The Nonpartisan Leader Newspaper, July 7, 1919, Page 6

& % K /// ///// Tonparti$an Teader Official Magazine of the Naticnal Nonpartisan League—Every Week Entered as second-class matter September 8, 1915, at the postoffice at St. Paul, Minnesota, under the Act of March 3, 1879. OLIVER_ 8. MORRIS, Editor E. B. Fussell, A. B. Gilbert and C. W. Vonier, Associate Editors, 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 576, St. Paul, Minn. K MEMBER OF AUDIT BUREAU OF CIRCULATIONS THE S. C. BECKWITH SPECIAL AGENCY, York, Chicago, St. Louis, Detroit, Kansas City. Advertising - Representatives, New. 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. - LAW AND ITS ENFORCEMENT HO, in reading the Bible, has not experienced a feeling of satisfaction in the story of Haman, hanged on the gallows that he put up for his enemieg? It is not altogether a spirit of revenge that is responsible for this feeling; it is a deep- seated sentiment for retributive justice. - : There is a similar feeling of satisfaction in learning that the enemies of the Nonpartisan league, who caused a vicious so-called “red flag law” to be placed on the statute books of Minnesota, are the first ones to violate the law they had enacted. The “red flag law” was introduced and passed in the Minnesota legislature with the belief that some of its provisions (not those relating to the red flag) could be used against the Nonpartisan league. But the law specifically prohibits the display of the red flag in any form, printed or otherwise, and makes violation a felony. In the face of these plain provisions the May number of America First magazine, put out by anti-League headquarters in the Merchants National Bank building, St. Paul, flaunts a red flag on its cover. Copies of this magazine have been circulated in practically .every county in Minnesota and many have been sent outside the state. Tom Parker Junkin, well known in North Dakota and Min- nesota, is editor of the magazine, but behind Junkin stands the executive committee “representative of certain interests.” The names of these men have been published in the Leader. Also we have published something about the “interests” that they represent. We have published a facsimile of a letter from Junkin to Charles Patterson, head of the “committee,” showing clearly the connection between them, and other documentary evidence of the strongest character. But there is no danger, apparently, that any of these gentlemen will be made subject to the severe penalties of the red flag law. Their “interests” are too powerful. They seem to be above the law. But down in Jackson county, Minn., A. C. Townley, president of the Nonpartisan league, is being prosecuted for ‘“conspiracy” because a speaker, not acting under the direction of Mr. Townley, made statements in a speech, which, it is charged, discouraged en- listments. The speaker was subjected to the “heckling” tactics of a crowd of town rowdies and politicians organized to break up the meeting. Townley, having the remotest possible connection with the speech in Jackson county, is prosecuted; the gentlemen “repre- sentative of certain interests” are not. _ . Some will say, “The red flag law is ridiculous.” If this is true, is it any more ridiculous than a prosecution, in time of peace, under a “conspiracy” charge based on a war law—a “gag” law that, how- - ever high its purpose might have been, was administered in Minne- sota by servile politicians to defeat the guarantees of the federal Constitution of “free speech” and “peaceful assemblage” ? But the big question is not the wisdom or lack of wisdom of certain laws. "It is this: Are the laws administered for all classes or for only one class? The people of the United States must supply the answer. - : GOVERNOR ERNEST LISTER OVERNOR ERNEST LISTER of Washington is dead and the state is observing 30 days of mourning. The people of Washington have cause to mourn. Governor Lister was not perfect, but he was capable, honest, sincere, and, to a much larger degree than the average man holding public office, open-minded and willing to learn. e Governor Lister learned a great many things during the six years he held that office. He entered upon its duties a conservative employer. He joined with fellow employers to beat a labor bill e which he and they regarded as “radical,” with an .understanding‘ e L AR B AN A e S P 9", oy, ///% 7///////{/44 'I’I%A % % 5 (" 7 % //1///5 'I%//I/I// %/// that the others were to join with him later in framing a substitute bill that would be “fair” to both sides. Governor Lister undoubt- edly was sincere in his action, however wrong he was. But the other employers were not sincere. They broke their pledge to help enact a compromise bill later. Lister had his eyes ope_ned.- Governor Lister was elected with a campaign fund provided in part by Samuel Hill, a relative of Louis Hill and the late James J. Hill. These funds were provided as a loan. After Lister was elected Hill attempted to dictate the policies of his highway depart- ment. Lister would not allow it and Hill demanded immediate re- payment and started suit to collect. Again Lister’s eyes were opened. P Governor Lister was frank and bold enough to say, early in his administration, that there was no reason why good citizens should be divided on party lines on the election of state officers and legislators. This was heresy to the party bosses and the Demo- cratic “leaders,” as well as Republicans, waged bitter war on him. Going into office a conservative, the things that he saw and the fight that he met forced him to become progressive. To Ermest Lister, his use of the veto and his subsequent fight in the courts of Washington against the reactionaries, is due the fact that the ini- tiative, referendum and recall, the direct primary and other pro- gressive laws are still on the statute books of Washington in reason- ably workable condition. : . ; Governor Lister’s education in liberalism was never completed. He failed to step forward to the broad, fundamental conceptions of democracy held, for instance, by Governor Lynn J. Frazier of North Dakota. Death stopped Governor Lister’s busy career and his advance toward still more complete faith in democracy. But the people of the state of Washington have lost the best governor in the history of their state, a man far ahead of the common run of politicians, a man who has left many traces of his rugged viril- ity on the archives of the commonwealth. The people of Washington have reason to mourn. A PEACE-TIME “GAG” LAW? N MAKING its report, the subcommittee of the senate judiciary I committee, which has been investigating “bolshevism” in the United States, urges the re-enactment of the existing espionage law, or of another measure carrying the same provisions. Senator King already has drawn up a measure for introduction in the senate carrying out this recommendation. The bill is ostensi- bly aimed at the “direct actionists.” It is a government “red flag” law, but more far-reaching and general in its terms than the red flag law of any. state. 1 Why an espionage law, or, more accurately, a “gag” act, is' necessary in peace times is not explained. While such a measure was tolerable during war times to protect the unity of the people, its administration during the war is a potent argument against - its passage now. Under the Constitution the right of free speech and of free press and peaceful assemblage are guaranteed, without equivoca- tion or hmltatlor}. _The people submitted to the limitations during war from a patriotic standpoint, but never surrendered their right to demand that the Constitution be respected. . The measure will be a convenient means of stilling the popular voice, and if any one doubts that it will be so used, let him but recall the recent abuses perpetrated in its name. Shall Americans lose, through their war for democracy, that primal right they have enj oyed since the nation was born—the right of the people to speak, to write and to meet, what, how and where they wish? The senate subcommittee, dominated by that staunch old reactionary, Knute Nelson of Minnesota, seems determined that they shall. : j You are capable of managing the affairs of the republic,gang neverthe_less You avoid doing so, though in quality of a citizen you are obliged to take care of the commonwealth. Be no longer thus_ negligent in this matter; consider your abilities and your duty with more attention, and !et not slip the occasion of serv- ing the republic and of render- ing it, if possible, more flourish- ing than it is. : —Benjamin Franklin.