The Bismarck tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, N.D.) 1916-current, 1924-09-02
URGES DIGNITY
OF LABOR MUST
BE RECOGNIZED
HalvOr HalvOrsOn, at Painted
Woods Lake, Emphasizes
Holiday Meaning
VOTERS OBLIGATION
Points Out How Many Failed
to Vote in Last Election
in North Dakota
VOTERS OBLIGATION

iulnteu NoouS, ~. ~ ~ PC' 60
cause labor is the foundation Of all
wealth and happiness, it must be
Justly remunerated and elevated, and
its true dignity recognized. HalVor l..
Halvorson of Minot, democratic noml-
nee for governor of North Dakota, de-
clared here late yesterday in address
ing a Labor day celebration.
In broad sense, labor includes our
workers, whether they toll in field or
factory, in commerce or literature
the speaker declared.
"No one depreciates the tremendous
benefits humanity has derived from
derestimate the services and state
craft of such men as Jefferson, LIN
coin and Wilson, or the humanity OF
NansN.,. Their contribution to the
sum total of human happiness stand
forth prominently as do those OF
many others through the ages.
"However, when this day comes to
us each year, it brings more forcibly
to our minds and consciences that
great body OF men and women VINO
perform the necessary physical toll
Obligation Of Franchise
"The freedom Of action and indie
pendent existence Of labor is one OF
the great blessings of this nation,
and as is the case with many other
private abors of Shakespeare,
Dickens. Il Longfellow, Poe or
OHenry," continued the speaker.
Nor do the privileges we enjoy, seem
so reasonable and necessary that we
often overlook the fact that history
is replete with instances continuing
over the centuries, where that por-
ton of the race dominated and en-
shaved to the then ruling classes
This year we are again called up
on to partake in the exercises OF the
elective franchise, that privilege OF
democracy which has ever been the
cornerstone of American progress
and the foundation of life for Amer
lean institutions. No privilege can
exist without creating corresponding
obligations and in this regard the
American people Of late have palpa-
bly been remiss. In North Dakota
at the last election, out of the &c.,
600 or more legal voters within it's
confines, only AZ per cent considered
the business of government of suftl-
cient Importance to register their
will. 1t is plain under such circum-
stances one-fourth of the electorate
becomes controlling. With such lax
ity on the part of our people, ag-
pressive minorities rule majorities,
and the very structure Of democracy
and self government becomes Jeop-
artized.
Farmers Dollar 60 Cents
For several years the agricultural
dollar, and we are all dependent upon
agriculture in this state-whether we
work in the field or feed lots, in the
villages or mines, nevertheless in the
last analysis, We are but farmers
and l say that during the past sew
eral years the farmers dollar has had
a purchasing power Of only approx
mately 60 cents when he goes to buy
the commodities which he needs to
carry on his business.
"Some say that the farmer is him.
self to blame because he produces
too much. But one need be no phi
losopher to learn that this doctrine
is falicious. There is no overproduc-
ton of commodities, and there never
has been in the worlds history.
I'VE have a nation and people
who produce in abundance, and il
we will but apply ourselves to see te
it. that the rewards for service
whether performed upon the country
sides, in factory or counting house
are equally distributed, both pros
perity and happiness will fall tt
every nook and corner in this grea'
land.
ut is of the highest Importance
that in working for this result, W.
apply the rule of reason to our owl
local government affairs. Some stress
the doctrine that business should b.
taken over by the government, tn
people become it's servants and EN-
ployes. 1t is my firm belief that gov
eminent is the best government
which govern the least, and that ex
tensive mixing of government an
business is a dangerous experiment
and one which will work irreparabl
injury to our people.
Against Monopoly
"To my mind there is only one stu
alton which justifies government i
engaging in private business in com
petition with it's own citizens, an
this situation occurs whenever an
wherever persons or organization
obtain such control over the comme
dity or industry, that they have l
effect a monopoly, and because Q
such monopoly, are able to name, II
dependent of costs, their own price
Not only the last democratic platform
but in the very creed of democrac!
this principle has been upheld an
monopoly declared to be indefensibl
and intolerable.
1.-THE State of North Dakota, unde
the law providing for state indus
trial commission, has the power
where such conditions exist, to tax
actions for relief, it was upon tn
claim of such monopoly in the mill
ing and grain trade, that the stat
mill and elevator was erected. An
it is only in. such cases that govern
ment should engage in business. An
then it should be done with cautio
and fairness, and with view of pre-
.tecting the public from unjust meth
DDS. | mention these things to yo
because as part Of that great bod!
the American laboring man. WI
Yields the largest political power
this .,country.I warn vow not - b
carried away. with the theory tia