Grand Forks herald. [volume] (Grand Forks, N.D.) 1916-1955, 1918-04-25
JAS. CUMMING
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SlVSS d1lQ. NSdSO1S III Let.
ter to League Campaign
Manager.
James Cumming. of Davidson. for
sofa state legislature, has declineed
the .Nonpartisan league endorsement
for ~reselection. In a letterstOssGhas.
wv. Barnes, campaign manager o
1.-THE league, he, very forcefully informs
the league officials Why it is impossi-
BILE for; him to accept the leagues en--
dorsement. First and foremost. he
says, he is loyal and anxious to sup
port the government at every turn.
and, therefore, 1t is impossible. for
him to make the race on the league
ticket.
Mr.. Cumming was in Grand Forks
last night. While here he recited
some Of his experiences with the
league. Some time ago he received a
pledge card from the league head
quarters for his signature. He was
the league program at all times and
such measures as the league officials
dictate.
II could not do that" said Mr..
Cumming last night. ut would be
absolutely wrong for a man to pledge
| himself to support a program he
knows nothing about. and I refuse to
do it. l am against this class dis
tinction. anyway. 1t is wrong at all
times. but especially at this time. Now
il ever we should all be behind the
government. and that is where want
to be. 1t looks rather bad to me to
see the Nonpartisan league retain on
its roll men who have been convicted
of disloyalty."
Referring to Mr.. Townley, he said:
The first radical statement of Town
'ey's that came as a shock to me was
the n to the effect that the war
find that statement rather difficult
to answer"
The Nonpartisan league call for a
caucus preceding the county onven
ton was not to Mr.. Cummings lik-
ing:
who were not close to big business
that isn't class distinction, don't
know what is"
Mr.. Cummings letter to Mr.. Barnes
follows:
Manager. National N6npartisan
League. St. Paul, MINI.
Dear Sir: Your favor Of the 18th
inst. regarding candidacy by me for
the position of state senator for this
legislative district, at hand. l was
absent from Polk county at the time
was endorsed by the N%onpartisan
league. 1 nave given the matter very
serious consid eration.
About two years ago. I became a
member of the Nonpartisan league. I
felt then INC still feel that it was
proper m right for the farmers to
organize to the end that matters con-
corning their welfare be considered
by them collectively and collective ac-
ton be taken where their interests
as citizens were concerned. I was
not then and am not now in favor of
class distinction amongst our people
and in all my past. as a citizen n a
member of the legislature, ! have OPP
posed any favoritism to any class of
people n am opposed to any plan
which seeks to, or may array one
class Of our people against another.
| believe the farmers can organize,
can promote and protect their inter-
ests without ~antagonizing. any other
class of people. We are living in a
democracy where the vote of the
richest man counts no more than the
vote of-the poorest. aAd in my opin-
ion. the rights of one as a citizen of
this republic does not exceed the
right of the other.
Much has been said and written
regarding the N~onpartisan league.
Much is claimed by the league. I
deliver an address. He talked for
nearly an hour: he criticised much.
but in all the time he talked ! dc, not
recall that he said n good word for
the government of the United States.
I have read of the conviction of Off
GERS of the league on charges of dis
loyalty in the courts of our state. 1
have not as yet observed that any
OF the persons so convicted have lost
their positions as officers of the
league. l am an American citizen,
naturalized as such. l came to this
country to better my condition. i ac-
iQuired 160 acres of government land
under the beneficent act of congress
in that respect. l have p]rospered
within reason. have enjoyed, I.helieve.
the confidence and respect OF my
courts Of this land ready TO redress
any grievance: I nave never been in
terfered with in the right of suffrage:
my ballot, SO far as / know. has al
ways been counted as cast. l am
first and foremost for the United
STATES OF America MY family reel
as I do about this. and at this critical
time in the history of the world when
the democracy of this country and of
the world is in danger. l believe that
there is no question superior to the
question of loyalty, l. wish my 10y
atty to be above suspicion. l have
every respect for the loyalty OF the
farmers who belong to the Nonparti-
san league in this county. 1 know
hundreds Of them: and l know they
are loyal, and nothing that l say in
this letter is intended to in the least
question that loyalty, but in view OF
the atmosphere which surrounds the
mana cement in which !, though a
: member, have never had a voice or a
vote. l must at this time. because, as
l have heretofore stated, 1 am deter
mined that my loyalty shall be above
suspicion decline the endorsement
which has been made Of me as a
candidate. for state senator.
I fully realize much injustice, as af-
fecting rot only the farmers but all
classes of people remains to be rem
edied, perhaps the day will never
come so long as human nature re-
mains as it is when injustice to a
greater. or less extent does not exist,
but as heretofore stated. at this time
our counsels. in my opinion, should
not be divided. and our efforts should
he concentrated on one big question,
the winning of this war and therahy