The weekly times-record. (Valley City, N.D.) 1912-1922, 1920-07-22


VALLEY CITY NORTH DAKOTA.
was 51.04 per cent Of all real estat
mortgage Indebtedness in what we
then commonly known as the Wes
from Ohio to Kansas and northwar
including the Dakotas. It was great
er than the total Of all farm mort
cages in the entire United States q
that time. Considering the enornou
increase in wealth and population o
those eleven Eastern counties sine
1890, who will say that their relativel
heavy real estate Indebtedness at tina
time was not a benefit instead Of
burden?
call your attention to the fac
that Mr.. Atkinson's article to whicl
/ have referred was written in the hey
day of Populism, that movement hav
ing polled more than million vote
in the presidential election of 1892
one Of the three electoral votes from
North Dakota having been cast TO
Weaver, the P6pulist candidate, a
that election. In view of the presen
similar movement now appealing fol
political power, the closing sentenc,
of Mr.. Atkinson's article will be of in
terest in North Dakota:
In view Of the fact that the
control and direction of the policy
of this country has practically
moved into the Mississippi Val
ley, and in view of the yet more
important fact that the farmers
: are organizing with the intention
of exercising a greater control
over the financial policy Of this
country than they have before,
this analysis may have pro-
found significance. If the con-
dition of the western farmer had
been consistent with the picture
of oppression and wrong which
h has been presented by Populists
and others, one might have cause
to dread the change in the bal
ance of power which is now in 4
progress. But when one witness
es the picture Of solid and SUBJ
stantial prosperity to which these
mortgage statistics bear testi- /,
mony, all fears of any dangerous
or revolutionary changes, either
in our monetary or our revenue
systems, may be laid aside, unless
the people Of other sections are
so unwise as to attempt to OBJ
struct legislation which is not Of
a revolutionary quality, but which
is consistent with a true and
much-needed reform. In the event
Of such unwise obstruction to ju-
dicious changes now proposed,
with any sectional ends in view,
the movement of the Western
farmer might become one that
would pay little regard to vested
rights or privileges, and which
would be carried to its conclusion
with a merciless power. Edward
Atkinson, Forum" June, 1894.
What a pity that this sound advice
Of Mr.. Atkinson's had not been heed
ed in North Dakota and the arrogant
and insulting "Go home and slop YOU
hogs, been left unsaid! 5f 5' & Z
In closing these rambling remarks
permit me to make some recommen
dations based on my experience as
your president during a very active
but very interesting year.
First recommend that our By
Laws be amended at this session, in.
the dues at least 25 per cent
Our association has not escaped, and
could not be expected to escape the
cost of conducting it's bus.
mess, similar to increasing costs ex,
perienced in all other business enter.
prises. The employees of the associa.
tion are entitled to more money for
their services to meet the increased
cost of living, and more revenues
from association dues are imperative.
ly needed.
Second-a strong committee should
be appointed at this convention to CO.
operate with other agencies to see to
it that the state is supplied with ne
coal for the coming winter
and sufficient cars to handle the crop
which is now almost assured.
Third-A committee should be ap.
pointed to work with similar commit
;ees from other states to accomplish
4 change in the Federal Reserve Law
that will insure reasonable exchange
charges for legitimate services rem
lered in remitting for checks, such re-
to be alike for member
banks in the Federal Reserve System
IS well as non-member banks. The
overwhelming majority Of our asso-
:iation members have gone on record
n favor Of such action in no uncertain
words. va S
Fourth-My successor in office may
lecide on some changes in the person
lel Of present Association committees.
out the committees themselves should
be retained, including the national
Bank Executive Council and the State
Bank Executive Council, each having
is separate functions to perform, and
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