THE ORGANIZATION OF RURAL INTERESTS 557 



harmonious labor for all future time, to return by our united 

 efforts to the wisdom, justice, fraternity and political purity of 

 our forefathers. 



E. POLITICAL OKGANIZATION 

 THE NATIONAL NONP ARTISAN LEAGUE * 



(Beginning in North Dakota as a movement of farmers, an association 

 now calling itself the "National Nonpartisan League" is attracting wide 

 attention in the field of politics and economic legislation. We present 

 herewith an article explaining and supporting the movement, and a briefer 

 one from the standpoint of those who oppose it. Both articles are written 

 by editors of ability and much experience. Mr. John Thompson was for 

 eight years connected with the New York Times and for an equal period 

 the Managing Editor of Pearson's Magazine. He has recently gone to St. 

 Paul and become actively connected with the Nonpartisan League. Mr. 

 W. H. Hunter, who criticizes the League, is Managing Editor of the 

 Minneapolis Tribune. He has had wide newspaper experience, having 

 been Managing Editor of the Washington (D. C.) Post, and having held 

 similarly important positions in a number of the leading newspaper offices 

 of the western cities. Mr. Hunter is honest in opposing the Nonpartisan 

 League as dangerous and reckless in its socialistic program, while Mr. 

 Thompson is honestly supporting it as a beneficent movement. THE 

 EDITOR. ) 



I. THE LEAGUE'S WORK IN THE NORTHWEST 



JOHN THOMPSON 



THE NONPARTISAN LEAGUE was formed in North Dakota in the 

 spring of 1915. The grain buyers had instituted and controlled 

 a marketing system of great injustice to the farmers. The 

 politicians, controlling the State machinery, had refused to 

 permit the votes of the people to change the system. The league 

 was formed to overcome these things and to give to the farmers 

 of the States fair marketing facilities. 



ABUSES IN GRADING AND DOCKAGE 



The principal product of North Dakota is wheat. Wheat for 

 selling is classed into grades. The grading for North Dakota 

 and for the whole Northwest had been done by the grain 



i Adapted from Review of Reviews, Vol. 57, 397-401, April, 1918. 



