The Bottineau courant. (Bottineau, Bottineau County, N.D.) 1895-1929, 1919-07-24

The farmer or supporter of the farmers program who
sits down on his own front porch these days and fans
himself with his hat and thinks to himself: 'That last
battle finished the enemy. Now there is nothing more to
do but reap the results of the victory" is either too
,sanguine or not experienced in the ways of the enemy
that he has just helped to whip. ->
That enemy has too much at stake-too much to lose
in unearned increment-to retire to his front porch and
fan himself with a palm leaf fan and say with a scowl:
''That last defeat was a crusher. I guess 1 might as well
quit" That isn't his style. If he can not win a victory
in a contest he will take to sharp-shooting and pick off
individuals and measures and keep up guerilla warfare
from behind any convenient shelter. He NEVER quits.
It would cost him toe, much to do so. He also figures
on the farmes-not wise to the game of politics-quit-
ting and then he can retrieve some of his losses.
Any man who has read the news stories in the six
daily newspapers issued last week can understand the
guerilla warfare. This is what developed:
First: An attack upon the Bank of North Dakota,
to destroy the confidence of the people in it's strength.
It was stated that it had applied for membership in
the Federal Reserve banks, and been refused. Then it
was pointed out that it was useless-a fifth wheel in
the wagon-and if it were administered according to
law, it would be an actual damage to the state.
Second: The refusal of the railroads to recognize
the state law requiring a full crew on passenger and
freight trains. Your railroad corporation is the true
bolshevist. It is the anarchist of this country. It re-
fuses to recognize any law that does not suit it. Hence
we must bring suit to compel it to obey.
lnTU: Inc TeIuSal OF Cne same railroads TO TeCOg-
nize the. eight-hour day for women employed by them.
Private citizens are arrested and fined for failure to
obey this law. But your railroads are above such treat
ment, and the officials are privileged characters. They
are immune to fine or Imprisonment, and if a bunch
Of farmers have made a law to protect the health Of the
mothers of our race, what is that to them Were not
both women and men made equal to earn profits and
dividends for the railroads? = ~ ~ vi
Fourth: The law which reduces the freight rates in
side North Dakota to a level with those charged in
side Minnesota is still ignored by the railroads. A Sec
j. ond suit is to, be brought-the first brought by our
lightweight attorney general having been unsuccess-
ful-to secure recognition Of the power of a sovereign
state. ~ .-r. .~@%5& @s~:I& - @s28
Fifth: The instructions issued by a treacherous Sec
rotary of state to newspapers desiring to be appointed
official papers, which ignore the new law passed by the
legislature as to the qualifications Of a legal newspa-
per and refer blandly back to the old law, as though
it never existed.
Add to this the opinion of the attorney general
which he will not make public-whichfp resunes to hold
that the law passed by the farmers is not good and that
the old law, permitting three newspapers is still valid
despite both law and vote upon it.
These are five examples in one week-and there are
more. It is to be a continuous attempt to nullify, wax
en- or destroy the laws which have been enacted to full
fill the principles of the farmers organization, and any
man who sits back and loses every possible obstacle
will be put in the way of the success of the program,
is actually aiding in that despicable guerilla warfare.