The daily worker. [volume] (Chicago, Ill.) 1924-1958, 1924-02-13

tons were circulated advocating the
formation Of a State-Farmer Labor
Party Immediately. And many sign
ers were obtained, to this petition.
With result that, Immediately follow
ing the adjournment of convention
altho the delegates were wearied with
the ceaseless chickering's of the rival
politicians and their henchmen-an
all-night conference was held, with
over forty delegates present. Twenty
five of these were delegates to the
Nonpartisan League convention. The
rest,-men like "Dave" Hamilton and
IR. H. Walker,-all among the old
: stalwarts of the old Nonpartisan
League when in its prime.
Farmer-Labor Party Organized
In this conference was organized
the Farmer-Labor Party of North
Dakota. And for it there was adopt
ed a constitution and national and
state program. Farmer-Labor Voice
was made the official organ of the
new party. Officers for the new or
| ganization were elected. Some reso-
lutions were passed-one of them
calling upon LaFollette to get out of
the Republican Party; another en-
dorsing the United Front campaign
of the Federated Farmer-Labor Par
ty; and one approving the May 30th
convention in st. Paul and protest
ing against any attempt toward its
postponement.
The officers elected by this confer
ence were as follows:
R. H. Walker, Chairman, who is
one of the best known real farmers
in North Dakota and was formerly
an organizer for the Nonpartisan
League;
H. r. Martinson, Secretary-Treas-
urer, who is President of the Central
Labor Union at Fargo and is we'll
known thruout the state.
An Executive Committeeman from
each of the three Congressional Dis
tricts was also elected, as follows:
First district: Alfred Knutson, for
merly of the Nonpartisan League;
Second district: Herman Hardt,
well-knOwn as a member of the State
Legislature and as the popular re-
preventative of more than 10000
Russian-German farmers in that dis
trict;
Third district: H. 3. French, editor
of an influential farmers newspaper
in the state.
A most interesting discussion took
place on the question of the national
and state program. Of special inter-
est was clause one, of the national
program, which reads as follows:
Land was created for all the peo-
pie, and we demand a system of land
tenure that will eliminate landlord
ism and tenantry, and will secure the
land for the users of the land"
And also clause 5, reading:
"a moratorium for all working
farmers, on their farm-mortgage
debts, for period of five years."
The discussion also demonstrated
that the farmers and industrial work.
ers Of North Dakota are swiftly de-
veloping clear understanding of the
economic basis underlying their pres
ent critical situation and the great
need for such fundamental relief
measures as the two above quoted.
And these two measures are stated,
word for word, as in the program of
the Federated Farmer-Labor pro-
gram-which was adopted, in its en-
tirety, by the conference.
The need for a state program be-
came apparent during the discussion
when the fact was brought out that
the old Nonpartisan League program
most of which had been incorporated
into the laws Of the state, had never
been permitted to really function, ia
any extent; and that this fact was
due to the sabotage of old-line party
politicians. The state program
adopted in this conference goes much
farther than anything ever proposed
by the old League. 1t reads as fol
lows:
STATE PROGRAM:
1. We demand the retention anc
! faithful administration of the state
industries, especially the building Of
terminal elevators and flour mills.
2. We demand that all publ,
funds be deposited in the Bank o.
: North Dakota, and that branch banks
be established, one in each county o.
the state.
3. We favor the enactment Of thu
: farm-crop lien law, known as thu
Fedje Bill No. 1874.
4. We demand that all tax title
revert to the state.
Fl 5. We demand the re-enactment O
the tax-exemption law repealed b,
the 1923 Legislature.
The whole situation in Nortl
|, Dakota can be summarized by citing
first the action Of the Republican
State Central mmittee-controlle,
by the Nonpartisan League-endors
ing Coolidge for President, at III
meeting last December; the action O.
this League convention in side-step
ping a motion to rescind that action
and its point-blank refusal to endors,
LaFollette.
On the day following adjournment
Of the convention, the State Contra
Committee met and practically re
affirmed their endorsement Of Cool
idge, by refusing to entertain an,
n y 4