Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1919-08-05
pAKoTA's FARMER RULE.
Government In Control Of Man Who
Wouldn't Stick To Pios.

Sovernment In Sontrol OF man Wh(
Wouldn't Stick To Pigs.
And now the wheels are beginning tc
turn in the strange governmental
| machine which for three years the
farmers of North Dakota have beer
building through the instrumentality OF
the National Non partisan league, says
| a Fargo, North Dakota dispatch. II
through the demonstration here, the
farmers prove themselves to be en-.
gineers of statecraft, then 1t is possible
that the league ma yrealize its definite
! ly expressed ambition of establishing
its machine in the capitols Of all the
northwestern agricultural states and
seizing within a few years the poll
tical balance Of power" Of the nation
The Bank of North Dakota already
is in technical operation at Bismarck
Plans are being formulated for the
building Of at least two state-owned
terminal grain elevators and mills,
which will handle the wheat of the
farmers upon terms which the farmers
themselves will dictate. A home build
ing scheme, calculated to bring char
acter rather than cash into the state,
only awaits starting Of the financial
mechanism to put 1t to practical test.
The state conducted workman's COM
pensation act already is effective and
today saw the first premium payment
at Bismarck
Eight Hours for Women.
Women in Fargo and In other towns
throughout the state today began re-
minding employers that under the new
arrangement they can work no more
than eight hours day and six days a
week. Returned soldiers and sailors
are making inquiries as to how they
may take advantage of the act where
by they can buy land and build home
at the expense of the state, or more
definitely upon a compensation Jar<
rangement whereby they are paid $25
month for every month served with
the colors. The new board Of admin
instration of educational institutions,
made up of five persons, has taken
over the educational, correctional and
charitable institutions and now holds
the power ever to write the text books
of the school children and, If 1t wishes,
to direct the teaching of non-partisan
league principles.
A new freight rate within the state
only awaits REIMBURSEMENT Of federal
railroad control to make possible
wheat shipments to the proposed ele-
vators at rate never dreamed Of be-
fore. An immigration commissioner
who in reality is to fulfill functions of
state press agent, is ready to begin
July 2s the spending Of 100000 ap-
propriated by the former legislature.
Peculiar Organization.
A peculiar organization is the nom
partisan league, backed by peculiar
men who propose to accomplish Pc
culiar things. But the antagonism of
the league and its measures is not Pc
culiar. The arguments used against
the organization and Its political ac-
complishments are the same argu-
ments used generally against a regime
of Socialism.
It is pointed out first and to some
extent admitted by the league leaders,
that the purpose is to array the farm
ers and the labor organizations against
the other elements Of the nation; that
the league Is promulgating a class war.
1t lis charged also, and again tactily
admitted, that the men who now will
control the finances and government of
the state are men who never have
been successful in handling their own
business or their own farms.
The inspiration for the league and
for the present farmer rule in North
Dakota dates to January, 1915, when a
member of the state legislature pro-
mulgated the proposition that the
farmer should concern himself with
Stopping pigs rather than In mixing
in governmental projects.
Then A. C. Townley, one time bank
rupt farmer, conceived the idea Of the
farmers league and today he has come
to be mentioned-by his friends-as a
some time presidential possibility.
For long time the farmers Of the
state had been complaining because
the wheat they shipped to the Min
neapolis elevators was graded and
docked according to standards deter
mined within the mysterious depths of
the Minneapolis chamber Of commerce.
It was described that state-owned
elevator would be the solution, and In
1914 an amendment to the state con-
stitution provided for the erection Of
such an inspiration.
Lesson in Canada.
The then governor, l. B. Hanna,
sent a commission to Canada to see the
wheels go round the Dominion owned
elevator systom. The commission re-
turned, announcing that it was pre-
pared to report unfavorably upon the
project. The report was to be issued
during the legislative session Of jan
uary, 1915. About 1000 farmers made
a pilgrimage to Bismarck and as many
as possible jammed themselves into
the assembly chamber.
There was wordy battle between
the commissioner end spokesmen for
the farmers. The classic advice to the
farmers was issued; go home and
slop your pigs" The next day Town
ley, the unsuccessful farmer, began a
sojourn from farm to farm.
In June, 1916, came the next pri-
mary election. Townley's organization
Of farmers named practically the en-
tire Republic ticket. And the ticket
was elected. But there remained
twenty-six hold-overs in the state. and
these constituted majority sufficient
to kill the measure sent up from the
non-partisan league house.
Came the November election Of 1918.
The farmers, kept everlastingly whip
ped into indignation by Townley and