New Ulm review., 1921-11-09
DANGER LURKS ||)| ( IN
MISAPPREHENSION
KEPT PRESS MIsINTERPRETs
REAL FACTS ON NORTH
DAKOTA FIGHT.
MILLIONS OF OUTSIDE MONEY
WERE USED TO DEFEAT
THE OFFICIALS.
(By A. B. Gilbert

10y A. Is. GllDerC.
Defeat of each of the three farmer
officials attacked by the recall drive
by small margins is admitted by Non
partisan League leaders.
Governor Frazier's opponent will
have from 1000 to 5000 more votes
than Frazier when the final official
figures are in, and the other contests
run about the same. The voter
either voted for all of the farmer cam
didates or he voted against all Of
them.
Returns on the vote for the meas
ures initiated by the anti-League
forces are more slow in coming in,
and it is evident from the votes so far
recorded that they are lost. Anti
farmer headquarters admit that some
of them are lost.
While all progressive people thru
out the country will regret the result
of this recall election, there will be no
setback to the forces making for pro-
gress Of the common people unless
the situation is wrongly interpreted
by the farmers and their allies.
Danger In misunderstanding.
The tactics of the press and the
politicians will be to foster misinter-.
probation. Large city dailies, for in
stance, are pointing to the fact that
Frazier got a AS vote in 1916, a 2-3
vote in 1918, little over half in 1920
and now little less than half in the
recall, as indicating that the people
have tried socialism in North Da-
kota and have repudiated it.
Whereas, the truth is that the first
victories Of the League farmers were
secured by taking the politicians un-
awares, by the popularity Of the slo-
gan "Dirt farmers for. Office and by
the fact that many farmers did not
realize how hard the fight for Justice
is.
There never was a majority of peo-
pie in North Dakota who grasped
the Importance Of the League pro-
gram and were in dead earnest.
Hence, when townspeople called
them bad names, when bankers tried
to put on the screws, when the papers
and politicians got their dust-throw-
ing machines going in full blast, the
uneducated fell away. The vote in
this recall campaign, fought under
most unfortunate circumstances, reg
listers more intelligent farmers and
worker votes than We're cast for Fra
zier in 1916. And the farmers are
only two or three thousand short of
really intelligent majority!
The opposition, knowing that
majority of the farmers were never.
really awake to the issues, have been
encouraged to fight in season and out
by every possible trick and even
crime. If the majority had under
STOOD" the corporation lawyers would
have realized that such tactics would
have been in vain, and the League
at
Program Prevented.
AS it was, millions Of outside mon
ey have been poured into North Da-
kota to get this ignorant vote on the
margin, and money now has tenn mpo-
rary success.
Realize that, although the people,
OF North Dakota have approved bond
issues for this program seven times in
as many elections, the first block of
bonds of any size were sold in the last
two months. Only few things that
required little or no money have been
possible, because the ignorant mar
ginal vote encouraged the tactics we
have seen in the last five years.
The use of the recall in this case
was contrary to the spirit of such
law. It's purpose is to turn out
those who forsake the pledges or are
guilty of dishonesty. In this case.
the officers were recalled because
they stood by their pledges. And
farmers everywhere, who have sup
ported the Nonpartisan League, can
hold their heads the higher because
the most careful search will reveal no
suggestion Of dishonesty, fraud, Or
ernbezzlement by their representa-
tives in office.
Future Prospects.
Everybody is guessing what the
future in North Dakota will be. The
politicians elected to office may do
better than expected in the hope eof
lining up more of the farmer vote.
And if politicians would honestly
carry out the mandates Of The voter
the burden Of putting up strictly
farmer candidates could be, avoided.
Loss Of the hostile measures is aIhope- 1
full sign. 4.S
Or the election next year may show |
a clear majority for the farmer pro-
gram, majority that can stand a.
gainst false issues and false alarms.
and then steady and rapid progress
can be made. 35
AS wide-awake North Dakota
"