The Princeton union. [volume] (Princeton, Minn.) 1876-1976, 1920-10-28
APPEAL TO FAR ERS
Jake Preus Has the Courage to Tell
Farmers What He Thinks of
Nonpartisan League.
Farmers Will Repudiate an Organiza-
ton Supporting Doctrines
of Socialism.

The nonpartisan league is not con-
trolled by the farmers in Minnesota.
Whatever it may have been in the
past or however it may have been por-
tlayed to the loyal, honest farmers
who joined it, it is today the most
destructive force in the northwest,
working to destroy the Fundamental
principles on which our government
is based.
Our state officials and the men
prominent in the political life of this
state are in a position to study the
party organizations. Daily they
come in direct contact with the leaders
in these parties and have every oppor-
tunity to see the goal towards which
these organizations are working. The
farmer cannot obtain first hand all his
information on political or economic
questions, but must, to large extent,
rely on the newspapers and an occa-
sional public speaker for a good bit
of his information.
Mr.. Preus really thinks the non
partisan league today is destructive
organization, largely controlled by
socialists, whose vicious doctrines,
once put in full operation, would
speedily destroy the happiness and
prosperity of the farmers and all the
citizens of this state. Now, frankly,
we put it up to you farmers. If be-
lieving this Mr.. Preus did not have
the backbone and courage to tell you
his opinion of the nonpartisan league,
what would you think of him? Could
man who had been elected to one of
the most important offices in this
state, that Of state auditor, see Minnc-
sofa actually threatened by a serious
menace at this coming election and
remain quiet? 1t takes courage to go
into community where a large per
centage OF the citizens belong to a
certain organization and denounce
that organization. Mr.. Prcus has
told you exactly what he thinks of
the nonpartisan league, and if he had
done less he would have been coward.
In taking his stand so squarely on this
issue he has paid the farmers the
very highest kind of a compliment.
He knows the farmers are thinking
men and true blue Americans. If thew
were not America would never be
what she is today. He has gone to
you and presented you with the facts
which he has been able to collect,
realizing that the farmers of Mime
sofa will overwhelmingly repudiate
this league when they know that it is
working toward the most vicious and
socialistic ideals. It is an insult to
the intelligence of the farmers to in
sinuate that they would allow false
pride to prevent them from renouncing
an organization which they had Joined
when once it becomes evident that
this organization stands for principles
that they cannot support. Jake Preus
has spoken to you as one man speaks
to another whom he considers as a
rational, intelligent human being and
not prejudiced, bigoted zealot in
capable of doing his own thinking.
Read again Mr.. Preus' address, think
it over and carefully weigh the mat
ter in your own minds. Do you want
cooperative enterprises for market
ing your produce, which Mr.. Preus, if
elected governor, will do everything in
his power to assist you in developing
or are you willing to embrace the
socialist platform of the nonpartisan
league? 1t is not mere campaign
talk to say the nonpartisan league is
working towards socialism.
Socialism stands for state or govern
ment ownership as opposed to private
ownership Of property. There is a
plank in the nonpartisan platform ad-
vocatlng state owned terminal eleva-
tors, warehouses, flour mills, stock
yards, packing houses, creameries and
cold storage plants. If this is not
socialism what is it? Mr.. Shipstc:d,
here in Princeton just few weeks ago.
advocated the state ownership of all
public utilities. Mr.. Preus stated that
Townley was in 1914 candidate to
the North Dakota legislature on the
socialist ticket and that year there
was plank in the socialist platform
advocating that the state take over the
farm lands.
Does Mr.. Preus impress you as a
man with the courage and ability to
fill the office Of governor of this state !?