Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1916-1918, 1917-08-17
ON RussELL's CONSCIENCE.

Charles Edward Russell's action in
discarding the sophistries of socialism
came soon enough to work regener-
alton in him. but the damage he has
done to the country's interests by his
activities in North Dakota cannot be
repaired so easily.
Mr.. Russell was one Of the organ
izers of the Non Partisan league in
North Dakota, which originated in q
laudable effort by wheat farmers Of
that section to avoid the Vaccinations
of Minneapolis board Of trade opera
tors and realize a proper profit on the
product of their farms.
Cooperative elevator concerns made
their appearance in the wheat belt; a
big cooperative exchange was organ.
tied in st. Paul to buck the Minneap-
oils board the auburn haired Con-
gresham Manahan Of Minnesota made
some speeches in the house accusing
the Minneapolis board of half the
crimes on the calendar, and the war
was on.
Organization" became magic
word in North Dakota. Cooperation
scranks, socialistic agitators. !. W., w.
organizers and theorists of various
sorts foregathered at Fargo and Grand
Forks when they discovered that their
oratory could charm huge rolls OF
greenbacks from the fat pocketbooks
Of the prosperous wheat growers. They
mixed one part of sense with ninety
nine parts Of sophistry and their dupes
swallowed the nostrum cheerfully.
Then Russell and others of his kind
<k4 Do ~
with its political and financial POSSIBLE
tiles. Busy and eloquent organizers
went about from farm to farm, collect
ing membership fees from the farmers
and enlisting them in vast army Of
discomfort with every existing condi-
ton.
They captured the legislature; they
became intoxicated with their power
and enacted socialistic laws which
Kansas in It's widest dreams never
had been able to devise. They bought
a newspaper at Fargo and made it
their organ. They elected Lynn J..
Frazier, one of their number, as gov
ernor.
And when the campaign was in pro-
gress they caught up the foolish slogan
"He kept us out Of war" North Da-
kota went democratic by big major
ity wherever it failed to go socialist.
But the remainder Of the country
could permit North Dakotans to work
out their own salvation as long as the
results OF the socialtstic sophistries
were evident merely in that state.
They had got themselves into trouble
with their eyes open, other states
reasoned, and they could worry their
way out as best they might.
Now the baleful Influence has ex-
tended beyond the states borders and
is affecting the whole country. The
pacifist arguments with which Russell
and other orators rallied the North Da-
kota vote last fall are being repeated
by Senator Gronna of North Dakota.
politician whose ear never gets far
from the ground. and by John F. Baer,
newest congressman, whom special
election has promoted from his car
toonist's drawing board in the office OF
the Non-Partisan leagues Official or
gan to seat in the national house of
representatives.
Baer and his colleagues, whom Rus
sell and his organizers have left to
their devices. cannot realize that the
pacifist speeches which were proper
while America was neutral nation
are unpatriotic now with America at
war Baer is in Washington, where he
has been taken up by the paciflsts. He
is daily feature in Arthur Brisbane's
pocifist Washington Times and in due
time his vote will be recorded with
those OF other men in congress who
are proceeding blindly along their anti
American way to make their country's
task in the war as difficult as pos
sible.
Mr.. Russeil's tardy conversion If
worthy Of applause. to be sure. but II
cannot wipe out the damage he has
done his country by his socialistic, UNI
American, unwise campaign in North
Dakota.