The Princeton union. [volume] (Princeton, Minn.) 1876-1976, 1920-12-16
LEAGUE WEAKENING
Representative of North Dakota News
paper Writes Concerning the
Recent Election.
NOnpartisan League Losing Strength
Among the Farmers Who
Own Their Land.


Own Their Land.
Wahpeton, N. D., Dec. 8, 1920.
Dear Union Readers:
I have been employed by North
Dakota paper for the past year and
my work has taken me among the
farmers throughout the entire sum-
mer, during which time have made
it my business to watch carefully the
work and the effect of the nonpartisan
league, which has proven itself the
worst political curse ever instituted in
our country went into North Dako-
ia absolutely unprecedented against the
league, but after one sees what it has
done to that state he can have no re-
spect for nonpartisan organizer or
any one who really knows what the
league stands for and still upholds it.
Many of our people in Minnesota who
are of the belief they know all about
the league will find, if it once gets in
power, that they knew nothing about
it before.
While spending my winter vacation
in Kanabec and Mile Laos counties l
noticed the same interest favoring the
nonpartisan league that at one time
flooded North Dakota, and I also no.
ticed the lack of interest taken so far
by the unbelievers in the league.
The people in Minnesota should
profit by the example of North Dako-
ia, who has learned to her sorrow the
truth of the old adage, can ounce of
prevention is worth a pound of cure"
The citizens Of North Dakota did not
wake up until it was too late, but now
they have their eyes open.
Many people, knowing am connect
ed with North Dakota paper, ask me
why the voters continue to elect non
partisan officers if the league has
proven such a detriment to the. state.
1t is true Frazier was reelected but
by only 4,642 votes and his majority in
1916 was 10000. Moreover O'Connor
was $4,000 votes ahead of Frazier un-
til the returns came in from the Rus
sian settlements, the railroad towns.
The independent voters elected two of
the three congressman and placed
their candidates in the following Of
fices-secretary of state, state treas
urer, superintendent of public instruc-
ton and justice of supreme court.
The nonpartisans made a hard fight
to capture those offices and they also
bitterly opposed the five initiated laws,
each one Of which was carried by a
majority of between 5000 and 10000.
These initiated laws leave the league
in North Dakota shorn of much of it's
power and Townloy will be seeking
new fields Of conquest.
It was not the same class of people
who tried to retain the curse on North
Dakota this year who put it over our
state a few years ago. When the
league first got its grip on North
Dakota it was the farmers who put it
in history, and they did it in good
faith, but the land owners who farm
their own land and all fair-minded
renters are the strongest opposers we
have of the league today.
The railroad men and I. w. w. are
the new members of the league. Or
ders were issued by our honorable
governor of North Dakota not to mo-
lest or arrest an I. w. w. unless he
was caught in the actual act of
breaking law. Naturally, when be-
friended by the league head, they used
the absent voters ballot very success
fully to aid in the election of league
officers.
l do not wish to cast reflection upon
the railroad men, but it is no credit
to mans name to be one in North
Dakota, for they have proven them
selves to be as much of an. enemy to
the farmer as has the I. w. w.
So, when people ask you why North
Dakota reelected socialist governor
again, remind them it was not the
same men who first elected him that
reelected him, not by any means.
We have we'll read and we'll meaning
farmers in Minnesota who are strong
members of the league. This class of
well meaning farmers were once men,
bers of the league in North Dakota
but many of them are now among it's
strongest opponents.
Minnesota has not as yet had real
taste of the league, but if she ever
does the farmers there will do as
many of them are now doing in North