The Sisseton weekly standard. (Sisseton, Roberts County, S.D.) 1892-1929, 1920-09-10
BY GEORGE l.. CARLSON

In Ford's Dearborn Independent
owes its existence to an economic
theory OF society, rather than to
anything political, although it em-
ploys the political machinery of a
state In order to carry out its eco
aumie program. Like almost all
economic theories. its germ was
created as result OF unjust eco
uomic conditions which made the
life of its members unbearable ii
not impossible, to endure. 1t is in
no sense partisan. either in name or
in practice. since it supports both
democrats and republicans at all
elections. All it asks of those whom
it nominates and supports with its
vote is to carry out its economic
program; whether these call them
selves democrats or republicans does
not matter. In North Dakota,
where it first came into public no
.tice, and where it first gained the
control of the political machinery
of state, the republicans were in
the majority. SO that politically it
is nominally republican in that state
1, is its non political, and more par
ticularly its nonpartisan character
that gives to it the strength and
chance for success which all politi-
clans so much fear. Doubtless much
OF the opposition and much of the
criticism of the organization are
based on this fact.
An eminent British scholar once
declared that the Americans We're
the greatest people in the world to
discover old things. The National
Nonparttsan League is a case in sup
port of this Briton's statement. I
am unable to find anything in its
air or In tho things it has done that
has not been advocated by the press
and by politicians for the past fifty
years; that is to say. 1t has been ad-
vocated as theory. 1t is another
instance of the theories of govern
ing classes being in variance with
their practices. Theories are al
ways harmless to all. merely as such.
and they often win votes Il advocat-
ed during an election campaign; but
TO put them into practice after the
election IS quite another thing.
Moreover, these same theories which
were so harmless before election
may prove very dangerous to GER
tain interests If taken seriously and
acted upon after election. The real
case against the members of the Ma
tional Nonpartisan League seems to
be that its members have way of
taking these theories seriously. and
Of reducing them TO actual practice.
A most painstaking study OF the
subject reveals the fact that the only
essential difference between the
members Of this organization and
others Is that the one formulates its
promises and theories into laws,
while he others DO not. am un-
able TO find any other difference of
note in an exhaustive study Of theic
aims and practices.
National NonRartisan League De-
fined
Definitions are often little move
than the expressed viewpoint OF
some individual. The people have
been given all sorts of definitions of
this organization, and all sorts of
aims of the National Nonpartisan
League have been attributed to It
by newspaper writer's. Those who
are honestly in search of correct in
formation concerning any organiza-
tion. or who desire to know any,
thing about certain theories OF exist
ence which may be advocated by
any social group will do We'll to ex-
anime the charter of that o,ganiza-
tion, or the claims advanced Sy
those Who advocate the theory. In
40 other way can reliable dnforms-
aon be obtained OF tie many organ
izations which advocate some new
theory OF life. Section two OF the
articles Of association of the Nation
al Nonpartisan League contains all
the information on this subject that
ever has been given to the world.
OF the nineteen sections comprising
these articles. not a single word is
used to express the aim Of the
League other than the three aims
expressed in section two. This Sec
ton reads as follows:
The purposes for which this associa-
ton IS formed are:
(1) Making government respon-
80 80