THE STORY OF THE NONPAHTISAN LEAGUE 



out that week, and it can be guessed whether 

 the real-estate agents and dealers in farming 

 property regarded the movement with enthu- 

 siasm. The understanding through the state 

 was that the fervor to be aroused by such a 

 dedication would be an efficient check to the 

 growth of the Nonpartisan League, which 

 had but lately been revealed to the machine 

 politicians as a menace to their way of life. 

 If this was so the hope failed. Instead of 

 joining in a movement that might be thought 

 to appeal so strongly to their sentiments, the 

 farmers generally denounced it as a trick and 

 went steadfastly on to perfect and extend their 

 militant organizations, offensive and defensive. 

 They would not budge for force or cajolery, 

 and it is self-evident that only men sure of 

 their cause and committed to it on a reasoned 

 conviction will stand fast in that manner. 



There was another portent that a wise 

 politician could hardly have failed to notice. 

 Many farmers made "Appreciation Week" 

 an occasion to call attention to the awkward 

 facts about the terminal elevator. Some of 

 them said that the real slanderers of the state 

 were the influences that had nullified the 

 popular vote on this subject, and as it was 

 plainly these same influences that now were 

 calling for a chorus of joy, farmers had better 

 use the week in extra work to redeem North 

 Dakota from this evil sway. 



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