Emmons County record. [volume] (Williamsport, D.T. [i.e. N.D.]) 1884-current, 1921-02-17

The people Of the state of North
Dakota are faced by the most serious
crisis in their history. This crisis is
brought on by gigantic political con-
spiracy. That conspiracy is the cap
stone of years of, effort on the Eart
of certain huge and powerful inter-
4 SITS to destroy the idea that people
may go into business for themselves
for their own better interest, rather
than permit industries and market
ing machinery, to remain in the ex-
plotting hands of private privilege.
In this battle the representative of
the people is the Industrial Commits
sion of the State of North Dakota.
In the actions of this committee rests
the fate of the state owned industries
for which the farmers of North Da-.
kota have been battling for seventeen
years. But more than that indeed,
!. the Industrial Commission today is
forced to battle political conspiracy
to destroy the very foundations of
the credit system of this state.
When the history of this gigantic
politico-economic conspiracy shall have
been written it will reveal one of the
blacklist pages in American history.
Beside it the deeds Of the Robber
Barons will pale into insignifcance.
The impossibility of obtaining fair
representation of facts-and facts
alone by which the people may Judge
in the press impels the Industrial
Commission to attempt to lay before
the public the details by which this
conspiracy has been fostered. The
people are entitled to know and form
their own independent judgment as to
the canflict. which is raging in North
Dakota.
The Commission realizes that aside
from the fractional bias which dictates,
either unconsciously or deliberately,
the transmission of news in the public
press, there are other considerations
which may be advanced in extenuation
of the failure Of the press to function
efficiently in informing the public on
the momcntous events which have
transpired in this state; namely, the
mechanical limitations and production
costs of the publishing business which
rule newspaper space; and the very
maze of uncertainty as to what are
facts thrown about the efforts of any
bipartisan observer to obtain them.
The whole effort Of the opposition to
the Industrial Commission involved in
this political conspiracy has been not
only to obscure the issue, but to at
tack the farmor-labor program by in
nuendo, unsustained charges end plain
libel and scandal mongering.
In other words, this conspiracy has
worked increasingly to one end.
And that end is to destroy the con-
fidence of the people in their own en-
terprizes.
The motive for that conspiracy is
simple enough.
81 It is the fear Of the private privi-
4 lege that the people will succeed in
throwing off the shackles Of exploita.
ton.
The struggle in North Dakota il
more than politics. Politics is merely
its manifestation. It is to the force,
. directing the, politics Of the anti-state
ownership interests to which the PEG
pie should turn their eyes Tor the re
vealing light on the motives actuatinl
these ceaseless attacks on public in
situations. b
HOW THE SYSTEM WOULD
THROTTLE A STATE
It is automatic that the oppressed
people will bear their burden only Vi
to a certain point. Then they will
!. turn on their oppressors and insti
tute reforms or fundamental change
that will relieve them. Whereupo1
the battle between the exploiter an
the exploited, the kings and the com
mons, begins. i 81.
North Dakota is the test tube wher
80, +l,n raoo<;onc If nrnroacod ol1d fon