The Fargo forum and daily republican. [volume] (Fargo, N.D.) 1894-1957, 1918-03-13

some credit at the home town. I
can remember a good many early
settlers that were mighty glad to
get some credit at the home town.
If we went to work and destroyed
the whole business structure of our
towns with any such fantastic
scheme as the preposterous, gigantic
scheme of the Townley string of
stores 1t would be nothing more nor
less than a calamity to community
life when the bubble should event.
ually burst
n see MIR. Romsaas is harp
ing on the same old thina-ths
kept press. You know when
Townley coneocted this Non
partisan league scheme he also
invented the kept press so that
the farmers would get only one
side of the question. lie figured
that If he could get them to be-
lieVe ii was sacerilegeous 10 read
the kept press he could keep
partisan Leader tiIl he got them
so saturated with the socialis-
tic teachings Of gratis Steals,
robbers, etc, that he figured
they would stay kept forever. He
probably didn't stop 20 think (if
he ever does stop to thinE) that
that is the identical system that
the anarchists use when they
teach anaFehism to the ignorant
sniarant when he lands in New
York.
Among the string OF papers that
Mr.. Romsaas names as being the
kept press he names The Minot
Messenger. Now lie Mr.. Romsaas read
anything but the kept press of
Townley he would know that The
Messenger is one Of the most
staunch advocates of farmers or
CARNATIONS in the state. The Mes
senger even now doesn't advocate the
destruction of the league. Their
fight is not against the league but
against the control OF the league by
Townley and his cabinet of Socialists
and !. w. W. The greatest advocate
OF farmers organizations that the
farmers ever had was the late
George 8. LOTUS and he wrote The
Messenger a short time before heI
died the following letter:
II believe / appreciate TO the full
extent the service you have render
ed the farmers marketing move
ment, and / only wish 1t were pos
sible for me to assist you in the
building up Of your circulation.
There is one thing in connection
with your work that the farmers
should bear In mind, that is, you
were advocating the cause when it
was a most unpopular thing to do.
Yours sincerely.
George s. LOTUS.
Nov IL Mr.. Romsaas read any
thing but the Townley kept press
he would know that, and there would |
be a whole lot Of other things that
be would know. He probably would |
know enough about this Townley to |
know that he Is not sprouting any
wings yet.
my friend, Mr.. Romsaas says
he happens to be an organizer Il
say friend because / have known
Mr.. Romsaas for q good many years /
and I never had but the best OF |
opinion Of him, and / do not now
want to be understood as to inn
pugn his sincerity or his loyalty. Il
don't believe there is any question:
about Mr.. Romsaas' loyalty, but /
10 believe he has been grossly
nisled by Townley's dirty agitation,
The same as a good many other
league members. believe that if
r.
press of both sides and would study
he matter thoroughly with an un-
biased and unpreJudiced mind
ne has got common sense enough to
.oma to the conclusion that this or
zanizauon' work at the present time
s not helping us win the war, but
s hinderinr ii.
~ would suggest 20 Mr..
Rnngsaas that he forget that he
happens TO be an organizer un-
eli the war II over at any rate.
And as he IL good talkers
would suggest that, providing
that he Is not going 20 farm and
help increase the food supply,
he offers his services 90 the
government in seine real eduea-
tsonal worS. The government 10
az the present time wanting
thousands Of experienced farm
srs 70 help encourage farmers 20
Increase their production in diff
ferant lines. This going out to a
farmer and telling him that he
Is being robbed u not going 60
Give him much encouragement
70 hustle and get In every acre
that Re can.
eve all know that the farmer Isl
lot getting q square deal in a goodi
many things, but I would pre-
er being robbed a little at the