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

many of the old "wheel-horses"
of the Non-Partisan League
called a conference immediate
ly after adjournment of the
League convention, and organ
lied the Farmer-Labor Party
of North Dakota.
This new organization, which thus
joins North Dakota with the other
states forming the farmer-labor
movement of the Northwest, crystal
Lies the militant movement which is
so widespread within that state. 1t
will place North Dakota once more in
the lead of the Farmer-Labor move
ment away from the old dominant
capitalist political parties, and to-
ward independent political action.
To understand the situation in
North Dakota, it is necessary to re-
call the action of the Republican
State Central Committee, IN its meet
ing of Dec. 18th, last year, when it
endorsed President Coolidge for re-
election. This action aroused storm
of protest, turnout the state of North
Dakota. And because the State Cen
trail Committee is under the control
of the Nonpartisan League, this was
''the last straw, and destroyed all
remaining faith in the old league.
When the convention went into ses-
sion, with 81 delegates-only four of
them representing labor-it was
quite plain to be seen that there was
absolutely no hope for any progress
sive measures to be adopted there.
Three Big Measures
The following were the three
measures of most importance which
came before the convention:
A request coming from Congress
man J. H. Sinclair, Senator Lynn j.
Frazier, and others, asking endorse
ment of LaFollette for President.
The question of whether the League
would accept the legal status given
to it by the States Attorneys ruling
that the Nonpartisan League had be-
come the Nonpartisan political party;
And the question whether the con-
vention would or would not rescind
the action of the Republican State
Central Committee-which is League
controlled-in it's endorsement of
Coolidge for President.
Small Bankers There
This convention was composed of a
majority Of small bankers, business
men, office-holders and office-seekers,
with general farmer representation in
very small minority.
And the principal controversies
were with regard to which particular
choice for office should be nominated
by the convention. There were many
factions in the convention.
And these consisted of the retain
ers of various office-seekers.
Ayres Makes Eloquent Plea
An eloquent plea to the convention
was made by Tom Ayres, Chairman
of the South Dakota Farmer-Labor
Party, asking that it cast aside the
old Nonpartisan policy, organize a
State Farmer-Labor Party, and thus
come into the ranks Of the national
farmer-labor movement.
Ayres' speech was applauded to the
echo-but only by the few delegates
who were not bound, body and soul,
to the interests of the office-seekers.
And when it seemed that Ayres might
make some impression upon the other
portion of the convention a political
henchman of one of the principal
ofice-seekers mot a delegate to the
convention), called "time" upon the
speaker. The effect of all this was
to clearly demonstrate that the Nom
partisan League is now nothing more
or less than an adjunct of the ma
tional Republican Party.
Delegate J. w. Hempel read sew
eral long letters from Congressman
Sinclair and Senator Frazier, asking
endorsement Of Robt. M. LaFollette
for President. Delegate Hempel
made a forceful argument. Most OF
the delegates admitted that LaFol-
lette was far superior to Coolidge as
Presidential candidate. But the
political machine carried, with but
few dissenting votes, motion that
candidate for President.
Much Time in Wrangling
The rest of the conventions time
was spent in wranglings between adj
herents of the rival office-seekers
There was much vague talk about the
program" of the League-but MOI
the slightest hint of anything con
: structive, with the single exception
Of the Fedje bill. This bill proposes
the extension of the mechanics lier
so as TO include the farmer (undel
the Farm-Labor Lien) and give hin
the right of first claim upon hil
mortgaged crop.