The Washington herald., 1920-12-13

sum from the local banks at once
1t viii destroy those banks and pro-
duce a panic in the State. An effort
is now being made by all hands to
secure a compromise so as % enable
the law to go into effect without Sc
rious injury.
Another law prohibits the Bank
Of North Dakota from making loans
on real estate except to actual North
DAKOTA farmers. This law grew out
of the charge by the anti-league
speakers and press that the Bank of
North Dakota was loaning money to
Non-Partisan League friends outside
the state. The. fall of the prices of
wheat has made 1t impossible for
many of the farmers In the poor and
drought stricken parts of North Da-
kota toNmeet their bank obligations
and this has carried down some nine
teen banks. This is not really SO
Indicative of the financial weakness
of the State as has been inferred.
the failing banks do not aggregate
more than 100000 in capital or
more than 100000 in their de-
posits. Their condition illustrates
the character of banking in North
DAKOTA, where banking is a part
rership with farmers who rarely
liquidate their obligations fully, hut
usually renew with a reduction when
the crops come in and are sold, OF
course, 1.-The reduction in the price of
wheat embarrasses the whole State.
school Propaganda Checked.
Another law which was adopted
oy referendum was to defeat a
typical trick of the league. The
Ieague had put in at the head of
the school a man who abused his
power by Introducing as a textbook
and as propaganda some very per-
nicious doctrines with reference to
the family, and he was finally
beaten for the place by a woman
who had attacked his course, The
league trfumvirate thereupon took
away the power of this newly
elected head of the schools This
law restores all the old powers to
her.
The fifth act passed by the ref
erendVm was one which repealed a
law devised and put into operation
by the league triumvirate, which
had the effect to give all the Official
advertising. all the court advertis-
ing. all advertising of every kind
which the legislature could exer-
else authority over. to official
league county papers. with the hope
of driving out of the business anti
league papers in the State. The
new law gives to the State authori-
ties the opportunity to publish, in
their discretion, only strictly State
notices, and allows other Official
advertising to be published in any
regular newspaper.
1t is apparent from these facts
that the power of the Non-Partisan
League in the home of its origin is
greatly impaired, and It is hoped
that it will never again return to
full power in the State. Conserva-
tive anti-leaguers think that it is
better that the power was not
shifted at this election.
Such a shift would have enabled
the league to charge and visit the
party with responsible
ity for the hard times now certain
to cnsue.
There is much interest in the
course which the new Senator, Mr..
Ladd. will take. He is an able
man, with intimate knowledge of
the farming conditions in North
Dakota and similar States, and he
certainly is no more radical than
Senator Gronna and is not so much
of an obstructionist and a disciple
of Senator La Toilette. He is likely
to act more fully with the Repub-
lican party.
Copyright, 1890. Public Ledger Co..