The Ward County independent. [volume] (Minot, Ward County, N.D.) 1902-1965, 1919-06-19
Albert MOrk Writes in Favor of the
Seven Bills to Be Referred.

| Seven Bills to BE Referred.
Des Laos, June 10th, 1919
The Ward County Independent,
~ Minot, N. D.
Dear Editor:
In your issue of June 18th are three
letters discussing the questions to be
voted on at the referendum. One is
from certain soldier. We will take
our hats off for the soldiers who
fought to make the world safe. But
we cannot admire this letter as it
breathes with prejudice and unfair
ness from beginning to end. We can
not see any argument against these
bills because certain Carl D. Thomp-
son is radical socialist and from
Milwaukee. We cannot see how it can
be an argument that Thompson is
sent out by the Municipal Voters
League of Fargo, also socialist. To us
farmers it makes no difference who
speaks for the bills. Are the laws
drawn to operate in the interest of
all the people? That is the question
That is what counts. We are not vet so
Prussianized that because a man is a
socialist or something else he shall
not be allowed to speak.
The letter Of Farmer S. H. Pitkin
is. indeed great production, covering
two pages. He goes into considerable
figuring to show we are not able to
finance the terminal elevator propo-
sition. According to his claim, it
will cost one million dollars to build
and equip one mill with sufficient ele-
vator and that it will take 100 such
for the state. Also. that it will require
10000 900 to finance them after
they are built. This looks formidable,
if true. The wheat production of the
northwest is enormous but up to the
present time there has been no diff
Guilty in handling the crop through the
elevators and mills that are now
built. Now. everyone knows that
these elevators and mills are built
and financed by small fraction of one
per cent of the people. How can it
be that when comparatively small
part of the people can finance propo-
sition without trouble that all the
people cannot do it? Is it not more
than likely that we have already fur
nished the money with which these
have been financed? 1t is claimed by
competent authority that we are swim
died out Of 55,0O0,000 a year on the
average North Dakota crop. At that
rate it would not take many years to
save the cost of the elevators and
mills.
Now here is the proposition stated
in plain English: For every dollar
the consumer pays for produce raised
by the farmer, IS gents goes to the
farmer and 65 cents goes to the mid
die men. Experts claim these pro
ducts can be brought from the farm
er to the consumer for Is cents and
that this covers all legitimate charges
transportation, profits and all. This
shows there is so cents of unearned
charges or graft between producer
and consumer. We propose to divide
this between the two. Then for pro
ducts that the consumer now pays
one dollar. he will pay Is cents. Out.
Of these IS cents, the farmer will get
81 cents and the middle men will get
Is cents. Now, if Is cents is suffic-
lent charge to cover all expenses and
legitimate profits, why shall they be |
allowed to hold us up for IS cents
so cents of which is pure graft?
This SO cents of extra profits isl
what causes all this pproar. If that
had not been at stake, it is safe to say
the Chamber of Commerce would have
been willing to have let us tried these
laws out. Mr.. P. says the state must
not 90 into business or industry of I
any kind to help the people as that
would interfere with competition We
must not do anything to help our
selves through our government. The
government is simply to be an umpire
to see that the people individually be-
have nicely. while a few. organized |
collectively into a trust. control the /
markets and by proper manipulation,
raise and lower them at will. This is
the right idea for the Chamber of !
Commerce crowd The farmers Of
North Dakota are IS per cent of the /
people of the state. These farmers
have tired of this umpire doctrine. /
Therefore. they have decided that the
nroper function of any good govern
ment should be to protect the people (
against the combinations organized to
control the markets under pay when
the farmer sells and overcharge when
the consumer buys. This is the cause
that PRODUCED the League -not Town
~. Townley is simply one of many
pushed along by this underlying
cause. Blind must be the man who
can see nothing but Townley in this
movement. We are going to correct
this so cent abuse and, therefore, must
have the Elevator Bill. To make that
we must have the Bank Bill
and to make this workable, we must I
have the Industrial Commission BILL.
We will also carry along the other
bills for try out. With our initia-
tive. referendum and recall, we are
absolutely safe and the people are
protected from abuse by their elected
officers. When we get the recall at
our next election, we can recall every
member of the commission should we
desire. You know the opposition will