The Glasgow courier. [volume] (Glasgow, Mont.) 1913-current, 1919-03-21
SOCIALISTIC NORTH DAKOTA.

SOCIALISTIC NORTH DAKOTA.
The session of the North Dakot
legislature which adjourned recent
is the most eventful in it's history
The Farmers Nonpartisan league 'ha
a two-thirds majority in each hous
and enacted into law it's entire social
istic program and the league-control1
ed governor has approved the bills.
Though novel in many respects, per
haps the most unique feature of tn
legislature was the secret caucus he'll
nightly at which matters coming be
fore the legislature on the following
day were discussed and action of tn,
league determined upon. The caucu:
regulations provided that every league
senator and representative must be
present by 8 p. M; no n could gair
admittance without a pass, no legisla.
tive committee was permitted to re.
port any bill until it had been acted
upon by the caucus, and no bill ever
could be reported to the caucus until
the league steering committee had Civ
en- its consent.
Every league legislator was pledg-
ed to vote on the floor of the senate
or house in whatever way the caucus
dictated. Since two-thirds of the
members Of the legislature were mem
bers of the Nonpartisan league, and
therefore pledged to vote as the eau
Gus dictated, the legislature of North
Dakota was really held in secret be-
hind locked doors, proceedings in the
senate and chamber and house Of rep
resentatives being merely perfunctory
and simply ratifying action taken at
the secret caucus.
The principal features Of the Non
partisan league program which have
been enacted into law are as follows:
First. Bill creating the state-own-
ed mill, elevator, warehouse and mar
keting system under which the state
can engage in the business of man.
u%facturing and marketing Of farm
products, and can establish a ware
house and flour mill system "under the
name of the North Dakota Mill and
Elevator association" The bill gives
the state the rights to enter the flour
making field and endeavor to compete
in eastern markets with the great or.
CARNATIONS in the milling centers of
the country. The state also can enter
the marketing business, and tenta.
tive plans for a state marketing sys-
tenn already are being worked out.
Second. A $5,000,000 bond issue tt
start this mammoth enterprise
Through the state-owned bank Of
North Dakota the scheme will be fl
nanced after the $4,000, 900 bond issu.
has been exhausted.
Third. The state-owned "Hom'
Building association" through which
any person can secure a $4,000 farm
OF $4,000 town home by making
small payment down, the balance t.
be amortized by monthly installment
covering a period of rs years. A BON
issue of $5,O0O,OOO is being floated TO
this enterprise and additional fund
will be supplied by the State Bank o
North Dakota.
Fourth. A $4,000. 900 bond issu
to supply funds which the state-owne
bank will loan to farmers at low rate
of interest. An interesting feature Q
this bill is the provision that in cas-
of crop failure the state shall refrai
from collecting the interest due tn
state. Since on an average Mort
Dakota has three poor crop years OF
of each five, this provision is, to sa
the least, novel. The fund availabl
for farm loans is not limited to tt
ten million secured through this Dor
issue as the entire of tt
state-owned bank are available if i
directors choose to use them for tn;
purpose.
Fifth. S~tate-owned and operated Ii,
mite mines which promise to the ia
mel cheap fuel. A large bond iss'
finances this enterprise.
Sixth. A state-owned bank viii,
will handle the state school fund al
$10,000,0 900 rural credit fund, act
depositary for all state utilities, Il
Building and Loan association and {
public funds of the state, countie
cities and districts, and will in ado
ton do a general banking bushes
receiving deposits from and makil
loans to banks, firms, corporations, a
sociations and individuals. Already e
timated of $135, 900, 1000 a