The Grangeville globe. [volume] (Grangeville, Idaho) 1907-1922, 1918-02-07

connections to vote for farmers for the
legislature so as to get enought of
somebody besides the corporations,
grain gamblers and spectators
| Iownley started out with a team,
among the farmers and asking them
better conditions. They invariably
said yes" Then they were asked to
! sign up and pay $1,000 so as to have
something with which to work. AS
sooh as enough money was collect
ed A ford was bought and another
organizer put into it to ride among the
farmers. Before they were through q
hundred fords were running over the
state with organizers who visited
practically every farmer in the state
with the result that over 10000 ioin-
ed the organization. They were then
ready for the campaign. They held
thelr farmers meeting first in the pre-
clncts, then the counties at which
were selected their candidates for the
legislature, both house and senate.
Ihen the county meetings selected del
egateS to the state convention at which
a complete state ticket from governor
down was elected. The farmers went
together and voted for their own in
terest Of being divided into republican.
democratic, prohibition, progressive.
socialist parties. They voted for
farmers and for measures, and not un-
der the old machine party system.
FARMER governor and, in fact, a com.
plete state ticket The farmers made
political house cleaning. With the
farmers in the saddle, they passed
large number of valuable laws and
gave North Dakota the first legislature
In the history of the state that was
not run by political bosses and ma
chine control.
Mr.. Waters then stated that at
the Federation of agriculture compos-
ed of the Farmers Union, the Grange
and Equity society, held in Boise last |
February, these affiliated farm or
ganizations asked the Non Partisan
League to come to Idaho The result
was that in June organization work
was started. The federation selected
an executive committee Of five farmers
from the different farm organizations
to see to the proper conduct of the Non
Partisan League movement lin this
state. These men were Riley Rice. of
Cottonwood, c. w. Booth of Nezperce.
for the Farmers Union. +. p.
French. Of New Plymoth, and o. M.
Ironaas of Bliss, for the Grange. and
James Pendlebury, of Blackfoot, for
the Equity. These five men, stated
Mr.. Waters, have control of the
work Of this movement.
Mr.. Waters then continued that the
organization work was being done
thoroughly, stating that In the south
lrn part OF the state the farmers were
organized in the leaue from % to 81
per cent strong. The work of organ
zation will be carried on until the
farmers OF the state are solidly back
II the movement. He stated that in
he panhandle, the percentage is pract.
cally as good as in the south but ow-
ng to the winter weather coming on
he work had been little delayed.
The speaker then stated that every
armer who came into the organization
lald $1,000 and that the farmers seem
ed TO worry much less about the
1910 then some of the enemies of the
league who seemed to feel that the
'oor farmer was being numerically :
souged. These people who do not ,
want the farmer to raise his own cam
'algn fund to spend himself but have ]
'een collecting it from him as the pro- .
essional politicians manage to do by !
xcessive taxes and other methods of !
or under cover of some
ana so that the farmer does not notice
!, remind me, stated Mr.. Waters" Of I
ne Dutchman and his dog. He cut |
ne dogs tail off an inch at a time
o 1t would not hurt the animal so |
nuch But we are wise, and let the {
opposition rave, for we are going a. /
ead and are going to make a big :