The Nonpartisan Leader Newspaper, April 12, 1920, Page 6

TNonpartisén Teader Official Magazine of the National Nonpartisan League—Every Week OLIVER S. MORRIS, Editor. Entered as second-class matter at the postoffice at Minneapolis, Minn., ungler the act of March 3, 1879. Publication address, 427 Sixth avenue S., Minneapolis, Minn. e Subscription, one year, in advance, $2.50; six months, $1.50. Classified advertising rates on classified page; other advertising rates on application. Address all letters and make all remittances to the Nonpartisan Leader, P. O. Box 2075, Minneapolis, Minn. Member Audit Bureau of Circulation. The S. S. Beckwith Special Agency, advertising representatives, New York, Chicago, St. Louis, Detroit, Kansas City. A NOTED SOCIOLOGIST ON NORTH DAKOTA N ENEMY’S opinion, in its way, is of just as much value as that of a friend. And of more value than either is the honest opinion of an impartial observer, no matter which way it may lean. Edward T. Devine is one of the best known and ablest sociologists in the country. He has been to North Dakota and investigated the Nonpartisan league, but not to make prop- aganda for the League or its enemies. His findings are published in The Survey (New York), in no sense a radical magazine. Mr. Devine has been severe with the League—too severe, we think. We will not admit that he is right in some of his findings, but his opinion is an honest one, honestly arrived at, and that is all that Leaguers can ask or expect of outsiders. This man, who says the League has made some mis- takes and shows that it is sub- ject to human failings, yet has this to say: The farmers of North Dakota are not fools. They have not been led by the nose by Socialists in disguise. They have indulged in speculation and inflated values less than the notoriously sane and hard-headed farmers of Iowa or the reckless retail buyers on Broadway. They have been farm- ing, but at the same time they have been reading and listening and hiring their own experts. S - 2 This is the conclusion of an = honest investigator, not the fu- e ¢ rious denunciations of a propa- _— gandist like Selden of the New York Times, nor the thinly veil- ed pretense of giving the facts of a tricky reporter who knows better but is hired to do other- the public are to “conclude that I THE MISTS ARE CLEARING I = _Aiisrs TS REPRESENTATION things really typical of the coming of the new day in Minnesota. The Star has brought together union labor and organized farmers in a common purpose—has made them joint owners of a big enterprise which is to play an important part in bringing democracy and justice to Minnesota. Those who are still des- perately working to keep the common people divided found little in the Star building house-warming to further their sinister puxr- pose Cok) i DJCTE S PP E RO, All departments of the Nonpartisan and Minnesota Leaders are now installed in the Star building. In addition, the building houses the national and state headquarters of the Nonpartisan league, the state and Minneapolis headquarters of the Working People’s Nonpartisan league (union labor’s political organization co-operating with the farmers), and the Minneapolis Labor Re- view. There is not a bigger publication plant in the Northwest; not a more efficient or better arranged one anywhere. The labor and farmer stockholders of the Star on March 26 inspected with unmixed pride and enthusiasm what their work and money and co-operation have made possible. The Daily Star will announce shortly the date of its first issue. WHY THERE IS HARMONY . HE anti-League, anti-labor press of the Twin Cities was ab- I solutely unable to understand the harmony that prevailed between the recent state conventions of the farmers and la- bor men in Minnesota and the fact that they were able to agree so readily upon their candidates. In an ordinary political convention, composed of self-seeking candidates and their heelers, each seeking to get some unfair ad- vantage of others, such harmony as was displayed by the farmers and labor men would be impos- sible. But, as our correspondent says, these conventions were dif- ferent. They were composed of honest men, gathered for a sin- gle purpose. That purpose was to select the best candidates available to solve the problems of Minnesota. There is only one correct .an- swer to a problem in mathemat- ics—although there may be any number of incorrect ones. It is a common fallacy to believe that - political problems are somehow different—that there may be a number of correct though en- tirely different courses to pur- sue in dealing with any stated set of circumstances. But in public life, as in mathematics, %wo and two must always make our. S R ) - X —\} > Politicians who get three wise, like Pickett of the Coun- :; [/’}’@v , o S ee—— or five as their ansgvers are try Gentleman, both of whom, (—= (",,’/ X - 7 / y ”‘;\*‘Q\ifiv' wrong. There are any number as well as Devine, went to North | == “"*"«;///’ ; PU B(J C / ”fi’t\} == of incorrect answers—but no Dakota. After his adverse criti- \ / ; : _;;//4/%‘.,' A———— public question is settled until cisms, many of them unjustified, | 3{ll/ P‘N(ON Li'!?;/ : it is settled right. : we think, Mr. Devine asks if =7 ~\\\-&\l'l ’ - The farmers and labor men the farmers’ government in North Dakota is a failure, that the Nonpartisan movement has run its course, and that North Dakota may .be expected in No- vember to return to the ancient, well-trodden paths?”’” And he answers by saying: By no means. Recall the acknowledged grievances and in the light of them calmly scrutinize the measures which have been en- acted into law. * * * Perhaps they have attempted too much, ° yet an unprejudiced observer must record the impression that the laws of North Dakota of 1919 appear to have 'a certain unity, a consistency, a solidity and a promise of fruition which are sufficient- ly rare to invite very serious study before lightly condemning them. e ‘ A HOUSE-WARMING HE big new building in Minneapolis, built by the Minnesota Daily Star for itself and to house the offices and plants of farmer and labor publications and organizations, is com- pleted. A house-warming was held March 26, when the thousands of Star stockholders, all Leaguers and union workmen, held a meeting in the new structure. The enthusiastic meeting of the stockholders in the afternoon, the mingling all day of the workers of the farms and of the cities, their holding of impromptu meet-- ings in the corridors, and together with their wives and children organizing inspecting parties to go through the building, were —Drawn expressly for the Leader by W. C. Morris. have studied carefully and thor- oughly the political problems fac- ing the state of Minnesota. They are confident that they have the right solution at hand. It re- mained only to select a “victory ticket” of men who can be elect- ed and set to work to settle these ; problems. After looking over the ticket that has been chosen, who can say the farmers and labor men have made any mistake? It is no ticket of one class, one sect or one faction. It repre- sen‘gs men and women, farmers, wage-workers, professional and business life, those whe were called overseas in the war for de- mocracy and those who carried on the fight at home. Every inter- est in the state is represented—except the professional politician, the grafter and the profiteer—and these classes are the only ones that may be expected to oppose it. £ DIVINE DISCONTENT AD will be the day for every man when he becomes ab- solutely contented with the life that he is living, with @the deeds that he is doing; when there is not forever lt)fi?,tin%r at the dl(l)plixs i)lf }i{is soul some great desire to do some- ing larger, which he knows that h to'do.—PHILLIPS BROOKS. ghlateakolg PAGE SIX $