Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1921-09-29
PAYING THE PRICE


some formula for government and
wholly disregard human nature, or
what is termed the human equa-
ton" the people Of North Dakota are
under obligations to pay the price.
It is the morning after with them;
they are locking through their
pockets to learn Il possible what the
thieves have left behind. They
conclude that at least eight million
dollars arc gone AMI how much more
they haven't yet dete r7nincd,
Those who are convinced a change
must be had if North Dakota is to re-
main a going" concern have forgot
ten or nearly forgotten whether they
are Republicans or Democrats, and
have formed a joint campaign COM
mittee. This committee publishes a
balance sheet giving its estimates Of
losses due to the new day" regime
in North Dakota. They estimate that
the people are out $500, 600 in public
money tied up in the frozen assets"
Of the state, that Sc, 200, 600 has been
added to the state debt, that $780,
900 has been added TO the cost Of
running the state government since
the league got hold. that people of
the state have sunk $4,000, 900 in
league membership fees and dona-
tons, s1100.0o0 in the Consumers
stores, most of it lost, more than
100000 in league newspapers, and
s2,5oo,00o in league banks, league ex-
changes, the L, S Sisal Trust, Peo-
Piles Fuel & Clay Products company,
and other league concerns, now dead
or bankrupt or the personal property
OF league leaders" This also esti-
mates that as a result Of league rule
$50,ooo,000 of money has been with
drawn from the state, and another
$1oo,oO0,oo0 has been withheld or
turned to other fields.
A correspondent of the MINNEAPOLIS
Journal reports that many farmers
have been ruined by their faith in the
promoters Of the Nonpartisan League,
chief of whom and originator is
Townley. The secretary of state is
quoted as declaring that graft and
seldshness have wrecked the league.
The leaders have favored themselves
whereas the farmers have lost heav-
fly.
AS result Of these conditions
enough voters in that state, in ac-
cordance with provision put into
the laws by the Nonpartisan legisla-
tuer of 1919, have demanded a recall
vote to GUST from power the governor
and commissioners of agriculture and
labor who, they say, have violated
the laws. have not issued bonds as
they were required to do, obtaining
the money in devious ways not au-
thorized by law, have used state
funds contrary to the intent of the
law providing for home building
projects. obtained control Of the
scandinavian American bank for
the deliberate purpose of using if TO
conceal, and as a means to facilitate
the looting of the Bank of North
Dakota and with full knowledge that.
the money Of the taxpayers was to be
used to finance the various wildcat
fiscal operations of a large number of
fake league enterprises. and that the
money of the taxpayers was to be
used to finance Nonpartisan Leae1,e
political campaigns" ct cetera. Strong
words for use among ones own peo-
pie, but entirely pardonabIe judging
from the methods said to be resorted
to by this man Townley for be-
devilins his fellow citizens.
Those who have asked for the re-
call have also proposed seven
initiated" measures to be voted ON
which mostly are intended to do away
with political banking" It is not
proposed to so as yet quite so far as
doing away wholly with political
management of all the States bust
ness but it is perfectly safe TO as
sumo that business will never be ef-
hcienNy and politically managed at
one and the same time. Whatever
one may thing of State Socialism the
North Dakota hasco clearly demon
strates certain facts, long known to
the well-informed and of which North
Dakotans are Just now painfully
aware. One is that it is expensive,
another is that it affords innumerable
chances for graft and favoritism and
another is that those who preach il
vociferously will bear watching.
China submits an alternative pro-