New-York tribune., 1919-04-05

TNllE result of the Nonpartisan Leagues
singuarly thorough organization of
the first Legislature in which it has
controlled majority of both houses has
been a more complete body of radical and
reformative legislation than the lawmakers
of any other state have passed in a like
sixtyday period. Whatever may be thought
of the philosophy of the league and its
leaders, can accuse them of winning
elections and forgetting pledges Whatever
may be said of Townley's political machine
it has delivered the oods-perhaps a few
more than the customer ordered. Between
the leaders, the experts and economists and
the secret caucus pretty complete mechan-
ism for achieving the basic Nonpartisan
purposes the curbng of monopoly by COM
petition and by club-has been set in
motion.
The most important task of the North
Dakota Lcgislature-an also the most rou-
tine task-was the approval of the constitu-
tional amendment voted by the people,
which authorizes the state to go into bust
ness. The second step toward the accom-
plishment of the leagues purpose was the
bill creating industrial commission of
three to manage the state industries The
commission is composed of the Governor,
the Attorney General and the State Com
missioner Of Agriculture and Labor The
Governor has the power of veto. These
three men will purchase sites for state in
dustries. (The state is authorized to exer-
else the right of eminent domain.) The
commission will choose managers and ad-
minister the industries in the larger sense
Supplanting the "Food Trust''
The next bill in order provides chat for
the purpose of promoting agriculture, COM
merce and industry, the state of North Da-
kota shall engage in the business of manu-
featuring and marketing farm products,
and for that purpose shall establish a sys-
tenn of warehouses, elevators, flour mills
factories, plants, machinery and equipments
owned, controlled and operated under the
nome of North Dakota Mill and Elevator
Association" The immediate prospect is
for terminal elevators in Fargo n d. and
flour mill at the same point. Packing and
cold storage plants may be created to take
care of the meat products of the farms,
though this seems at present secondary
undertaking. If the state finds difficulty in
uiopoolHB VI ltS pIOuuCtS on q 1alr COM
petitive basis-if what they call "big biz"
does the things that the league fears-then
the state will establish markets and even
bakeries in Eastern cities.
When this project of state-owned ele-
vator was first urged by the farmers some
years ago it was for modest undertaking.
which, from its very lack of resources.
would undoubtedly have failed Blocked in
that form by the opponents of any sort of
elevator whatever, the project is now to be
launched on most elaborate scale with a
S5,O00000 state bond issue to back it.
Also the ''Money Trust''
The next important act of the Legislat-
ure is designed partly to strengthen state
owned industries and partly to correct what
the farmers believe to be evils under which
they have suffered. 1t is the creation of
a state bank. The bank is to have So.
100000 capital supplied by the state and
all state and county Understanding with
S6O,O0O,000 school funds, about S120,0O0.-
OOU-COmn under tba