AGRARIAN PARTIES AND THEIR POLICIES 181 



to point out the unfair practices in the marketing 

 of grain. The North Dakota Union of the American 

 Society of Equity was organized to promote the co- 

 operative effort among farmers in selling their prod- 

 ucts and buying supplies. A number of grain 

 elevators were established on the "Equity Plan." 

 A demand came from the farmers in 1915 to the 

 State Legislature to establish state-owned elevators 

 at the three terminal markets at Minneapolis, 

 St. Paul, and Duluth. This question developed a 

 bitter controversy and resulted in the legislature 

 declining to act favorably on the request. 



The farmers were sorely disappointed over their 

 defeat in the legislature and resented the attitude 

 of those who led the fight in opposition to their 

 program. They became convinced that legislation 

 favorable to the interests of farmers was impossible 

 under the existing party organizations. The serious- 

 ness of the situation seemed to demand radical 

 action, and the farmers had become thoroughly con- 

 vinced of this fact. All that was needed was a leader 

 who knew the problems of the farmer as they existed 

 in North Dakota. 



While the hearings of the farmers were being 

 conducted before the legislative committees at Bis- 

 marck, the future leader of the League was present. 

 He took no part in the arguments and at that time 

 was not even a member of the North Dakota Union 

 of the American Society of Equity whose represen- 

 tatives were advocating the building of state ter- 



