Willmar tribune. [volume] (Willmar, Minn.) 1895-1931, 1918-04-03
FARMERS AND WORKERS OF STATE
NAME TICKET and HOLD BIG RALLY
St. Paul Convention Makes In.
teresting History for the
State Of Minnesota.

The first state convention of the
Minnesota branch of the National Non
partisan league came to a dramatic
and inspiring close in St. Paul last
week when in response to an appeal
by President A. c. Townley, approx
mately 1000 farmers stood and Pied
ged to stick by the city workers in
their joint fight for democracy and
then more than 1000 city workers
arose amid tumultuous cheering and
pledged their allegiance to the Non
partisan league ticket.
A few moments later Former Con-
gresham Charles A. Lindbergh of
Little Falls was introduced as 'the
next governor of Minnesota" and the
storm Of cheers and clapping fairly
shook the great Municipal Auditorium.
The three-day convention not only
made political history in the state of
Minnesota-perhaps it is the beginning
of the second chapter of great non
partisan movement that will sweep
the nation-but it forever refuted the
those Special interests who attempt to
stamp it as a gathering Of disloyalists
and proGermans.
Wilson Pledged Support.
Loyalty was the keynote of the
whole convention and every statement
pledsing support to Woodrow Wilson
or indorsing his war aims brought
great gusts of cheering from the audi
ence and left no doubt as to the fact
that the real patriots-those who have
sacrificed and are willing to sacrifice
more in this war-and the real pro-
ducers, the farmers and city workers,
are solidly behind the President
Woodrow Wilson's book 1.-THE New
Freedom" was quoted by speaker
after speaker and notices from the
Presidents recent speeches adorned
the walls.
The United States government sent
messages of greeting as well. Unable
to attend in person, Herbert Hoover
telegraphed long message to read to
the convention on the opening day,
and when Francis J. Heney, who is
conducting the Federal Trade CON-
missions investigation against the
packers, was unable to come, George
C:eel. chairman of the Bureau Of Pub
lie Information, asked former Con-
gresham William Kent of California,
now a member of the Federal Tariff
commission, to give the convention a
word of greeting from the U. s. gov
crnment.
Mr.. Kent appeared and told the con-
vention that he would take the mes
sage back to President Wilson that
the farmers and workers of Mime
sofa were absolutely loyal.
Farmers and Workers Join.
The convention was strictly a gath
ering of tillers Of the soil and toilers
Of the city. Every county in the state
was represented by farmers and prac-
tically every trade union in the state
had delegates present. 1t was the first
campaign rally of the real producers
OF Minnesota and it marks the begin
ing Of new and better political era
where the people whose interests are
mutual will not be divided by party
lines.
Every delegate went home convin-
ced that the workers of the field and
factory have united upon an economic
program that will go far toward elm
mating the controlled markets that
cause the high cost of living and the
clean, progressive men who were
oh ko
antee that the voters of Minnesota
will have government free from cor
porate domination and responsible
only to the people.
Referendum Selects Candidates.
The nominating convention was held
Tuesday morning. Delegates from 4S
legislative districts were present The
ticket was selected by popular refer
endum. The delegates placing in NOM
ination whom they chose and elm
mating the low candidate at each
vote until one had a clear majority.
The platform indorses the war aims
of Woodrow Wilson: declares that the
war must continue until lasting and
| democratic peace is assured; extends
| sympathy to Democratic Russia; and
urees the farmers and workers OF
Minnesota to aid the government in
| Its prosecution of the war with every
means at their command.
The Special Interests were denoun.
ced for "handicapping the progress OF
the war by their prof1teering and thus
p-o'onRinR the war and sacrificing the
lives of thousands of Americas fines,
sons" and state officials were cen
srred for permitting lawlessness and
mob violence against farmers or
CARNATIONS. Governor Burnquist also
was criticized for attempting to array
class against class by raising the issue
Of disloyalty against the organized
farmers and the organized workers."
All candidates were pledged to carry
out. as fast as sound progress will
permit, specific program of pro
gressive demands that are Of import
ance to the men on the farm and tt
the workers Of the cities and towns
The program was unanimously con
Cured in by the delegates and make.
pronounced platform that ever,
friend OF good government in thu
state can get behind, and supper
with enthusiasm men who are pledged
to put 1t into practice. There was M
divided opinion on the declaration,
Of the program, and every delegat,
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