The Bottineau courant. (Bottineau, Bottineau County, N.D.) 1895-1929, 1919-07-31
THE DRIFT

Call the roll of states where the downmost man
the worker-has gone over into the struggle for indus
trial democracy in America in our time and will soon
be fighting shoulder to shoulder with the farmer. Con-
necticut, New York, Pennsylvania, Ohio, Illinois, Wis
consin, Minnesota, North Dakota, Washington. Name
the states where the giant labor is preparing to take
this vital step-Missouri, Colorado, Montana, Utah,
California and Idaho.
The biggest and most significant drift of the times in
America is this movement of labor toward an %independ-
et struggle to place the great industrial and financial
institutions under the control of the people and the big
gest and most significant fact connected with this move
ment is the fact that in every state where labor is
breaking away from it's old reactionary affiliations it is
drifting inevitably to some sort of political alliance with
the farmers.
There are echoes of his contemplated fighting agree
ment or alliance in the far-off Connecticut and New
York labor parties. In Illinois the alliance is outspok-
en- and direct and followed a visit of Governor Frazier
and w. S. Mcdonald, president Of the North Dakota
Federation of Labor, to the convention Of the Illinois
Labor party. In Wisconsin the Labor Federation re-
Gently declared in favor Of such an alliance and speci-
fcally named the National Nonpartisan League. In
North Dakota the two wings of the eagle of democracy
have been Tapping in unison for two years and labor
will definitely organize to flap some more this fall. In
Washington the two great fundamental elements of
democracy are drawing rapidly together. It remained
for Minnesota to point the way and set the pace on the
recent organization at New Ulm Of the Working Peo-
DC . OUD0 1V1S0x AO0EOC AA AAAS0V NA A6~AAA~
ton of labor almost identical with the farmers Non
partisan League in character, aims and purposes, and
designed to work in perfect accord with it.
Phophecying is unsafe and should be left to prophets.
But we will take a chance on the prediction that the
Minnesota way will be followed-that labor will be-
come a nAonpartisan political organization and will take
care of the cities while the farmers take care Of the
townships, and that this great two-winged movement
is Americas new bird Of freedom
The official count of the vote on the referred laws
shows that the banking bill and the industrial commits
sion law received 5000 more votes than were received
by Governor Frazier in the preceding election. This is
a remarkable victory. Men always attract votes more
strongly than measures, especially men like Governor
Frazier. The bank and commission measures were
colossal adventures in public ownership SO far as North
Dakota is concerned. Taxpayers cast an increased
vote for this venture in the face of a great attempted
tax scare and incredible lying, trickery and intimida-
+tion on the part Of the opposition. The !. Y. A. are
whisting merely to keep UP their courags@
w. R. Lee, for the last ten years publisher Of the
Antler American, will he~nceforth be connected with the
Farmers Advocate of2this city, according to announce
ment made last week BY Lee The Antler American
has9been discontinued, the Subscription Int having BEEN
sold to the Westhope Standard