The producers news. [volume] (Plentywood, Mont.) 1918-1937, 1918-11-22
GREAT PROGRESS OF
LEAGUE PLAN SHOWN
BY NOV. 5 ELECTIONS

stacles and Unusually Vicious
Plunderbund Tactics-Well Pre-
pared for Showdown in 1920.
The delayed election returns from
the Northwestern states show that
the organized farmers and organized
workers, who combined forces to Sc
cure political representation, have
made very important gains in the
last two years. They show that the
League idea, which spread from North
Dakota to Is other states after the
farmer-labor victory there in 1916,
has gotten well established in the
minds of these producers. The next
two years ought to see wonderful
development of this effective alliance
of the common people.
In North Dakota the League has
again carried the state ticket. 1t has
increased is representation in the as
sembly. 1t has for the first time Sc
cured control of the senate, the hold
over members of which were able to
block much reform legislation in the
1917 session. 1t has grabbed all the
congressman, three in number, as OPP
posed to the one it had previously.
1t has secured the place in the SUI
preme court to be filled this year. It
has passed constitutional amend
ments which open the way to effec-
tive laws in the interest of the peo-
pie. The North Dakota people had
two years Of government by real
representatives of the common peo-
pie and they showed their apprecia-
ton of the new order by their votes.
GAINS IN NEW STATES
Outside of North Dakota the
League and labor have secured over
100 state legislators, who will make
the interests of these classes heard
in the legislatures of six states. In
Minnesota it has elected one state
officer and one congressman. In
Montana the two state officers. up for
election In Idaho the two United
States senators Endorsed by the
League were elected and one state
officer, the state treasurer.
By. running second to the success
full old party candidates in Minnesota
and South Dakota, the League and
labor alliance becomes the dominant
opposition to the plunderbund in
these states. Montana and Idaho
have shown great League strength.
All that is needed to make the
League successful in these states in
1920 is further organization of the
farmers and the spread Of the gospel
among the city workers. The cleo
ton results indicate that the League
wins the organized rural territory
and the city votes where the workers
have had a chance to get the issues
straight.
LEGISLATIVE RESULTS
In Minnesota the League and la
Dor viii have at least Is state sena-
tors out of 81, and SO house members
out of 134, something that has not
happened since the old Farmers alli-
ance days. They will form a solid
block for the reform program which
will put the other members on re-
cord for 1920 and which will prob
ably put across a good deal of the
present program.
In South Dakota there will be ut
least five state senators and eight
representatives, probably more when
the return are all in. The situation
in this state is peculiar in that both
old parties Endorsed the League pro-
gram to secure the votes and so are
bound to carry it out. With repre-
sentation in both houses the League
men will give them chance to go on
record. The principle of '1et the old
gang do it," however, will probably
be found very disappointing and the
voters of South Dakota will be thor
oughly dissatisfied with their trust In
politicians before 1920 comes around.
Montana will have not less than
Is League and labor men in the low
er house and four in the upper. Ida
no will have 10 assemblymen and six
senator's, possibly more. Nebraska
one senator and seven assemblymen.
In the latter state, with a member
ship of slightly more than 10000,
the League polled 10000 votes. Col
orado will have two senator's and two
assemblymen.
GREAT OBSTACLES MET
In none of these states outside OF
North Dakota are the farmers as yet
fully organized There has not been
81 r4lJ:L.-- L. -