The producers news. [volume] (Plentywood, Mont.) 1918-1937, 1920-02-06
REVOLUTION ON
IN GRAND FORKS
CITIZENS, IN BOOSTING FOR
MILL, ENDORSE LEAGUE PRO-
GRAM AND PRINCIPLES IN
SPEECHES.

"People are criticizing North Dako-
ia and its people in way that is en-
tirely unjust. We have one of the
finest states in the Union and we
have nothing to apologize for. I was
in the east recently on business and
a man said to me: "How are things
out in that Bolshevik state 2"
II resent that sort of thing and l
told this man so. I told him some
things about what we are doing out
here and what we are working for.
believe the farmers are entitled to
work for the things they want in an
orderly way and as good American
citizens and when people who don't
know what they are talking about
call them 'Bolsheviki' resent it.
II know our governor personally
and l tell you that there is not a
better and squarer citizen anywhere
than Governor Frazier"
These are not remarks made by any
League member or speaker; they are
not made by any imported socialist or
carpet-bagger speaker; they are not
made by a nonresident sojourner in
the state. THEY ARE MADE by a
resident of Grand Forks, John Nc
4f1AUo1 REPRESENTATIVE VI t1k0 XutCI.
national Harvester Co., at mill and
elevator rally held at Grand Forks,
Jan. ID, which was attended by 400
farmers and nearly as many Grand
Forks business men.
JUST A SAMPLE
Mr.. McManus' remarks are just a
sample of the style of talks given
that evening by such men as R. B.
Griffith, proprietor of one of the lead
ing department stores; P. A. McCler-
nan, attorney; w. E. Small, manager
of the St. Hilaire Lumber Co., and
others. All precluded their remarks
with the statement that they were
not Nonpartisan Leaguers-but, they
wanted that mill and elevator because
it was good for them and for the
city. Socialism is a bad thing for the
state as whole, but a little Of it,
applied locally to Grand Forks, is not
HAD EXPERT ON JOB.
Before these cool-headed business
men warmed up over the mill propo-
sition and became enthusiastic, they
quietly employed an expert engineer
to look over the field and tell them if
the "game were worth the candle"
His report set them going. The mill
would add as much as $500 an acre
to the value of the farm land; it
would be the nucleus around which
other business would gather; it would
mean division Of the immense bust
ness now going to the Twin Cities and
the retention of it in North Dakota
and Grand Forks. These were few
Of the points that the expert engineer
cited to his employers.
UNEXPECTED REVOLUTION
The change in sentiment was as
complete as it was unexpected. 1t
amounted almost to a revolution, ov-
er-night. The wind-up Of the meeting
evidenced this, when President A: c.
Townley "the best hated man" in the
cities of the state, addressed the
meeting and was well received. He
entered into the spirit of the meeting
and offered men who have denounc-
ed him as their enemy and the enemy
of the state, chance to rid them
selves of his activities: He said
IF Jerry Bacon and others who
have been fighting the Nonpar-
tisan League program are ready
to get behind the Nonpartisan
League program, are ready to get
behind it and boost it, I'll give
bond to stay out of the state"
Grand Forks is having tremendous
success in it's campaign to sell state
bonds and before the months is over
will have sold it's $1,000,000 quota and
be assured of the mill.