The Nonpartisan Leader Newspaper, April 22, 1918, Page 15

' /to increase their wheat yield " saving between now- and the -harvest is, however, in'no way Rebuked by L. elected to the supreme court bench of the state the dean of - law at the University of North Dakota. He is L. E. Birdzell, one of the best lawyers in the state, and, what is just as important, a lawyer who has not been cor- rupted by huge retaining fees of the great corporations and industrial monopolies. Justice Birdzell was recently solicited to aid in the propaganda of the Universal Military Training league, and he gave his views on the matter in a letter to that organization. The only stand that the Nonpartisan Leader has taken on universal training and conscription in time of peace is that this question should not be decided at the present time. The excitement and hysteria of war time is a poor atmosphere in which to discuss and decide on a military policy for Amer- ica that will bind future generations in time of peace. The Leader believes this question should not be decided until after the war. Those who op- pose universal training and conscription in time of peace—in other words, those who believe the salvation of the world is not in huge armaments - and force but in general disarmament of the great powers and an international league to preserve peace—have a strong case. Their case, however, can not have the calm consideration it must have while the world is afire with war, while men’s thoughts are turned from peace and while most thinking is done in: terms of war. Following is Mr. Birdzell’s letter, which is re- produced here as an excellent example of the ar- guments of the patriotic and loyal Americans who aré opposing with 'all their power the military Organization Schemin HE farmers of North bakota" policy for-peace times advocated by such organiza- tions as the Universal Military Training league: PEACE COMES THROUGH OTHER WAYS “Bismarck, N. D. “Howard H. Gross, “President, Universal Military Training League, “Suite 1322, First National Bank Building, “Chicago, Ill. “Dear Sir: “I have your letter of the 12th inst., in which you set forth some of the advantages which you think would flow from the adoption of compulsory uni- versal military training, and stating that you would consider it a special favor if I would write you briefly my net conclusions on the subject. “Complying with your request, I beg to say that I am strongly opposed to the program in support of which your organization is working. I am very distrustful of any proposal which offers to insure peace through preparations for warfare. As I read the arguments sent out by your organization, I am reminded that the Prince of Peace never sought to place himself at the head of a military organiza- tion, and I know of no apostle of peace whose teachings are entitled to more respectful consid- eration. g MILITARISTS WOULD FOLLOW KAISER’S PLAN “It seems to me that the basic error upon which your propaganda is based is the assumption that it is necessary to prepare to do wrong on a large scale in order that right may prevail. Of course, you would say that your plan does not countenance the idea that those who will receive military train- Just Hear the Winter Wheat Cheer HEN America at- tempted to lower the price of coal, | many mining cor- porations threat- ened to quit oper- ation, and most of them low- ered their production. You know all about the coal short- age last winter. Well, the price of wheat was regulated also, but there will be no decrease in production, according to the figures of the department. . of - agriculture. From the time the farmers of Lexington fired the shot heard .’'round the world, the most loyal supporters of these free - United States have been the tillers of the soil. The latest government re- ports indicate a winter wheat crop of 560,000,000 bushels this year. That is an increase of 142,000,000: bushels of win- ‘ter wheat over last year. In the food administration, the prediction was made unofficial- ly that if the spring wheat crop maintained the same ra- tio, the next harvest will fur- nish sufficient wheat to' take care of the needs of this coun- try and the allies’ next year. - At the same rate of increase, ‘the spring wheat. yield would be 850,000,000 bushels, an in- crease of about 251,000,000 bushels. The rye--crop promises to exceed last year’s harvest by 26,000,000 bushels. - 'England and France_ expect “by 100,000,000 bushels. Canada will do_its bit, too. . . . ~ The necessity for rigorous ~ PLANTING TIME - » *t’uthe little acorn }tlfit,mpkes‘. the mighty oak. rs the Militarists g to Fasten German Military System on the People E. Birdzell of North Dakota Supreme Court —Drawn for the Leader by W. C. Morris ; ing in times of peace are thereby prepared to do wrong on a large scale, but the world has yet to see a military organization or a militaristic nation that is willing to concede that its forces are to be employed to accomplish a wrong. German ‘Kultur’ is, according to the kaiser and his associated mili- tary oligarchy, sufficient justification for all of the wrongs inflicted by a gigantic military machine, which could not have been builded, except for the general acceptance by the German nation of a pol- icy closely akin to that which you advocate. Yet, according to your arguments, Germany was never in a- better condition to enjoy peaceable relations with her neighbors than in 1914, when the kaiser was issuing 24-hour ultimatums, with all the con- fidence, nonchalance and sense of security of an American captain of industry, directing the game of business. . “As I view it, all that is good in your program may readily be taught and accomplished without emphasis upon military training. In my experience I have seen but few men who had military training but what were prone to advocate a resort to force in order to solve any serious international dispute. This point of view will be a constant menace to the peace of the nations if it becomes more general. “I am heartily in favor of this war and am will- ing to make any sacrifice to see it carried to a suc- cessful conclusion, but I trust that one of the con- sequences of the termination of the war will be the placing of the stamp of general public dis- approval upon the activity of your organization. Otherwise, I think that much of the great sacri- fices made in the interest of civilization will have been in vain. Sincerely yours, “L. E. BIRDZELL.” the Starry Flag! ter wheat in Minnesota April 1 was slightly below that of April 1, 1917, it was 81 per cent of normal, as compared with 76.6 per cent of normal for the entire United States, according to the estimate of the Fergus Falls crop estimate bureau of the department of agriculture. One year ago Minnesota's winter wheat estimate was 86 per cent of normal, which also is the four-year average. The condition of fall rye in Minnesota April 1 was esti- mated at 88 per cent, as com- pared to 89 per cent a year ago, and against the United States estimate of 85.6 per cent normal. THE VOICE OF WASH- INGTON Goldendale, Wash. Editor Nonpartisan Leader: I think that the Nonpartisan league stands for a square deal for every onme. Before we heard of the League or the Leader, we didn’t know these things about how we were worked out of wheat at the elevator or were shortweighted on things, or ‘how “Crafty” and his gang pull - the wool over our eyes. The Nonpartisan Leader is surely doing its bit by waking up the people. No other paper ever - woke up so many. “Crafty” may be able to fool part of the people part of the time, but not all of the peop’e all of ‘the time. He can’t fool time about the Nonpartisan league. ; : EARL PARMAN; _part of the people any of the