The weekly times-record. (Valley City, N.D.) 1912-1922, 1922-09-14
WILL 1T "WORK?"

- VOASAAs
! Not "is it socialism ?" but twill it
work." is the test that should be ap-
piled to political issues in North Da-
kota this year.
In many cases, we can 60 little
further and ask: "has it worked"
"Socialism" has too long been used
as a mere epithet. Quite properly, it
is losing any effectiveness it may
have had as an epithet. Socialism
doesn't have to be fought blindly. 1t
is much more vulnerable to logical
'attack than it is to an attack compos-
led of mere vituperatior.
In North Dakota, this year, we have
a socialist running against a Demo-
'crat for the office of United States
senator.
1t isn't enough merely TO call Mr..
Frazier socialist and let it go at
that.
On the contrary, the most effective
campaign that can be made against
Mr.. Frazier is on his own record as
governor, and on the record Of the
various socialist enterprises with
(which his name has been connected.
Have they 'worked?"
That is the question which the vot-
ers of the state should ask item
selves, calmly and deliberately.
Has the program of state owner
ship fathered by Mr.. Frazier shown
, any actual results? Has it benefited
the farmers of North Dakota? Has
it benefited the businessmen Has it
benefited the taxpayers:
Has one single enterprise advocated
by the league leaders 'worke.l"' Has
it justified its existence by results {?
Has it proved effective?
Has the Bank of North Dakota lone
anything but increase taxation anu
the public debt, aside from making of
. farm loans which can and should be
, made by very simply organized de-
, partment of the state government?
Has the flour mill improved grain
! prices or lowered flour prices? Has
] it even demonstrated that it can be
q operated at a profit?
, Has the homebuilders department
! done anything for anybody;
] Have the '1eague banks" done any
\ thing for anybody except go into bank
8 ,ruptcy?
o Have the league newspapers done
: anything but pile a load Of debt or
o the shoulders of the hackers of them
|, Have the Consumers stores done
o anything for the people of Of Nortl
= Dakota except take a million dollar
a out of their pockets?
o Has the whole league program dom
;. anything for any body but triple ou
: taxes and stir up bitterness AM
e strife? =
Has it "worked?"
1t isn't necessary to dcnounce it a
i SOCIALISM," even though it Is. X
l. 1t isn't necessary to conjure up DO
it geys of Bolshevism and free love an
IL destruction Of the home. :. i.
n There is that side of socialism, i
e some of it's forms, but North Dakot
l. didn't get far enough into il tn Sc
IT much of that. The one simple ties
;e that can be applied is that Of askin
ID for results.
le If a plan cannot justify Itself b
le results after fair trial, certainly j
ID should be discarded. The Nonpart
70 san leaders have failed utterly t
al show the promised results in six year
a Driven from state offices, they no
m seek United States senatorship. M
rs Frazier would transfer his activitie
,e from Bismarck to Washington.
1t Why?
is What has he done for North Dakt
r. ia to warrant giving him the highe:
a political office within the gift of tt
er state?
te Where are the results?
Nv Have his plans worked %
1e There is the campaign issue for tt
of fall election. It's an issue that doesn
I'd call for any bitterness in discussion
IN We have had enough bitterness
es North Dakota. But it does call for
70 frank answer and that answer h:
nd never been Forthcoming in previo'
IS campaigns made by the league.--F
s. rum.