The Bismarck tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, N.D.) 1916-current, 1918-03-08

Many farmers in the state remem
oer some Of those troubles and one
cannot blame them for going a little
slow in supporting this reform move
ment in its present form. They can
not see why the league should not
be incorporated the same as all other
standard fraternal bodies and that
title to the North Dakota Leader to-
g9ther with all state records should
be vested in such corporations; like
wise as much of the Nonpartisan
Leader and the Courier.News and the
equipment for these as has been paid
for with money obtained from North
Dakota members. -, .arJ U.s.. e4r
have held these views for a lone
time and have felt that these matter'
should be publicly discussed at thu
proper time when it can be done with
out injuring the progressive movement
that has found expression in the
league. ! believe now that that tim
is near at hand in this state. 1t is not
'ow a question as to whether Big Bi!
is going to- control the state govern
nent or a reform movement. The da..
Vt antiNuated stand pat politics is
cone forever and determined de
.nand for reform is enthroned. ~
~ What Kind Of Reform
The big question now is to WHAT
F[tND of reform we are going to have
1t looks to me as if there is need Of
very definite program Of Government
al reform fostered by some agency
that will leave alone all such side
shows as are now being hitched VI
with the Nonpartisan league.
One bad feature Of the present temp
erament of many people in the stat'
is the inclination to brand everything
that is said or written without the ap
prevail of the. "PoWers that be- as a
message from Big Biz and the pro.
duct of an enemy Of the common PEG
pie and farmers especially. This is
the situation: II any person has any
idea on problems Of Government OF
the management of the league that
does not coincide with the "Powers
that be" he cannot get it expressed
in the Nonpartisan Leader and if any
other paper then picks it up then one
hears at once traitor of the common
people," It is true that ;sOme Of the
papers in this state have editorially
defended questionable men and mea.
sures from time to time and even
juggled and colored facts, but we.
should not let prejudice blind us SC
that we will not hear but one side
That mental condition borders on in
sanity Qnsanity is generally an alb.
normal development of some bug
of some kind) and if joined in BY
great numbers for any length of time.
is dangerous for the welfare of any
state. Untruthfulness and mis-state-
lhents of facts will creep into most
any paper. This has happened even
in the Nonpartisan Leader. It will
rontinue to happen until we can get,
mediums of publicity that are not pub
'ished in the interest of personal gain
or political preferment for individuals
or groups of individuals. When ! tell
you that the league caucuses out here
were attended on the average by from
one.third to less than One-fifth of thel
voters of the various precincts you
can readily see that there is a lack
of interest or something wrong some
where. The silent Glamour of the,
mass of the people must be respected
if we are to have genuine and lasting
governmental reform and if it cannot
be done thru the movement we now
'ynow as the Nonpartisan league il
should be done otherwise.
STATEMENT OF COLD FACTS.
Some Of the matter I have express
ed in this letter may surprise you Mr..
Tlagel but "them's my sentiments"
and the statements are cold facts.
o, yes / should perhaps tell you
that some Of my friends here are
boosting me for the senate by ain
not taking the candidacy very serious
ly and will say that if you see any
ling in this letter that you think
would be of interest to other people
you are at liberty to make it public
in whatever way you see fit regardless !
o. what effect it may have as to max
ing or unmaking the senatorial candi'
lazy started in my behalf.
Please accept our thanks for your
GOOD wishes for Junior" He is do
ing very well.
Come out here next summer and we
will 60 to the BRAKES" and incident
ally see if we can tip you out and |
crack your hat as Aleck Leiderback !
did with us in Oliver county last sum
mer. ts.-a -,
81. Sincerely yours, ...
,- .--s TFIEO. G. NELSON, |
49,. r. ZIP NOTES. a. !