The weekly times-record. (Valley City, N.D.) 1912-1922, 1920-11-25

way, rather than shipping coal from
the eastern mines, via the Great Lakes
and Duluth. This would save 81 per
ton or $8,00O,000 on the estimated
consumption of Illinois coal.
Nearly $500 persons in North Da-
kota-7,471, to he exact-voted for
Eugene Debs for president. Debs is
serving term in prison, not as po-
litical prisoner, as has been stated,
but for open and defiant opposition
to the laws of his country in urging
those who heard him against engag-
ing in military service, and against
supporting the nation in its warlike
efforts. There has never been any
question as to the right of Debs, or
any other man. to entertain whatever
opinions he pleases as to the form Of
government which should prevail in
the United States, and no question as
to the right of any one to express
whatever opinion he entertains as to
the steps to be taken to bring about
any desired change in government,
provided always that such steps were
in accord with existing law. There
is no question as to the ability of a
majority of the people to bring. about
any desired change in our government
whenever the majority desires it, and
to do this in a peaceful and orderly
manner, without strike or demonstra-
ton that is made quietly by vot-
ers at the polling place. Debs is not
in Jail for his political opinions. He
is in Jail because he counseled a
course which, were it to be permit
ted, would be destructive to all gov
eminent. His attitude was denial of
the right of a government, lawfully
constituted, to defend itself against
all corners. Because of that attitude,
and because he preached that doct-
rine, Debs is properly in prison, and
We over seven thousand persons in
North Dakota voted for him for pres
ident. The room of any seven thou
sand such persons is to be preferred
to their company-Grand Forks Her.
aid.
Two North Dakota state banks We're
closed today pending examination by
State Bank Examiner O. E. Lofthus.
They are the Security bank of New
England and the Farmers State bank
of Havelock. The Tolley State bank
was closed earlier in the week. It is
said that others are in difficulty and
may have to close their doors within
the next few days. According to Ex-
aminer Lofthus the difficulty in regard
to each of the three banks closed has
been the impossibility of making col
lections because of the refusal. of
farmers to sell their wheat at present
prices. The banks were, in conse-
quence of this slowness of collection,
unable to meet cash demands made
upon them, and so were forced to
close. Mr.. Lofthus has not made a
full examination as yet, but it is his
belief that all three of the banks closed
this week are fundamentally sound,
and will pay out in full. New Eng
land is in Hettinger county, in the
southwestern part of the state, Have
lock is few miles from New England,
and Tolley is in Renville county, north
west of Minot. We read this in the
dispatches this morning then turned
to the editorial columns of the Fargo
Courier News to see if the cause Of
these banks shutting down was not
due to something or other done by the
/. V. AS but were surprised to tind
that up to this time no blame was at
tached to the Independents. But, ser
iously speaking, the closing of these
banks only goes to show that at the
present time the financial condition of
the country is not good We do not
mean that there is to be a wholesale
closing down of banks but at the pres
ent time the farmers are trying to get
a bigger price for their grain and they
are not marketing like they have done
in other years, but are holding the
grain. This makes it bad for business
men and others who cannot meet their
obligations at the banks and in turn
embarrasses the bank. The situation
is a decidedly ticklish one all around
People need to conserve their money
supply and go slow along all lines ~un-
til this period has gone by. The
banks closed will probably resume bus.
mess in the near future. s~'.#--
An organizer Ct, was here yesterday
trying to get the farmers interested
in getting together to get bette,
price for their wheat. The meeting
was not very well attended because
it was not advertised. However, that
is neither here nor there The mair
thing to be considered is how to gel
the farmers together without making
it political organization. The non
partisan league started out to dc
things for the farmer and gave prom
Use of being of much benefit to them
but it was controlled by gang of un