The Hays free press. [volume] (Hays, Kan.) 1908-1924, 1920-04-08


Dakota has been in the hmelight or
account of the Nonpartisan League
which came into existence in that
northwestern state and at the present
time controls its politics; and from
thefe has been, and still is, spreading
over a number of other states in the
Union. This Nonpartisan League is
so radical a departure from the ac-
cepted political parties, and its form
ula has so many unique features, that
a brief analysis of its present status
and the political affairs of the state it
controls must be of interest to all
American men and women observers
of such phenomena.
The first question that must be
answered is: what caused the Non
partisan League to come into exist
ence?" Farmers are usually the most
conservative body Of citizens; they
endure many acts of ill-treatment be-
fore they rebel; they have much re-
spect for the laws of their country.
When they break with old party lines
in an almost revolutionary way, as
they did in North Dakota, they must
have had grievances. Most of these
are not specially peculiar to North
Dakota, but can be said to apply to
the whole United States grievances
growing directly out of the capital
istic system which controls the money
market and the whole commercial life
of this and other civilized countries,
and which are gradually leading the
nations toward a social revolution. To
arrive at clear understanding of the
genesis of the Nonpartisan League,
the question "What caused the Non
partisan League to come into exist
ence first in North Dakota?" must be
answered categorically.
The Causes Enumerated
In the first place, the rate of in
terest has been excessively high in
North Dakota. Many farmers have
for years and years struggled to pay
off their debts, but only succeeded in
enriching the money lender. The
moneyed men have become richer and
richer, but too many Woodworking
farmers of small means remained
poor in spite of hard work, and this
in country where land was given to
them free by the Government.
2. Much land is in the hands of
spectators who do not improve it,
and help not at all in building up this
new country. Other land spectators
have bought up large tracts of land,
especially from the Northern Pacific
Railroad Company, at an extremely
low price, and afterwards have, by
artificial manipulations, screwed up
one land deal more money than a
Woodworking farmer could earn in
years. Thus the farmers have been
compelled to work for years and
years, for no other purpose than to
enrich these spectators.
8. The prices of goods and mater
ials, which are most needed in new
country, such as lumber and farm
machinery, have been and still are
absolutely under the control of large
corporations which are not doing
business 'tfor their health" 1t arouses
the ire Of the farmer when he is given
evidence that farm machinery made
in the United States is sold cheaper
on the steppes of Russia than here in
our own country.
4 The market price of our pro-
ducts, wheat and beef, has been en-
tirely too much under the control Of
the Chambers of Commerce in East
ern states; too much at the mercy of
the spectators and wheat gamblers
A paid press helps these by false and
exaggerated reports to force down
the market price of grain and cattle
when these are brought on the mark.
ct, and afterwards to raise it higher
to the detriment of the consumers.
5. The grading of wheat has also
been a constant source of dissatisfac
ton among the farmers. The only
just way of grading is according tc
the actual flour value of the grain.
6. The rate of insurance, especial
ly hail insurance, has been entirely
too high and the farmers have MOI
been sufficiently protected against
fake insurance companies.
z. To these grievances may be
added the complaints of the farmers
against railroad companies; but i;
seems to me that for several years
Ehese complaints were not vel
founded, but were rather caused by
agitators.
The idea that legislation can rem.
edy all ills has, in our age, become
rather general, and every political
candidate makes use of the idea fol
the purpose of getting votes. Thus
the old parties, Republican and Demo
cratic, have for years and years
promised the farmers of North Da-