"THE FARMERS' LEGISLATURE'* 



tracks at mines, was in the interest of independent 

 coal-producers and against the coal trust, which, like 

 all the others, operated in connivance with the rail- 

 roads. Please note that all the trusts, from money to 

 peanuts, had always the active support and assistance 

 of the railroads — a phase of our social and economic 

 problems that we in this country have all to ourselves 

 and are likely to keep so. 



2. An attempt was made to deal with the burning 

 question of false grading by a law requiring all eleva- 

 tors and grain warehouses to be licensed by the state. 

 The idea of this act was sound and good, but the only 

 form in which it could be juggled past the reactionary 

 twenty-eight was a form that was largely inoperative. 



3. Under the foregoing act, a law to better the prac- 

 tices of grain weighing and grading. The elevators 

 being now nominally under the control of the state, 

 false grading could be punished by the revoking of a 

 license. Beyond question this, although lamed in the 

 passing, marked a great advance, and in the following 

 season alone saved to the farmers much more than the 

 League ever cost them. 



4. A law to encourage and protect co-operative socie- 

 ties. This reform the co-operatives had for many 

 years sought from the legislature in vain, though it 

 was no more than rudimentary justice. It gave co- 

 operation a chance to defend itseK against stiletto work 

 and poison gas. 



5. Enlightened legislation to further good roads in 

 North Dakota, where of all places on earth they were 

 most needed. 



6. Legislation to protect and foster the dairying in- 

 dustry. North Dakota has great possibilities in dairy- 

 ing, for in spite of the cold winters cattle thrive there. 

 If I say that until the farmers got into the legislature 

 no attention could be had to this potential source of 



16 227 





