The Bottineau courant. (Bottineau, Bottineau County, N.D.) 1895-1929, 1919-09-25

uon Of natural resources, Mr.. Hamp-
ton continues:
1.-THE natural resources OF America,
basic raw material for all Industries,
are largely. monopolized Il private
ownership, while the United States
congress is attempting practically to
give away it's resources yet remaining
under public ownership" CA reference
to the infamous oil and mineral leas.
ing bill recently passed by the senate
A Strange Farmer.
There is a new assistant secretary
of agriculture in Mr.. Houston's pri.
vate cabinet and If any farmer in the
United States knows more about him
than the department of agriculture has
SO far been disposed to make public
=, they know more than n Of the
farmer representatives now in Wash
ington. @,= s IT,.
The name of the gentleman is James
R. Riggs, and he succeeds the lament
ed Clarence Ousley, who recently
graduated from the department of agri-
culture. to the post of first vice presi-
dent of the Navy league and editor of
its publication, "Sea Power" From
this lofty position Mr.. Ousley is now
urging the United States to build the
biggest navy in the world and damn
the expense.
The office of information of the de-
partment Of agriculture tells the world
that Mr.. Riggs "is a farmer by hered-
ity," as proof of which It states that
his grandfather Hezekiah Riggs, was
horn ON a farm In Doudoun county, Va,
In 1871. A few significant hints about
the present Mr.. Riggs are, however,
allowed to escape. For instance, the
department admits:
while devoting his energies pri-
marily to farming operations, Mr..
! Riggs has found time both for other
business enterprises and for public at
fairs. For a number of years he was
active in the development Of the coal,
oil and gas industries of his Sec
ton. For II years he was president
of a trust company. Since 1912 he has
drain tile"
The Drouth Aid Bill.
Secretary of Agriculture Houston
has definitely and finally refused to
give any support whatsoever to the
Sinclair .drouth relief bill.
At, a conference between Houston
and the Nonpartisan congressman this
week the secretary of agriculture re-
iterated his sympathy" with the prob
lens of the drouth-stricken farmers of
the Northwest, but asserted that it
was not for him to attempt to influence
congress in this matter. Without the
Endorsement of the secretary of agri-
culture the Sinclair bill, carrying an
appropriation of 5 $1,000, 900 to be loaned
for seed grain and feed purchase, will
not be f%avorably reported from the ap.
preparations committee.
Former Congressman Lever, now a
member of the federal farm loan
board, who is an enthusiastic support
err Of the Sinclair bill, accompanied
the North Dakota congressman. on his
visit to Houston.
In the course of his conversation
with Sinclair and. Lever, Secretary
Houston observed that q hasty visit
he made to Montana a year ago this
month had shaken his faith In the
This is but one of a number Of recent
statements indicating that the depart
ment Of agriculture would prefer to
have many northwestern farmers 60
out of business rather than give them
aid in solving their problems.
Railroad Sabotage.
Due to urgent representations made
to the railroad administration by Rep
r%esentative ,Baer of North Dakota,
there is now some assurance that suf-
ficient ars for grain and other food
product shipments wild be hencef0rth
available in the Northwest. The car
service section of the railroad admin
istration has promised Mr.. Baer that
all available ''empties' will be rushed
to shipment centers Of North Dakota
without delay.
There is evidence that the recent
abnormal q shortage in the North
west is not altogether due to natural
causes. There are a number Of power
full forces that viii stop at nothing to
discredit government operation OF the
~railfoads, and the favorable. reception
given to the Plumb plan, providing
permanent government ownership Of
the roads, in Nonpartisan territory has
awakened much anxiety in these quar-
tiers. Steps seeking TO discredit gov
eminent operation, as part OF the
propaganda to have the roads returned
to their private owners, are now to
be taken in the Northwest, it ID nm
derstood.
After the Sfnn Fein party in Ireland
had won q political victory, the Eng.
lish government decided that. # was
necessary Ia, abolish this political
party ~ goverpmrlennt proclamation
and force 81 arms, Yet England aprs-
J tended 70 ad1oclts eslf-deterfmin1lttonl
|. Tor m peopllss. ! T' Iss \