The Fargo forum and daily republican. [volume] (Fargo, N.D.) 1894-1957, 1918-04-11
Other Mems Views
An Editorial That May or May
Not Square With The
Forums Opinions.

/ DdkOEA DE the recent SEED upuulAlk
act, put through by the Nonpartisar
| league party in the North Dakota
| legislature, should open the eyes OF
North Dakota farmers as to the
dangerous leadership they are fol-
lowing, In trailing after such men as
| President Townley.
There was not the slightest excuse
| for the North Dakota legislators ia
90 wrong in amending the county
seed bonding act, because there was
| already law on the statute books
that answered the purpose and un-
der which investment houses bought
such bonds. The only amendment
necessary to the old law was 70
make it apply to feed for livestock,
as we'll as seed grain.
There was even less excuse to
include the Objectionable clause
which made such county bonds q
prior lien on the land, instead OF
stopping with a first lien on the
crop, as the supreme court decision
handed down nearly three years ago
effectively disposed Of the prior lien
on the land scheme. This decision
Is reprinted in the legal department
of this issue, as 1t has a special
bearing on the situation that now
confronts North Dakota farmers.
The action OF the st. Paul Federal
Land bank in Withdrawing from the
North Dakota loaning field, when
this law was enacted, was followed
by most investment banking houses,
as the publicity given to the adj
verse law had made the North Da-
kota farm mortgages unstable
among investors. The Federal Farm.
Loan board has attempted TO re-
store some business for the Federal
Land bank by agreeing to make
further loans, provided the land
bank is protected against loss by
means Of surety bonds, to be furn-
ished by the borrowing farmer. The
matter will not be satisfactorily ad-
justed, however, until the supreme
court of North Dakota has passed
on the constitutionality OF the
clause in question. Unless IL re-
verses itself, such court will declare
that section Of the law invalid. The
Federal Land bank has taken legal
action so that such decision may be
had.
whether ignorance, carelessness.
or an attempt Of German intrigue
to hinder food production in North
Dakota. or a combination OF all
three. was responsible for this legis-
lative blunder, the danger of Town
leyism is strikingly demonstrated
Such leadership stands discrediteo,
when the farmers face the loss or
farm credit by such foolish legls-
lation.
EVEN correcting the mistake by
court decision or legislative repeal
act will not entirely repair the
damage. The insurance companies
and banking houses viii not De eager
to take farm loans from North Ia
lzota while the constant menace or
crazy legislation hangs over me
state The only way North Dakota
can restore her credit to Its former
high standing Is by repudiating
Townlev and all that Townleyism
stands for. Investors may well say
fhat IL sociallstlc radicalisn can 90
this much damage to credits, WIN
such insanity stop this side OF actual
confiscation of property.
The Minneapolis Journal: Liaur-
apra a. Hodgson, choice or the
urinary 70 contest for the mayoralty
re 81 paul with the Socialist candi-
date. has had wide experience in ON
cial positions. He has been secreS
tarv to all sorts and eondltions OF
two speakers or the NH
nesota house. to the department OF
p,1bIie instruction, to the State
Census bureau. and. most valuable
experience OF all. to the present
navor OF st. Paul for the last four
wears. But, best of all, he Is
poet -r.-.t,
Mr.. Hodgson IS 4T,t
product, having been born IN Hast
ings under the influence of several
of the larger planets and the Dig
spIraI bridge across the river. he Is
well known I'm Minneapolis, where ms /
first work as a reporter was done on |
the old Minneapolis Times, when VIII |
liam IL Haskell was editor and the |
late James Gray was CITY editor.
NJ was then that Mr. Hodgson,
under the pen name Of Larry Ho, |
herame addicted to poetry. He has |
never entirely recovered from the /
desire TO saddle, bride and ride the |
winged horse. His ability 70 Talk
and write in mellifiuous measures
will come in handy He can indite 1
triolets about garbage collection, ana
ndes 10 the. water department. when i
4 main blows out and foods nelgh-
borhood. a. sonnet sent to the house
holder who neglects to clear the snow
from his walk would work wonders.
So very practical Is the work OF a
navor of a large city that the occu-
nant Of the chair needs the poetic
quality 70 tighten II somewhat.
The prediction is freely made along
Fourth street in Minneapolis that Mr.
will be elected mayor OF
st. Paul.