organization by the Greater
Iowa Association. and by the great
interests that control the daily press
of Montana.
The Mitchell Republican tells of
the secret attempt to harm the league
In South Dakota as follows:
From the outset, the National Non.
partisan league has done its work en-.
tirely in the open.
Why, then, should there have been
a SECRET meeting of over 100 South
Dakota men In the city Of Aberdeen
last week for the purpose OF plotting
the overthrow Of the league?
II there is good reason FOR opposing
the league, why isn't i~ one openly
and frankly and above board?
Again, we In South Dakota have q
right to know why an organization
with headquarters in, Philadelphia IL
coming into this state to say to the
farmers that they cannot organize in
support Of publicly advocated legis
lative program.
Phlladalphia Interested.
When. did Philadelphia acquire the
right to dictate to us here in South
Dakota what ws should do and what
we should not DOT -
How much does Philadelphia care
about the welfare or the farmers or
the merchants Or the bankers or the
men u South Dakota, that
It should, attempt to besmirch and be.
foul them all In . secret underhanded,
contemplate campafen to break down
the league? sNs
What 10 more, who Is back Of this
alliance that was disclos.
cd ct the Aberdeen meeting - carry.
Ing on the sub-surfAce campaign
against the farmers Of 1outh Dxkota!
II It is q decent interest. Why doSsnV
It show itself?
Smells Of Dsef Trus&.
The whole Infamous scheme smacks
the Besf~Trust. No other Dmsll 10
bad enough for r. Revelations By
Francis ]. Hsusy II the net drawn BY
The Beef Trust around the members
congress, Of its widely laid public
Ity campaign, Of It's schemes to check.
mate invsstigstdons by the govern.
ment, are ali such a. to indicate that
somewhere In the dim rscesses behind
this alliance made to break up the
League, viii b found the
Beef Trust, financing and directing
The nefarfous campaign. And all, Of
because the farmers propose
packing plants to be used
70 break the absolute monopoly now
held by the Beef Trust ever both pro-
1ucer and consumer.
Insurance Men Baked.
It certainly is to the credit Of the
fire insurance men Of the state who
attended the Aberdeen meeting, that
a great majority of them picked up
their hats and walked out when they
found out the real purpose of the
which they were tricked
into attending by concealment of it's
actual nature.
For that matter, after the disclosure
1t Aberdeen of the carefully laid plans
to break up the league, all emanating
from Philadelphia, no n can oppose
the league without being subjected to
the suspicion that he Is an ally or
agent Of the Beef Trust.
He who fights the league is doing
the work of the Beef Trust. II he is
honestly mistaken in taking such a
course, he nevertheless is in an en-
barrassing position. If he is made Z
dupe unknowingly, he is to be pitied.
If ne is a hired emissary, he should
be On object Of contempt.