Grand Forks herald. [volume] (Grand Forks, N.D.) 1916-1955, 1919-08-19
A GREAT OPPORTUNITY

A local farmer has just called the attention Of The.
Herold to the great opportunity which the socialists who
have taken control over the state government have at
this time. 1t is possible for them. according to his view,
to demonstrate whether or not some of the statements
which they have made in the past were truthful and
further to confer an imnen benefit on the farmers in
whose interest they profess to have been working. This
opportunity lies in making good on this crop the pro-
fessions which they made with reference to the Feed d
crops of 1915. There is merit in the farmers suggestions.
1t is a well known fact that Mr.. Townley and his
felolw socialists rode into power on Feed D wheat. For
that reason they ought to entertain a kindly feeling for
that commodity. 1t is a commodity which is not usually
grown in large quantities in North Dakota. The crop
of 1915 had a larger percentage of this sort of shrunken,
shriveled wheat than had ever been known up to that
time. 1t has not been equalled since, but the crop Of
this year will contain a larger proportion of such wheat
than has been raised except in 1915. The two years.
therefore. are largely parallels.
The wheat known as Feed D wheat is small, shrunken
and light. 1t is such wheat as has been shriveled by
rust or blight and which has therefore not attained its
proper development In the grading of grain this sort
Of wheat has been placed well down on the scale In his
publicity campaign Of 1916 Mr. Townley assured the
farmers that this was all wrong. Citing DR.. Ladd of the
Agricultural college as his authority, he declared specifi-
cally that moro flour and better flour could be manu-
AdCLU1Cu ~ VI y v pOO00b Oh feeQ - wheat than out of
50 pounds Of Nc. 1 Northern wheat. This statement was
shouted from the platform, was blazoned abroad In the
press. and for all we know it may have been preached
from tho pulpit. The subject did in fact enter into the
public school curriculum as arranged by one Of Mr.. Town
lcys supporters. X.
At that time there was no way in which MI. Townley
could be challenged to make good his statements on any
considerable scale. The organization which he was form
ing was not in the flour mill business. and the state itself
had no facilities for buying or storing wheat or manu-
featuring flour. Therefore, the statements made with
reference to low grade wheat were made without the
expectation Of q demonstration, but the farmers were
assured that when once the Socialists got into power they
would no longer be subjected to the robbery which had
been perpetrated in the past. and which ran. according
to the carefully prepared and padded estimates Of DR.;
Worst, to $55. ooo,o so . year.
This year there u an opportunity for a demonstra-
ton. The farmer who called on The Herald wants that
demonstration made. and there are a lot of other farmers
who will want to know this year whether or not they
have been fed on false promises in the past. Under lests-
lation which has passed every legal test to which it has
thus Tar been subjected. the government Of the state Of
North Dakota Is today in position to buy wheat. store 1t.
and manufacture 1t into folur. It has already rented
certain properties. and 1t can rent more. Possibly II
can condemn, but at any rate 1t can equip itself with
all the staff and manufacturing facilities that it desires,
and through its authority to sell bonds and to engage in
a general banking business 1t can buy and pay for all
the wheat that may be offered. Absolutely no limits are
placed upon the scope Of its operations It il manifesny
tho duty Of Messrs. Townley. Fraaier, Ladd, worst, ct a.,
to 200 to 1t that the farmers Of North Dakota receive
enough for their low Grade wheat this year to demon
strats that the statements which they have made in the
past wsrs truthful and were made in good faith. II they
fail TO make the attempt they Will be convicted at once
Of bad faith by every man who has = buahel Of wheat