The Fargo forum and daily republican. [volume] (Fargo, N.D.) 1894-1957, 1917-09-28
STAND
Wins APPROVAL
FROM VIERECK'S
Assurances to Peoples
Council Lauded-Burn-
quist Condemned
GERMAN PAPER BUT
RECENTLY EXPOSED
Had Had Prominent Place
In Some of Sec. Ian
sings Publications

Governor Lynn Frazier received
honorable mention" at the hands of
Viereck's Weekly, formerly The
Fatherland, classed as a pro- German
paper, and whose editor has been
prominently mentioned in the of
fetal expose" issued by the Ameri-
can government in setting forth Ger
man intrigue in the United States.
The honorable mention" comes to
the North Dakota governor because
of his attitude toward the Peoples
Council. The Sept 10 issue Of the
weekly scathingly condemns Cover
nor Burnquist of Minnesota for his
action against the Peoples Council
and praises Frazier's step.
THE wilderness of Beer Sheeba
held no such terrors as the wilds of
the middle west said Viereck's.
Here lurked governors with grim
edicts, soldiers with loaded rifles and
glittering bayonets, and hoarse mobs
roaring execration in the shadows Of
the night. The Peoples Council. ike
the Son Of Man, had not where to fay
its head. Cities rejected it, as Of old
cities rejected Homer.
Compared With Russian Council.
Minneapolis had been chosen, by
a partial referendum, for the scene
of what was planned to be the most
important gathering of this great
organization, which had already held
inspiring mass meetings at New
York and Chicago. The plan was for
a six-day convention, to which
many thousands should come; dur
ing which every phase Of the vital
question Of wartime rights and the
approach to peace would be fully
discussed before a great audience Of
bighearted, bigminded Americans. 1t
was predicted the reorganized coun-
Gil which would result from this
convention would command the at
tention of the world, and would be
in a position to offer advice in the
recognizably authoritative tones of
democracy; being, in manner suit
able to American conditions, a sort
of counterpart of the Council of
Soldiers and Workmen's Deputies in
Russia. In the hopes OF the leaders
of the council, Minneapolis would
share with Stockholm the title of
capital Of the world the projected
convention preparing the way for
peace in America while the Socialist
conference in the Swedish city did
the same in Europe.
SO the active director of the Peo-
pies Council, Louis P. Lochner, with
his staff of assistants, departed for
the greater of the twin cities beside
the Mississippi to prepare the
ground. They discovered promptly
the groISnd had already been prepar-
ed against them. The public places
of Minneapolis were closed to them.
Despite the assurances of protection
given by the Socialist mayor, whose
splendid words already have been
quoted in Viereck's, not hall could
be secured. Money could not pur-
chase them the shelter Of a roof. for
it was the long hand of the money
power which had closed the doors in
their faces.
Governor Severely Scored.
'aThe profiteering forces which
thrive on war could not permit the
plain people of the United States to
discuss peace above a whisper. So
even when a great tent was hired
and the Peoples Council prepared to
outfiank their enemies by discussing
under canvas what they could not
discuss within walls, the power of
the plutocracy confronted them. Gov
ernor Burnquist of Minnesota
whose election by a comfortable ma
jority while the Republican presi-
dental candidate, Mr.. Hughes, bare
ly pulled through in that state, was
strongly suggestive of a political
deal-suddenly appeared in the self
assumed role of protector of peace
and order, which he feigned to see
threatened by this dastardly plot to
assemble some thousands Of free
Americans to discuss their vital in
terest. The danger which ne pretend
ed TO .foresee was, to be sure. the
danger of mob attacks on the con-
ventton; but the gubernatoriaI logic,
Of a brand popular now, dictated not
that every protection should be af-
forded to the law abiding citizens
against the lawless. but that the legal
right Of assemblage should be denied,
with the plain implication the law
less mob would be doing only what
was justified il 1t attacked the con-
vention, with resulting bloodshed
and perhaps fatalities. The armed
militia of this great state. whose
constitution, like the federal consti-
tuition, guarantees freedom Of speech
and assembly. were modified for
use. not to secure these rights. but
to violate them. Even more shocking
was the unveiled threat Of the gov
ernor that blood would be shed free
ly and deliberately to accomplish this
end.
Action Called Unjust.
That the action Of the governor
was wholly unjustihable, and
to a temporary suspension
of self government tn Minnesota did
not hnTu Nhn MdwqTrm nnsm44f& ~ Nfsn