Grand Forks herald. [volume] (Grand Forks, N.D.) 1916-1955, 1921-10-26
KEEPING FAITH.

palgnerS tOr the STATE ADMINISTRATOR seem 10 PIN
their hopes now chiefly on their success in creating
the impression that, at any rate, a new administra-
ton will not be able to improve matters, and that
the present administration may as. we'll be left in
office.
Six years ago there was a very definite demand
in this state for a state-owned terminal elevator.
How that demand arose, and by what methods it
was made to appear spontaneous and general, are
matters that need not be discussed at this time. 1t
~suffices that the demand existed, and that it was
made by a good many people, and that it was press
ed vigorously and insistently. Townley and a few
others took notice of this demand, seized upon
it, and capitalized it for political purposes. They
promised the terminal elevator. In order to make
the menu more attractive, they added numerous
items to it. They promised mills, packing plants.
cally everything in the line of industry and COM
merce, together with the high prices for agricultural
products, and such fat profits from the state-awned
enterprises that taxation would soon be a thing of
the past.
In regard to not a single item on this elaborate
program have the Socialist leaders kept faith. In
stead of beginning and pushing to completion the
single state-owned enterprise for. which there was
an actual popular demand, those leaders busted
themselves with the constant elaboration of new
schemes. each Of them costly to the public, each
grossly mismanaged, and each permitted to die a
natural death as soon as its possibilities as a source
of political funds had been exhausted. So much
money was needed for the maintenance Of an army
OF %agitators here and in other states that none was
to be had for the actual handling Of a business en-
terprise. The mill and elevator plant stands with
uncompleted and ~roofless walls pointing skyward.
The Bank of North Dakota soaked up all the reve-
nues of the state, and froze solid. The Home Build
ers' association managed to build expensive houses
for Lernke, Totten and a few others, and is out OF
business except for the sale of its fag ends of stock
at whatever the stuff will bring. The farm loan bus.
mess has been operated so as to enable owners of
undesirable lands to unload their holdings on the
state under the guise of loans. League banks have
closed their doors after large sums of state money
had been poured into them. The Consumers Stores
concern is bankrupt, and its victims are struggling
with the problem of paying their accommodation
notes out of the proceeds Of a light crop at low
prices. League newspapers have loaded their sup
|porters with a load of indebtedness And so the
story goes.
In answer to the demand that the unfaithful
servants who have brought the state to this pass be
retired, and that the program be changed, the peo-
a bluff, and that if the initiated laws are passed and
Nestos, Johnson and Kitchen are elected, the state
mill and elevator will never be completed.
That is an impressive statement to come from
Frazier, Lemke and Hagan or their lieutenants.
With the record which these men have made, any
reference by them to insincere promises and broken
pledges is the height of impudence. But what are
the facts, and the reasonable probabilities? : Il
The Independent Voters association is made
up of farmers and business men residing in every
1oN\LASA u SA> IN ~ dSludll dllO ulOSC
supporting its candidates and policies polled at the
last election more than 100, 900 votes. On every is
sue not complicated by national party issues they
polled some 10000 more votes than their opponents.
Since their entrance into the situation as an organ
lied, body these citizens have been definitely COM
mitted to a specific program. That program in
cludes two main features: First, the reorganization
of the states affairs on a sound business basis, with
the consequent elimination of the scandalously
wastelul methods of the present; second, the com-
DletlOn and efficient Onerafi0n IF the stafe'c mill
and elevator. Y
Pledges in support of this program have been
given repeatedly by responsible men in personal
statements, in convention and other resolutions, i'll
public addresses, and in every imaginable way.
These pledges have been given so publicly, so con
cretely, and on so many occasions that they could
not be evaded even if evasion were desired.
In the present campaign the Independent can.
didate for governor, Mr.. Nestos has not only given
a general adherence to this program, but he has
itemized it. He has not only declared it to be the
purpose of himself and his associates to see that the
mill and elevator program is carried out in an hon
est and thoroughly effective manner, but he has told
just how he intends to go about it. Mr.. Nestos is
a man of honor. But if he were not, he could not
violate pledges so very definitely made and ever
again hold up his head in North Dakota.
The Herald has played a fairly active part in
this campaign. Long before this present campaign
was inaugurated it was active in opposing the ex-
ploitation Of the farmers of the state by the men
who have so numerically vjctimized them. It has
denounced the dissipation Of the >state's> energies
and its funds in a desperate political game. And it
carrying out in good faith of a real mill and eleva-
tor program as it has been in its denunciation OF
the policies which have frittered away that program
to nothing.
The position of those who have taken a conspic-
uous part in the independent movement is ~unctang-
ed. The pledges stand. The Heraid's position is IN
changed. It is working for a change in the states
administration and the Strengthening out Of its bus
mess complications in order. among other things,
that the farmers may have the service which can
be given only by a mill and elevator enterprise
properly conducted in their interest. It will con-
tinue to work toward this end, emphasizing the