The Fargo forum and daily republican. [volume] (Fargo, N.D.) 1894-1957, 1918-03-09

At the outset I want to make 1t plain
that I am not fighting the Nonpartlsan
league am fighting the man Townley,
and / feel justified in so doing.
What | have to tell l am telling IN
The Fargo Forum because it is best that
/ the people of our state shall know the
s whole truth concerning the man who has
nut himself at the head Of our Organlza-
ton.
I became a member of the NOnpartisan
IesOue back in the late summer or early
fall of 1915. The organizer approached
me while was working in the field, and
. I gave him So.
While didn't give the subject much
{ Thought then, and not for some time after
wards. / did get to thinking about polit-
zeal affairs quite a bit, and l finally de-
eided. in my own mind, that the NOnpar-
tisan league didn't offer anything In the
wav of politics not already offered by the
old parties. I didn't say much about it,
and went along with the boys on the
league proposition satisfied in my own
mind that things wouldn't be any worse
or any better politically than they had
been.
When the store organizer came to me
consideration to the question, and thought
at first that it was a good thing. [ gave
to him note for 800, for which he gave
me receipt that is reproduced with this.
Organizer Used His influence
To Get Other Farmers Signed Up.
Well, the organizer got me to 60 around
with him to see the other farmers, and
while we were going around, my suspl-
cions became aroused because of the diff
ferent stories that he would tell to the
different men. was paid So day for
my time by the organizer, and he took me
with him to call on my neighbors because
of the influence he thought l might have
with them. I understand that is the usual
plan adopted by the organizers all over
the state who are working on the store
proposition.
The first thing that aroused my suspi-
cion was the organizers statement that
the company would turn the money back
to a person who CHANGED to leave the COM
munity before the ten year period was up.
That is, if man paid 500 and stayed in
the community only five years, only $50
of his certificate would be used up, and
he would be entitled to the return of $50.
There is nothing like that in the contract,
and of course the organizer promise isn't
binding on the company.
Got Hundred, Then Demanded
Payment Of Back League Dues.
Another thing that made me mad
was the organizers action in getting
500 from some farmers, and then
telling them that the 500 wasn't any
good unless they paid their member
ship dues to date. That meant that
they had to dig up another SIC.
In my own case had not paid the
membership dues, and wasn't asked
to do so. That, too, made me suspi-
Cious, and made me feel that was
simply being used to further the store
proposition.
T didn't go into the league with the idea
of building up any wildcat proposition
such as this store scheme is.
couldn't see for the life of me where
the farmers were getting any benefit out
Of this store proposition, and when / saw
the organizer trying to get men into the
league by getting their 500, and then
demanding SIG more, was pretty hot
under the collar. But didn't say any
thing.
Took $3.50 Out of Farmers
In the Vicinity Of Dawson.
Well, things went along after the orga-
nizer left the Dawson community with
out much stir. The farmers around Daw-
son put $4,000 into the store PROPOSE
tion, and their notes carry per cent in
terest. The store isn't scheduled to be
opened till October 1, 1918, so that the
company would collect, In reality, sos
from each farmer before the farmer gets
even the privilege of trading at the store
for cash. With the per cent added the
Dawson district would net ST., 800 to the
store company, Of which ST. 800 is interest
When we went up to Bismarck in the
early part of December to the meeting Of
the Farmers Union, quite few Of the
boys were talking about this store propo-
sifion, and we decided to try to get some
more information.
Ieseuer Pleads Ignorance;
1snahan Tells Funny Stories.
We had a meeting there with Art Lee
seuer and Jim Manahan in the Grand Pa
eifie hotel
I.eSeuer told as 1--WE were all Farmers
Union men) that he drew up the agree
ment that we had signed, but he pleaded
H. ~