The Fargo forum and daily republican. [volume] (Fargo, N.D.) 1894-1957, 1918-06-03
LEAGUE HEADS
ATTACK BRINGS
HOT REPLY FROM
GOPHER FARMER.
Attempts To Discredit
Cumming, Polk County
r Man, Divorce Support
LEAGUES PAPER
TURNS DOWN LETTER
Wouldn't Give Space To
appeal For Fair Play.
) And Honesty

Crookston, Mimi, June 8.--How
The Minnesota Leader, official organ
in Minnesota Of the Nonpartisan
league. refused to give space to a
letter submitted by a league member,
asking that fair and honest treat
ment be accorded to James Cum
ming. the Polk county farmer who
recently declared his independence Of
the Townley rule and announced that
Americanism is first in these days,
is told by 0. T. Onneland, of Sulli-
van township, Polk county, in letters
he has made public through The
sCrookston Times.
! Subsequent to Mr. Cummings an
nouncement that he would not sign
Townley's pledge, under which he, in
order to receive the support Of the
league at the primaries, even though
endorsed in convention, would have
been bound to follow the die
tates of the league leaders, the Non
partisan papers began publishing at
tacks upon Cumming, calling him
an enemy of the farmer" and de-
claring he had been ''repudiated by
the league"
. Mr.. Cumming is a pioneer Polk
county resident who declared, in a
recently published letter, that he
could no longer stand for the Town
ley propag anda against the govern
Tnent, and he declined to be the
leagues candidate for the senate. He
is, however, a candidate Independent
of league support.
The following letters throw addi-
tional light on the subject:
Editor Times, Crookston, Mimi:
The following letter was sent by me
to The Minnesota Leader, the organ
of the Nonpartsan league, in this
state, for the reason that I believed
that this publication was iniuring the
league cause and doing an injustice
to the farmers of this country in
making false statements about Hon.
James Cumming, who is a. candidate
for state senator from this district.
The Minnesota Leader failed to
publish this letter, thus showing its
utter unfairness and confirming the
impression in the minds of Polk
county farmers that the statements
1t published were not because Of ig-
norancs OF the facts but with the de-
Hibernate intention of deceiVing the
members OF the Nonpartisnn league
in this and other counties of the
state.
Under these circumstances I ask
The Times to publish the letter in
order that the farmers of the coun-
ty may know the facts
The letter lis as follows:
May %, 1918.
TO the Editor of The Minnesota
Leader, st. Paul, Mimi:
Dear Sir--In your issue Of May II
you devoted considerable space to a
criticism of the Hon. James Cum
ming, of Polk county, because Of his
attitude to the leaders of the Nom
partisan league and attempted to
class Mr.. Cumming with those OPP
posed to the farmers You also stated
in the article referred to that the
farmers have repudiated Mr.. Cum
ming.
B. Now, ASIA farmer and MEM
, Der of AheF Nonpartisan league, |
hope you will grant me a little
space. 20 correct the statements
made in your article. Anyone
atteHlpting1to class MIR. Cumming
with those, opposed to legisa-
must Be be- to3aiIv &c iano S"Y [ Of tSe
man and his record in the legis-
Iature. He has always been
right open and above board and
we are proud to have such
representative, and the farmers
will not desert, Mr.. Cumming, one
Of their best friends, regardless
d, OF his attitude towards the Nom
partisan league leaders.
The writer was a delegate and took |
part in the convention which endors- |
ed Mr.. Cumming. About two months |
prior to the convention the temper !
ance people asked Mr.. Cumming to |
become their candidate for the state !
senate. Mr.. Cumming accepted, and !
later received a unanimous endorse |
ment by the temperance forces of the |
district. Now, Mr.. Cumming was en-
dorsed by the Nonpartisan league |
convention, and by the temperance |
forces not because Of his special fit |
ness for the office Of state senator, |
having always been true to his con- |
stituents both in his stand in tenn |
perance matters and also on Iegisla- |
ton looking for a square deal for the |
farmers.
We have known MIR. Cumming for
many years and regard him highly, |
both as a prfvatetcitiZen and as a leg
islator, and any attempt to cast re-
f1ections on him at this time will be |
resented by his fellow ia mers, to- |
Eether with all other citizens Of Polk |
county.
MIR. Cummings declaration of
, loyalty to his country and to the
government appeals TO US as of
the utmost Importance at this
time of crisis In world affairs, az
we believe all other questions
can be subordinated for the pres
emit.
Mr.. Cumming is we'll known
and was chosen because of his
Integrity both in public and pri-
vats life, and any effort TO dis
credit him at this time will only
add TO his support, ais the people
of Polk county believe in square
deal.
also believe that a public office is
a public trust and the holder of that |
office should be answerable to thei
people whom he represents and not |
to some outside influence, We be-
lieve Mr. Cumming will fearlessly and |
conscientiously represent the people |
Of Polk county, therefore, we predict I
his nomination and election by a |
most decisive vote.
In the interests Of truth and justice |
j ask you to publish this letter. I !
am, most sincerely yours,
o. II. ONNELAND,
Township Of Sullivan. Polk County.
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