The producers news. [volume] (Plentywood, Mont.) 1918-1937, 1919-07-25
FARMERS WIN FIGHT
Mh.0. REFERENDUM
All seven Laws Approved by
People at Special
Election.
NEW INDUSTRIES ARE SAVED
vote on issues Only Runs Far Beyond
Last Vote for Governor-Laws
VIII Have Final Majority Of
10000 to $1,000.

SioMAHCk, ~. D.-The farmer laws
prouens up for referendum before the
PeoPae on June 26 have been rein
oorseo by the people in an election
marked by many surprising features.
although dealing with issues ale e
many thousand more voters turned out
tnan in November, 1918. The farm
ers cast at least 5000 more votes for
'ne industrial legislation than they
cast FOR the popular governor, Frazier.
and about $4,000 more than they cast
Tor the amendments involving this
legislation last fall.
mere was a marked gain in the citv
stfongholds of the anti-farmer inter
ests over last year, due probably to
the better understanding labor now
mas of the farmer-labor political move
ment.
Opposition Desperate.
huge funds were sent in from the
Dig centers East and West to defeat
the Nonpartisan league in it's home
-state, and the violence and bitterness
OF the opposition surpassed that of
previous campaigns. The large insur-
ance interests alone, according to an
amdavit of a California professor.
raised $1,000,0o0 for the purpose.
Anti-farmer interests in every state
where the farmers are organizing
sent special contributions. and the
great controlled papers and magazines
throughout the nation turned their
guns On the small army of leaguers.
The opposition, better organized and
more desperate than ever before. also.
succeeded in reaching three of the
state officers elected on the farmer
platform.
But in spite of these things the peo-
PIE OF the state have given the new
legislation an Endorsement of from -.
OO0 to $4,000 and the state officials
can proceed at once to put the laws
into effect.
Attacked Whole Program.
While pretending to be in favor of
the farmer program and conseouenr
iy leaving alone the laws providing
mills and elevators, hail insurance and
tax reforms, the anti-farmer interests
attacked those laws needed to make
the industrial program success-the
Industrial commission act and the
Bank OF North Dakota act. The first
gives proper businesslike concentra-
ton of authority and responsibility
for the new state industries and the
latter gives the necessary independent
system of financing.
The failure of the bank law would
also have meant the failure of the
plan to lend money on mortgages and
on warehouse receipts for farm prod
ucts at cost. The home building act
was not attacked, but would have
been OF little use to the people With
out the state bank.
The other five laws which the opno-
sition attempted to repeal were:
The administration act, consolidat.
ing the board of control, board of re.
gents and board of education into one
board, supervising the whole field of
state penal, educational and relief ac-
tivity-an act which followed the lat.
est expert advice, in this field and
which is not followed by other states !
because it reduces the number of |
political jobs.
The tax commission act, substituting
1ne commissioner for a body of three |
IN the interest of economy and eff.
cheney.
The immigration act, providing de.
oartment such as is maintained nv
several other progressive states. with
IN appropriation of 100000 to adyer.
Use the resources of the state and
assist new settlers.
The newspaper act, which reduced
he number of official county papers
O receive public printing from three
IT more to one and put the choosing
# this paper in the hands of the
roters at the regular election. The
merit of the act was obvious; the un.
AIMED objection to it lay in the fact
hat it abolished an important wheel
a the old party political machine.
The judicial redistricting act de-
igned to simplify judicial procedure
nd equalize court work in the lower
tate courts.