Grand Forks herald., 1922-05-19
THE GUEsPRoGRAM.

lust what is, or was, the league program?
The program which existed in the minds of Mr..
lowniey and the socialists whom he imported from
the four quarters of the earth to aid him in pla,fninp
his organization and preparing his propaganda dif
tered materially from that which existed in the
minds OF the farmers who later induced to Join
the Nonpartisan league. In one way and another
very large number OF our farmers had become con-
vlnced that their interests demanded the ownership
and operation by the state OF large terminal elc
vator whether within without the state they were
not quite certain. There decided opposition to
the project. and, is usual in such cases. the more
vigorously the plan was opposed the more complete
became the crystalizaton of sentiment in its favor
Angered and embittered by what they interpreted
as selhsh and unreasonable opposition to their
wishes, the advocates of the terminal elevator were
IN mood to respond readily to such efforts as Mr.
ownley was shrewd enough to employ. The work
OF organization began and it spread like fire in dry
grass.
A large number of the farmers of the state.
perhaps majority of them, had reached the point
where they were determined to have terminal ele-
vator Iownley undertook to show them how thew
could get It, The building of terminal elevator
constituted the single plank in the original league
PLATFORM and it was there before the league was or
gained and before Townley became public figure
From time to time thereafter Mr.. Townley pre-
pared programs to suit his fancy and to meet the
exlgencles OF the moment The original elevator
program was expanded to include elevators and
mills all over the state. State creameries and state
packing plants were incorporated in the scheme.
ne creation of the Consumers stores, of more or
less fragrant memory, was but the partial working
out OF the expanding program. which demanded that
the state should take all the mercantile bus-
ness transacted within its borders In order to
hnance these and other magnificent enterprises
winch were proposed, the project of state bank
took root and grew. The Bank of North Dakota
was to have branches in every center in the state in
order that money might be available for the carving
on OF the states industrial and commercial enter
prlses and that the snews of armight be provided
tor political propaganda and to keep the fires per
petually burning under the socalistic pot
lhe league program, enunciated by its
ramers and as put into practice as rapidly and COM
pletely as circumstances would permit. contem-
plated the ownership and operation >by political
agencies OF all the industries all the commerce and
all the financial business of the people of North Da
kota. - "a"
hat program has never been adopted or ap-
rSoved by the independents of the state Recoqniz.
ing the force of the demand for terminal elevator
and mill the independents have for years taken the
position that as matter of right and of expedencv
that demand must be met. But understanding the
danger and witnessing the costly results of gen
eIal assumption OF business functions by the state,
they have insisted that the states industrial actv
ties shall be confined to this one project at least
until sufficient time has elapsed to develop it's nos
slbitles in rational way. They came into control
OF the state administration finding the state in nos
session OF mill and elevator plant representing in
its uncompleted form, large investment and larqe
value. # they had promised nothing it would have
been nothing short of criminal for the new officials
knowing what the people of the state expected and
demanded to do otherwise than complete that plant
and put into effective operation In addition to this
'nescapable obligation, the officials were bound bv
pledges made specifically and in detail to do inst
that thing and to conne their industrial activities
to that single enterprise
The situation in relation to finance was similar
to the industrial situation. There had grown I'D an
active and insistent demand that the state make
direct and special provision for the development of
tarm loan department. That demand the inde
pendents promised to meet. They are meeting Il as
rapidly as il is possible to straighten out the con-
fusion left BY their predecessors There had never
been real demand for state commercial Bank. for
state stores state packing plants or any of the other
projects contemplated in the so-called league pro
gram, Ihe independents are not pledged to the de-
yelopment Of those particular lines Of state activity
On the contrary, they are. squarely and defniteiv
committed m the opposite direction -
It IS senseless. and it is false to say that the in
dependents have adopted the league program r that
they have accepted the doctrines Of socialism 80
st. homas American Legion members are ;v.
lnY uD to both the snifif and fhes Ia 80 f