The Bottineau courant. (Bottineau, Bottineau County, N.D.) 1895-1929, 1919-06-12
O. K.
SAYS LAWYER
G. M. CANNON OF ASHLEY, SUM-
MARIZEs FARMER LEGIs.
LATION.

LATION. S
G. M. Cannon, a prominent attor-
ney at Ashley, N. D., has given to his
local newspaper man signed inter-
view, embracing his views Of the Non
partisan League program and it's eff
feet upon the people Of the state. It
is chiefly interesting and valuable be-
cause it puts so much into so few
words. It is about as complete sum-
mary Of the arguments for the new
program and those against it that
can be written. Mr.. Cannon writes
his brief under the heading.
The Nonpartisan League Movement"
Three questions might be asked as
to this movement:
"First-C it be reasonbly expect
ed to prove beneficial to the farmer +?
Seconds the movement an honest
effort by those fathering it to help the
farmer?
Third-What will be the effect on
business and business and profession
ay men?"
Answering those questions in the
above order:
"It is now practically conceded that
the Nonpartisan League movement
will prove beneficial to the farmer.
Many Of the items Of the league pro-
gram such as the state hail insurance
the terminal elevator and flour mills,
the State Bank and Home Building
Association are now openly endorsed
in principle by those who are oppos-
ing the league. But they say: Let us
do it our way. We can do it better
and we are honest, while your : old
leaders who have stood by you from
the beginning when we bitterly fought
you and called you fools, ETC., are dis
honest.
Such argument could hardly be ex-
pected to work on the intelligent far
mer voters. ..
It being practically conceded by the
old opposition that the principle ele-
ments in the league program will
prove beneficial to the farmer it is
hardly necessary to set forth argu-
ment to answer the first question in
the affirmative.
Such lame attempts by misrepresen-
tation and deceit as were made by Mr..
Kozitsky to discredit the laws of the
recent legislature are themselves suf-
ficient to case a grave suspicion on his
motives and purposes. When it comes
to the public platform, Mr.. Kozitsky
failed miserably to substantiate sim
gle charge made and even his sup
porters were actually disgusted at his
lame defense of his position.
Second: It is inconceivable that the
leaders Of the league movement who
have staked their future upon the
success Of the league program would
attempt to put over anything which
will not, in their best judgment, stand
the test. I have examined the laws
passed by the recent legislature and
Iind nothing there to give alarm.
Few, if any, Of the measures are ex-
periments, as most, if not all, Of them
have been tested by many different
communities and found to be practi-
cal and beneficial measures.
Third: What helps the farmer is
bound to help business or profession
al men in an agricultural state where
we are all dependent directly on the
farmer. His prosperity is bound to
bring prosperity to us. The only busi-'
ness to suffer will be the business in
the Twin Cities which has thrived
from the condition whereby they sue
'ceeded in keeping North Dakota a
debtor state. The bank Of North Da-
kota and the terminal elevator will do
much to relieve this condition, and 1
am confident that North Dakota's re-
cent laws will. be emulated in many
other agricultural states at no far dis
tant date.-. M. Cannon"