The Nonpartisan Leader Newspaper, January 13, 1919, Page 6

- B ’ 17T YN YT L Y AR NTARE A IV 6 N Y Tonparfisén Teader Entered as second-class matter September 8, 1915, at the postoffice at St. Paul, ~ Minnesota, under the Act of March 8, 1879, OLIVER 8. MORRIS, Editor A. B. GILBERT, Associate Editor B. 0. FOSS,' Art Editor Advertising rates on application. Subscription, one year, in advance, $2.50; six months, $1.50. Please do not make checks, drafts nor money orders payable to indi- viduals. Address all letters and make all remittances to The Nonpartisan Leader, Box 575, St. Paul, Minn. MEMBER OF AUDIT BUREAU OF CIRCULATIONS THE S. C. BECKWITH SPECIAL AGENCY, Advertising Representatives, New York, Chicago, St. Louis, Detroit, Kansas City. Quack, fraudulent and irresponsible firms are not knowingly advertised, and we will take it as a favor if any readers will advise us promptly should they have occasion to doubt or question the reliability of any firm which patronizes our advertising columns. OTHER STATES MIGHT COPY T IS understood that the politicians recently elected to the I Minnesota legislature, at a caucus just held at St. Paul pre- liminary to the opening of the session, arranged the stage setting for a very dramatic event which will call into play the sen- timents of patriotism. In fact, it has been arranged to pass a law against the red flag with the following stage business: On the day of the vote on the bill, a renowned orator is to de- liver a tremendous address favoring the measure. As he ends his speech, sprinkled with flowery references to the integrity of our homes, the bravery of our soldiers, the beauty of our women and the music of our little children’s voices, an orchestra concealed in the gallery will burst forth with the inspiring strains of the “Star Spangled Banner.” At this instant the speaker of the house is to press a hidden spring, releasing an immense American flag, which* will slowly unfold itself amid a thunder of applause. The speaker will then order the roll called, and while the legislators are voting 1 to abolish forever from our midst the hated blood-red emblem, the orchestra will play softly and sweetly the strains of the patriotic music hitherto mentioned. : As the first vote is cast, the speaker with trembling hand will wipe a tear from his eye, handkerchiefs will make their appearance ALL _?_ED ALL RED ALL RED - ~throughout the hall, and the gentle weeping of women in the gal- lery will mingle with the impressive music. course be unanimous. _ The original plan provided for the singing of a hymn after the ceremony, but it was objected to this that odious Socialists The vote will of might suggest the following, which is in most church hymn bopks o “™The Son of God goes forth to war * 5 A kingly crown to gain; His blood-red banner streams afar— Who follows in His train?” It is understeod that the editors of the St. Paul Pioneer Press- Dispaich and Minneapolis Journal-Tribune are urging that, after the bill is passed, a committee be appointed by the speaker to mount the rostrum and officially stamp under foot a small red flag ‘procured for the purpose, and burn a picture of Karl Marx, this - proceeding to be symbolical of the effect of the bill. We give these details of the Minnesota plan for the informa- tion of patriofic legislators in other states who may desire to stage ~ a similar demonstration. ] " DEFYING THE PEOPLE e HE people of North Dakota have decided-with overwhelm- ' ing majorities for the enactment of the organized farmers’ program. The first time was in 1916, when the people H ; : elected a full set of state officials and a majority in the lower house of the legislature indorsed by the organized farmers and pledged to that program. The senate was half hold-over, so that a majority could not be obtained in that body at the first election in which the organized farmers participated. In 1917 the people electeéd a con-. gressman at a special election, with the organized farmers’ indorse- .ment. - In 1918, the people re-elected the candidates of the organ- ized farmers for all state offices and the lower house of the legis- { s e v ,:&;Whfifi.;v;e.;www’«ammxsxm«~ 7 frankly admit that there are po - lature, and in addition elected two more farmer congressmen -(mak- ing three in all) and sent a majority favorable to the farmers’ pro- gram to the state senate. On top of all this, the people of the state have adopted, ty majorities ranging from 15,000 to 30,000, 10 amendments to the state constitution that will permit the carrying out of the farmers’ program in full. _ : ; 3 In all this voting the people of North Dakota understood fully what they were doing. These big majorities for the farmers’ pro- gram were piled up at these elections with a full understanding by everybody of what it meant. The farmers were in politics in earnest and nobody assumed for a minute that they would not : carry out their program when they got in power. e It would seem, therefore, that any attempt by any interests, politicians or newspapers to hamper or prevent the carrying out~ of the farmers’ program in North Dakota is an out-and-out de- fiance of the will of the overwhelming majority of the people. of a sovereign state. - Therefore, whenever you see or hear of interests, newspapers or politicians in' or out of the state trying to block the farmers’ program in North Dakota, trying to discourage the farmers or to break down their morale or solidarity, predicting disaster, putting - obstacles in the way or trying to work up prejudices, you can put it down that these interests, newspapers and politicians are in fact- trying to defeat the PLAINLY EXPRESSED WILL OF THE PEO- PLE OF A WHOLE STATE. Therefore they are defying the prin- ciples of democracy and are trying to make it impossible for the people to govern themselves. There is no other way of looking at it. A sufficient answer to all the argument of the opposition to .the farmers’ carrying out their program in North Dakota is that an overwhelming majority of the people of that state want it, and are entitled to have it under every princjple established in our laws and constitutions. To attempt to def after it has been so plainly expressed at two elections, each time by increased majorities, is SABOTAGE AGAINST DEMOCRACY. "~ That’s all the answer League members in other states need to give to those howling about the carrying out of the farmers’ pro- gram in North Dakota. ; REVOLUTION? —VHERE 1is a considerable group in the United States that I professes to fear a revolution in America, accompanied with anarchy “and bloodshed. This group, represented by a pow- erful daily press, is s0 much in fear of a revolution, or professes to be, that it brands all movements springing from workingmen or farmers for political or economic reforms as “bolshevism.” The purpose is plain. It is believed by this group that, if a tradition .can be built up in America that whenever the common people or- ganize and ask reforms it is the first step in “red revolution” and ultimate anarchy, then political and economic reforms, no matter - how moderate or reasonable, can be discredited and blocked, thus preserving the present order intact and even defeating orderly, evolutionary reforms. ; . g The hired editors engaged in building up this tradition against reforms and reformers, of course, know better. So what we have to say is not directed to them, but to any who may be inclined to fall for these silly appeals to prejudice. - Know, then, that there never was a revolt of the people or a: revolution anywhere in all history without there was a cause for it. It is utterly impossible for so-called “agitators” to stir up a reyolution or revolt without there are political or economic abuses, and unless there are no orderly, constitutional ways those abuses. of righting ibuse The newspapers that pretend to fear a revolt or revolution in America, therefor%tmel:ely by expressing that fear, country. : t the will of the people,- ical and economic abuses in this - Know, also, that even when there are political and economic N B Ny r