THE STORY OF THE NONPARTISAN LEAGUE 



erful, most ably generated corporations in the 

 United States. They would be supplied with 

 unlimited money, with an army of spies, 

 adroit lawyers, another army of agents, a 

 large part of the press. Democracy is the 

 soul of progress and the hope of the world, 

 but to hurl against the might of the corpora- 

 tion an association of farmers wherein all 

 should be generals and all maneuvers debated 

 at the street corners would be to attack a 

 great and well-disciplined army with what 

 Bismarck once called a mob of fighting per- 

 sons. When the enemy approached in attack 

 it was useless to send against him a company 

 of naked gentlemen armed with bows and 

 arrows. They might be as democratic as 

 heart could desire; they would be rolled up 

 in that unequal combat. Only two or three 

 commanders would know the plans of the 

 enemy; all the world would know the plans 

 of the League; and what was at hand was 

 essentially war. 



North Dakota's next general election would 

 be held in November, 1916, with the prima- 

 ries coming in June. The control of the state 

 would be decided at the primaries. Whom- 

 soever these might choose in June would be 

 elected in November. 



A state convention was called to meet at 

 Fargo and nominate a state ticket. It con- 

 sisted of one delegate from each legislative 



208 



