Grand Forks herald. [volume] (Grand Forks, N.D.) 1916-1955, 1919-03-11
Estate IS TO
BUILD THEM
FOR BUYERS
! Scheme is Similar to That
of Farm Loan
Societies.
BUYERS LEAGUE
FORMED BY TEN
City Homes Must Not Cost
More Than Five Thou
sand Dollars.
(By Geo. A. Benson.)

Walter Thomas Mills, advisor extra
ordinary to A. c. Townley and
Bishop" William Lemke, pilots Of
the National Nonpartisan league, is
doing his best to make North Dakota
a Utopia. Mills spent some years in
New Zealand, where he assimilated
all the socialistic ideas and principles
needed in North Dakota. But when
he was put on the pay roll Of the
Nonpartisan league, he Immediately
began planning his American Utopia.
and North Dakota was picked for the
experiment.
Some days before the sixteenth leg
islative assembly-the assembly that
was destined, unbeknownst to the
greater part of it's membership, to
make this state the Socialist labora-
tory Of America-convened in Bis
marck, Mills appeared at the capital
and secured quarters on the third
floor of the Mckenzie hotel. On the
fourth floor were four rooms which
were leased by Lemke for Nonparti-
san league, headquarters. In the
Ing the final draft of his plans to foist
Socialism upon the state. He was a
frequent caller at headquarters; he
ran back and forth, papers dangling
from both hands. He never waited
for the elevator, for that savored too
much Of corporations, and besides, a
little man who dreams over-much OF
Jtopias and hog farms in California
needs exercise.
There, in. the quietness of that
room, came the idea for the Home
!. Building association, the state-con-
trolled organization which is to pro-
~
for those who would like to join the
'Nonpartisan league and raise hogs.
When Kate Richards O'Hare, who
must spend five years in federal prt-
son for sedition, visited the room, she
probably was told about this Home
Building association. Max Eastman
editor Of The Liberator, which Is The
Masses under new name, surely
must have heard of it, when he en-
tered that room. One of these days,
within covers that are as near the
Red Flag as one can get, Eastman un-
doubtedly will tell his readers of it.
Little wonder, then. that Mills was
deeply moved when Lynn ]. Frazier
signed the Home Building association
bill to the strains Of Home sweet
Home" and the clicking of motion
picture camera. 1t was quite pathetic
quite moving, quite impressive to
Mills; there was nothing ludicrous
aoout it, so far as he was concerned
for he heard the orchestra pealing
forth Utopian symphony and in the
glare Of the electric lights he saw the
League Of Brothers a reality and ia
hogs lazily. strolling across the plain'
of North Dakota.
When that afternoons performance
was over, one Of the leagues publicit.
agents was walking home with hi!
wife and Twin City newspaper man
a member Of the "kept press"
my wasn't it impressive!" said tn
woman. "Just think, the tears rolle'
down Mr.. Mills cheeks when the or
chestra played Home SWeee'"
Impressive. indeed! =
But this bill is on the statute book
and 1t will stay there. It will not b
referred to the people at the forth
coming special referendum. The onl,
change contemplated is an amend
ment removing control Of the associa