Grand Forks herald. [volume] (Grand Forks, N.D.) 1916-1955, 1921-03-10

COMPACT PERFORCE.
Reference has been made to the
compactness Of the Nonparusan
league organisation. 1t Is compact. 1t
was framed with that end in view.
And the conditions surrounding its ac-
tivtties have been such a. to hold
together those who have been promin-
emily identtned with it.
Those who are the beneficiaries Of
tho organization, who have drawn SAL
aries from At or received commissions
for work for it need not be expected
to abandon it while the are
still coming their way, and while there
IL prospect Of their continuing. And
there ( many of these who, even
though they may recognize signs Of
didnteeration, will cling to the league
until its last chance has gone, because
they see NO other opportunity to exer-
else their peculiar talents to their per-
sonAl profit
There r others who have derived
nc benefits from the league, but who,
on the contrary. have assumed heavy
obligations on its account. They I'M
derstand that unless the league re-
mains \ going concern, with access
to such sources Of revenue as have
been available through the Bank Of
North Dakota in its various ramifica-
tons, they will be obliged to redeem
in cash the accommodation notes and
other bits Of paper which they have
'HEned as a temporary means Of pro-
ducinE funds.
1t must have become apparent to
these men by this tiEe that the financ-
ing Of a large and expensive political
organization by means of accommoda-
ton notes is a process that cannot be
continued indefinitely. There must
come a time when somebody will have
to produce real money. These victims
must also have learned that the league
cannot be financed either by the col
lection Of dues either on the basis Of
the past assessments or on any other
basis on which it will be able to at
tract members Collections have been
advanced during the leagues exist
enee from $500 to $500 and then to
$1,000 and $500. Most of this
money has been spent before it was
collected. Much of It has never been
collected at all, having been received
in tho form OF paper that has not
been and will not be redeemed.
Every increase in dues makes It more
dificult to secure members. and tends
to shrink rather than to inrease cash
receipts. Receipts from dues have
been wholly Inadequate. therefore the
leaders have had recourse to credit
devices Of various kinds, il each case
the credit Of the individual farmer
being used to bolster up the leaky
treasury.
If receipts from dues have failed to
meet running expenses in b past it
il evident that future receipts cannot
meet future running expenses and re-
imburse the hundreds Of farmers who
have advanced cash or credit a. 4
means of temporary relief. There is
just n way in which these victims
OF their enthusiasm can be recouped,
and that is by unloading on the state
through selected local banks and the
Bank of North Dakota, the mass of
worthless paper which has accumulat-
ed in the league treasury. There is
no prospect that even this would meet
the situation, but it would help, and
hope will be entertained that the BAL
ance can be taken care of in some
manner yet to be devised.
Individual farmers who have made
large advances to the league may
save something if the league retains
control. They are certain to lose all
that they have invested if the league
leaders are turned out of office. There
are nan of them who will stick on
the chance of saving something from
the wreck. There are others who
have become convinced hat the case
is hopeless. n that they may as
we'll cut loose low as at any other
time.