The Ward County independent. [volume] (Minot, Ward County, N.D.) 1902-1965, 1919-06-19

cause the defeat Of these most vicious
measures on the Goth.
So far l have spoken in sixteen of
the towns and cities of the state, and
! have had some splendid meetings.
For the first time since Townleyism
became rampant in our state, do the
people seem willing to listen to facts
and anxious to hear the truth. In
most audiences the majority of those
present have been farmers and men,
bers of the League. A year ago, many
of these people would have refused to
listen to any criticism of Townleyism,
Socialism, or of any of the bills for
which the League legislators had vot-
ed, no matter how just and right such
criticism was. Now, they seem not
only willing to listen, but anxious to
hear the facts and willing to receive
the truth and to determine their own
political thinking and action. This is
the most hopeful sign of the times.
1t has been said that we have three
classes of citizens: the Leaguers, the
AntiLeaguers and the Non-Leaguers.
The Leaguers are those who will stand
for anything that Townley, Lemke and
Mills want, no matter how wrong or
bad it may be- The Anti-Leaguers
are those who are against anything
that the League wants, no matter how
right or beneficial it may be. Then
the Non-Leaguers are those who rec
ognlze that there are wrongs to be
righted, and are anxious to set them
right, but who believe that they should
be righted in the best possible way,
so that in removing what was evil be-
for we do not introduce or permit
greater evils to take their place. Many
of these so-called Non-Leaguers are
members of the Nonpartisan League
but they are men who insist upon do
ing their own political thinking and
are not satisfied merely to register
the opinion of the political boss. For
tunately for the state this last class
is growing rapidly this year. and is
gaining converts, both from the Leag-
uers and from the Anti-Leaguers UNI
til we will soon find that the majority
of the voters of our state will belong
to this class; gathering the facts in
regard to each bill, seeking the truth
and voting according to their judg-
lnent on each bill adopting those
which are good and rejecting those
which are bad.
I have made it point to be abso-
lutely fair to the opposition in all my
speeches, basing my arguments upon
provable facts only. The people of
this stae are getting tired of eharing
abuse, villification, swearing and smut
ty statements from the public plat
form and they demand facts and argu-
ments. They also make complaint
that the League speakers, imported
from every part of the country, do not
discuss the seven bills to be voted
upon, except very indirectly, but de-
vote their time to abuse of certain men
and papers and to the discussion of the
general doctrines of socialism, inter-
nationalism and political dscontent.
This is becoming somewhat tire
some and they are, therefore, glad to
have the chance to listen to any speak
err, who will analyze and discuss the
seven bills to be voted upon on the
26th. When they find out what the
bills contain and what the effect of
the adoption of these bills would be,
there is little trouble in convincing
them that the welfare of our state and
the best interests Of the Taxpayers of
the state demand that these bills
should be defeated
I am personally very anxious that
the Mill and Elevator projects should
be tried out, and I find that all over
the state the farmers who belong to
the League and others who do not, are
especially anxious that this measure
be given a fair trial under manage
ment that is both experienced, effic-
lent and honest. They are much dis
appointed that the Governor did not
permit the voters to vote upon the
four initiative measures at the same
time that they voted upon the seven
referred measures, as they would then
have a chance to express their senti-
ment on these laws without any addi-
tional cost to the people Of our state.
personally hone that when this
election is over, that a time can be
found convenient for the farmers
when we may have chance to vote
upon those four initiative measures,
so that we may be sure that the Mill
and Elevator Association bill will
have a chance of fair trial at the
earliest possible moment.
Mrs, A. Johnston of Cookshire,
Province of Quebec, is visiting at the
bore of her sister. Mrs. Walter Nit
- -