Grand Forks herald. [volume] (Grand Forks, N.D.) 1916-1955, 1921-07-12
A ouARREn AMONG FRIENDS,

The people Of the state, and the members of the
Nonpartisan league especially, are given to understand by
Mr.. Lemke and others that the rumpus in the league state
committee and in the Offices Of the Fargo Courier News Is
merely an exchange of pleasantries among friends and
is nothing with which other persons need concern them
selves. Just leave the boys to settle their little difficulties
by themselves and everything will be lovely. In the mean
tirae. let the farmers keep on paying in money for the
good of the cause. " That is the purport Of the advice
that is being given. And there is always the influence
that it will be an act Of impertinence for anyone outside
of the sacred circle to display any interest whatever in the
subject. t
In a way it is none Of the business Of. those who, have
not paid money into the treasury Of the Nonpartisan
league, or to any Of the combinations which have been
termed for the purpose OF gathering in shekels. what the
officials in charge Of collections do with the money which
is gathered in. II farmers are willing to pay, and pay,
and keep on paying, and see their money melt away like
boar frost before the sun. without any evidence that even
AZ effort is made to devote the money to the purposes for
which It was paid, that is primarily the business Of the
farmers who do the paying. II men are willing to submit
to tho process Of being skinned a few inches at a time,
those who are still wearing their own hides are surely
not to Ne the first to raise an outcry.
Even at>that, those who may be considered outsiders
in this business have a right to discuss what they see
going on around them. It is quite appropriate for those
VII. cb.erve a swindle going on In their neghborhood to
comment on the fact II they are inclined to do 50, even
though they, themselves, are not among the victims.
But there is another aspect of the case which removes
It from the, group Of things which are to be considered
purely private affairs. of interest to none but their active
participants. The campaign which Is being conducted by
the Nonpartisan league management Is directed against
the interests Of the citizenship Of the state, regardless OF
membership in any political organization. The money that
is paid into the league treasury to prosecute this cam
paiEn for state socialism is a campaign in which every
citizen has an immediate personal interest. If that cam
paign succeeds all Of US suffer. II it is defeated, the entire
state will benefit. And each citizen has an interest IN
the progress Of that campaign, in its financial features as
well as others. And when members Of the socialist group
quarrel among themselves. and accuse each other OF bad
faith, Of Misrepresentation Of funds, of being actuated only
by personal interest, and Of crimes and misdemeanors
too numerous to mention, the subject becomes one for
popular study, and comment, and discussion.
II, as Mi. Lemke has said. this disturbances Is merely
q personal tilt among a few Individuals, we have 81 sit
uatior in which individuals who have been entrns: ed with
large powers, and who have had great responsibilities
placed upon them. have shown themselves utterly mn
fitted for the positions Of leadership in which they have
heen placed. They have been placed In charge Of a cam
paign which means a great deal to the people Of North
| Dakota, for good or i'll, and they have conducted them
selves like a group Of turbulent children. II the Lemka
interpretation is to be taken at its face value.
Mr.. Iennke's recommendation In substance that
:eaguera and others should attend to their own busi:.ess
and let the qua.relipg factionaatsts settle their own dit
fcrences in Their own way is a rather lame method Of
disposins Of II troublesome situation.