The Washington herald., 1917-08-13
REP. JOHN BAER
IS NO PACIFIST
New Member from North
Dakota Says Germany
Should Be Curbed.

Representative John NJ. Baer. the
new Representative from North Da-
kota, and called The Baby of the
House." by virtue Of his youth, said
yesterday he Is no peace advocate in
the general acceptance of the words.
Representative Baer arrived In WASH
Ington arm in arm with the National
Nonpartisan League, which sent him
here. The moment he took office he
announced that the league wants
President Wilson TO restate America 5
war aims; does not want him TO send
young men into battle unless those
young men know why they are fight
ing; does not want annexations, eco
nonnic advantages, indemnities And,
with all the peace talk in the air, the
Impression went around that here was
another peace-at-any-price league.
But we are not with Germany by
any means" said Mr.. Baer. We be-
heve that IL Germany will not accept
a peace dictated by true democracy,
then she should be crushed-crushed
absolutely"
Mr.. Baer talks with a drawl. He
Is large, weighing perhaps rs pounds.
He moves rather slowly and his large
horn glasses lend no hint of an ag-
sressive nature. But the new legls-
lator is full Of determination to show
to the people Of the country how the
farmers who sent him to Congress
are being treated.
Aims of League.
~Our league Is thoroughly econom-
b." said Representative Baer. 'It Is
not 8 peace movement in any sense
n Is not connected with any peace
movement. We do not intend in any
way to interrupt the progress Of war.
Our State platform seeks to estab-
IshI
81. State owned, State controlled
terminal elevators. flour mills, pack
ing plants. cold storage and the like.
u state hail insurance.
e. Exemption of farm improvements
from taxation
- Rural State banks.
"Our national platform has not been
quite completed, but in general 1t calls
fort
q. Initiative, referendum and re-
oal.
-. establishment Of national term
NAL elevators at the great terminal
pointA
I'VE declare unequivocally that We
stand for our country right or wrong.
as against foreign governments with
whom we are actually engaged in
war. Still we hold that when We
belive our country wrong we should
endeavor to set her right.
Reason for War.
The only Justification for war Is
10 establish and maintain human
rights and interests the world over.
For this reason we are opposed to
waEinz war for annexation, either on
our part or on that of the allies. or
demanding indemnity as terms of
peace. Bitter experience has proved
that any exactiOns, whether of land
or revenue, serve only to deepen re-
sentiments and hatreds which ineyita-
bly, incite to future wars.
"As n direct result of the war. pri-
vate corporations in our country have
reaped unparalleled profits. The net
earnings of the United States Steel
Corpora ton for 1915 were sell .s31. 80
as against 81. .76S in 1914. an in
crease Of S24S. Oh. .962 The du Pont
Powder Company shows similar
record. Its net earnings for 1915 were
$50 1O7. 500 as against A.S51, T93 in 1914.
an increase Of 81, ,275.9OO.
We are unalterably opposed to per-
mittinE stockholders of private cor
porations to pocket these enormous
profits. while at the same time a
species Of coercion is encouraged to-
ward already poorly paid employees
OF both sexes. in urging them to buy
government bonds to help finance the
war. Patriotism demands service
from all according to their capacity"