The Bozeman courier., 1921-11-09
WASHINGTON OPINION OF
NORTH DAKOTA ELECTIONS

Washington, Nov. Washington
political leaders see great significance
in the defeat of the Non-partisan
League candidates in the recall cleo
ton in North Dakota. Ordinarily
North Dakota is a strong Republican
State. The Non-partisan League
formed an organization of such
strength and political efficiency that
it was able to take control of the Re-
publican organization. In other words
the Non-partisan League adherents
constituted majority in the primar
les Of the Republican party so that
they were able to nominate the
party's candidates.
In the recall election men elected
to office as partisan League |
members were required to stand for
reelection and there were pitted
against them coalition candidates who
represented practically all Republi-
cans and Democrats not adherents of
the League. The result shows con-
clusively that majority Of the peo-
pie of North Dakota are not in favor
Of the principles and policies advoca-
ted by the League.
It is appreciated, however, that it
does not demonstrate what would be
the result of an election if the Non
partisan League should once more be
able to nominate Republican candi-
dates who would run on Republican
ticket against Democrats. Neither
does it indicate what the result would
be if there were three. Non-partisan
:, League candidates.
n There are several unquestionable
s facts fairly we'll known to all those
s who have followed the political his
d tory of North Dakota in recent years
One of these is that the farmers, and
others dependent upon farming for
: their prosperity, have been very much
Z dissatisfied with the business condi-
I tions under which agricultural crops
are produced and marketed. The
Y farmers are convinced that they have
not been getting a fair share Of the
4 price a consumer pays for food pro
v ducts. They tried various other re
. medies and finally, in sort of deper
alton, turned to the Socialistic anC
Communistic doctrines taught by th'
organizers of the Non-partisal
League.
Those policies, when put into prac
tice, proved to be failures but tn
disclosure that the remedy was prac
tically as bad as the disease does no
change the fact that the disease ha
not been cured. The agricultural pro
ducers not only of North Dakota bu
| Of other states are .aggressivel
searching for some means by whic
80 there can be eliminated a large pan
of the distribution cost which give
them so small a proportion of tn
price the consumer pays
The Republican party has relieve
the farmers of some of their ten
porary embarrassment by revivin
the War Finance Corporation and al
prorriating money to finance export
This, however, is admittedly only
{. temporary expedient and would
> fundamentally unsound as a permal
ent, policy. What the farmers of Il
o country want and what they are e
+ titled to have is not merely the O.
"a poruunity to borrow money on whi'
they must pay interest, but an a
portunity to sell their produce at
price which will not only pay the co
| of production but leave them ma
n gin of profit as a reward for the
toll.
Attaining this end is still the gre
problem to be solved. II IS believ
le that the defeat of the Nonrpartis
:. League in the recall election in Nor
= Dakota is not even q beginning
-~.l the solution Of that question.