New-York tribune., 1920-12-13
William Howard Taft
Discusses
Politics in North Dakota

In a helpless ard hopeless condition.
The league commission supervising the
bank has held that the law is not retro
active and does not authorize the with
drawal of the money now on deposit,
except as its need for county purposes
shall be established to the satisfaction
of the bank, and that it only applies
The state bank claims that it has
loaned to farmers some $4,000 900 and
has placed on deposit in the state
banks some $9,000,000 and that if it
is compelled to withdraw this latter
sum from the local banks at once it
will destroy those banks and produce
a panic in the state. An effort is now
being made by all hands to secure a
compromise so as to enable the law to
go into effect without serious injury.
Loans Are Restricted
Another law prohibits the Bank Of
North Dakota from making loans on
real estate except to actual North Da-
Eota farmers. This law grew out of
the charge by the anti-league speakers
and press that the Bank of North Da-
kota was loaning money to Nonpartisan
League friends outside the state. The
fall in the price Of wheat has made it
impossible for many of the farmers in
North Dakota to meet their bank obli-
cations. and this has carried down
some nineteen banks. This is not real
ly so indicative Of the financial weak
ness of the state as has been inferred.
The failing banks do not aggregate
more than 100000 in capital or more
than $2OO0,O00 in their deposits. Their
condition illustrates the character OF
banking in North Dakota, where bank
ing is a partnership with farmers, who
rarely liqudate their obligations fully
but usually renew with reduction
when the crops come in and are sold
Of course, the reduction in the price Of
wheat embarrasses the whole state.
Another law which was adopted By
referendum was to defeat Il typical
trick of the league. The league had
put in at the head of the schools a
man who abused his power by intro
ducing as a textbook and as propa-
ganda some very pernicious doctrines
with reference to the family, and he
was finally beaten for the place by q
woman who had attacked his course
The league triumvirate thereupon took
away the power of this newly elected
head of the schools. This law restores
all the old powers to her.
Leagues Power Impaired
The fifth act passed by referendum
was one which repealed a law devised
and put into operation by the league
triumvirate, which had the effect te
give all the official advertising, all the
court advertising. all advertising ot
every kind which the Legislature coulC
exercise authority over, to otficia
league county papers, with the hope
Of driving out of tho business anti
league papers in the state. The new
law gives to the state authorities the
opportunity to publish, in their dis
cretion, only strictly state notices anc
allows other official advertising to bt
published in any regular newspaper.
1t is apparent from these facts tha
the power of the Nonpartisan Leagu;
! in the home Of its origin is greatly i'm
paired, and it is hoped that 1t vii
never again return to full power in The
state. Conservative anti-leaguers thinl
it is better Chat the power was no
completely shifted at this election
Such shift would have enabled th'
league TO charge and visit the anti
league party with responsibility for tn,
hard times now certain to ensue.
| Copyright, 1920. by Public Ledger Com