The nonpartisan leader. [volume], August 16, 1917, Image 7

About The nonpartisan leader. [volume] (Fargo, N.D.) 1915-1921

Image provided by: State Historical Society of North Dakota

                
PEACE TERMS
THE
Now, however, despite the
distraction of the jingo press, the
people have had time to think, and
Wherever they have had a chance
to express their opinion they have
repudiated the doctrine that Ger
many must be crushed before
peace is discussed. The crushing
of Germany or any other nation is
not a legitimate object of war.
[And the only way to prove that
WQ are not in this war for glory
or Imperialism or to make money
for war profiteers, is to state on
What terms we will make peace,
jgld to require our allies to do the
same.
[American Political Science association and the American Sociological
society—asking each, member to express his opinion on various subjects
in connection with the financing of the war, especially on conscription
of wealth. At the time of going to press for its current issue 1017
replies had been received.
These answers were classified as follows by "Equity":
Number for conscription as "chief reliance" of war finance, 323.
Number for conscription in connection with other forms of taxa
tion, 314.
Number indicating that they are favorable to conscription of in
comes on principle, 216.
Total affirmative, 853.
Number voting against the principle of conscripting incomes for
.war finance, 164.
-"All I know is that it were much more godly to encourage agricul
ture and lessen commerce and that they do the best who, according to
the scriptures, till the ground to get their living, as we are all com
manded."—Martin Luther, 1483-1546."
slogan, "Crush Ger
many before talking peace
terms," seems Still to be
the slogan of the majority of the
American press. The newspapers,
big and little, and the great
magazines, apparently are trying
to work American patriotism up
to a point where it will accept
this base formula, and will furnish
lives and money generously and
without protest to carry it out.
For a time (even yet in some
quarters), to suggest that the
.United States ought to 'declare
'definitely on what terms it will
make peaces was denounced either
as pro-German or treason, accord
ing to the degree of bitterness the
person doing the denouncing had
let get into his system.
If we are not fighting simply
crush Germany, what are we
fighting for? To make the world safe for democracy, you sayj to de
feat the plan of the German autocracy to rule the world- Very welL
(Those are worthy objects. But how can the allies prove to the German
people that is their object, and that these phrases are not merely words
put forward to cover the real motives, unless they are willing frankly
£0 announce to Germany and to the world on what terms they will
make peace
The German people also believe they are fighting for liberty.
They are willing to spend their last cent and pour out their last drop
of blood for liberty, just like we are. As long ais thd German autocracy
can make them believe that our object and the object of our allies is to
crush them, they will support the autocracy that they have been led
to believe is protecting them from foreign aggression.
Let all the nations at war, Including the United States, state the
iterms on which they will make peace. Is there anything dishonest in
this? Is there anything unpatriotic in it? Is it un-American?
The patriotism of the coal barons is only to be exceeded by that of
the big millers. The coal men reduced prices "voluntarily" half what
they should be reduced, just as the government was about to force a re
duction. The millers, while a federal Investigation was under way, also
"voluntarily" promised to reduce flour rates, as an act of patriotism—'
only the promised reduction, like that In coal, it half what it should be.
A
IT'S HIS COUNTRY, TOO!
PAGE SEVEN
''AGRICULTURAL CONNECTIONS"
PROPAGANDIST hired by the politicians to fight the Non
partisan league, denies that the farmers were not adequately
represented in the last Minnesota legislature. He says that
the fact there were only nine farmers in the senate out of a member
ship of 67, does not really state the facts. He explains as follows:
A majority of the legislators might have answered to other profes
sions in furnishing their biographies for the legislative blue book, but
more than a majority of both houses HAD AGRICULTURAL. CON
NECTIONS OF SOME SORT AND THEY WERE PROUD OF THE
FACT.
Sure, there were. But why doesn't the correspondent name them?
There was Senator Gotlots, the banker, for instance. He has
"agricultural connections." He lends the farmers money at big rates.
Also, he is "proud of the fact."
There was Representative G. Whiz, the real estate man. He sells
the land of Farmer A, who'has found he can't make farming pay, to
Farmer B, who thinks he can, and charges each of them a nice little
commission. He "has connections" and is proud of the fact.
There was Senator B. Biz, the flour manufacturer. He has "agri
cultural connections" two ways. He buys for $4 enough Feed wheat
to make a barrel of flour and sells
the flour back to the farmer for
$16. He is prouder than most any
of the others.
"We might mention Represent
ative Sellum, the merchant, and
not swayed by prejudice or unreasoning bitterness. Governor Frazier
tells sheriffs that the law of the state is going to be upheld.
Any person burning or attempting to burn crops, destroy harvest
ing machinery or commit disorderly acts of any kind against employers
of labor will be attended to under the law, the governor says.
On the other hand, the governor says that any attempts by peace
officers to violate the law on the other side, will likewise be suppressed.
Laborers are not to be clubbed and driven out of the community be
cause they ask wages higher than peace officers may think justified
they are not to be mobbed because they assemble peacefully to hold
meetings or because they are "broke."
In other words, the governor knows that labor riots, lynchings and
other disgraceful proceedings are usually the result of enforcing the
law against one side of the controversy and failing or refusing to en
force it against the other. We have laws to take care of persons at
tempting to destroy property, and it should be enforced vigorously
against them, says the governor. But it is not for peace officers, or
mobs or "vigilance" societies to take the law into their hands. When
they do, they can not ftlame the laborer who thinks he has a grievance,
when he takes the law into his hands. We do not want civil war in
the United States, now of all times.
Senator I. Ketchum, the insurance
man, and Representative U. Skin
num, the lawyer. They all have
"agricultural connections." They
are all proud of it.
We really ought not to ac
cuse this writer (who is paid by
somebody or other) with depart
ing from the truth VERY FAR.
He merely understated his case.
He said a'majority of the Minne
sota legislators had agricultural
connections.''
If he had told the full truth he
would have said that ALL of them
have "agricultural connections."
But for the farmer, they
would all have to go out of busi
ness.
An eastern paper that looks on
the- Nonpartisan league as a piece
of insolence by the farmers, says:
"The farmers got the railroads
that make their land valuable as
a gift from the nation, which gave
land to the companies to build the
roads." This is advanced as a
reason why farmers shouU not be
kicking about economic conditions.
Why argue with a type of mind
that gives off stuff like that?
LABOR TROUBLES
THEo
proclamation issued by
the farmers' governor of
N a a to
sheriffs of the state expresses the
views on labor troubles held by
every thoughtful citizen who is