The labor world. [volume] (Duluth, Minn.) 1896-current, 1917-04-07
What Other Paper, Say
"IF THAT BE TREASON

"1F THAT BE TREASON"
st. Paul Daily News: Last week
some nfty"seven earnest young men,
students OF Manchester college,
.adopted resolutions which were sent
to Minnesota's representatives in
congress.
Now comes Representative c. B.
Miller, OF Duluth, with a reply,
branding them as "yellow-streaked
and cpwardly." "devoid of patriot
ism," etc.
1t seems we'll. therefore, to recapit-
ulats what the young men said in
their resolutions and to consider also
the case Of Mr.. Miller.
The statement of the Manchester
men was, in substance, as follows:
First, a pledge of their willingness
to give their lives for their country
it the sacrifice becomes necessary.
SECOND, a plea that our govern
ment continue it's policy of neutral
1ty as regards the European belliger-
ents.
Third, g. plea to patriotic Amer
leans to abstain from traversing the
war zones declared by both Great
Britain and Germany and so avoid
plunging America into the war.
Fourth, a demand that our gov
eminent take over the exclusive
manufacture of all war munitions it
may need, thus eliminating war prof.
1t and squelching the lingo campaign
OF the munition- makers.
Fifth. a strong condemnation of
the militaristic propaganda fostered
by a considerable portion of the
American press.
Sixth, a commentator of the
twelve members of the senate who
were willing to give the president the
power to arm merchant ships for
defense, but were unwilling to give
him unrestricted power to use all
other means he might desire.
The sentiments thus expressed
may or may not agree with your
own. Certainly it can be said for
them that they are expressed in a
manly, straightforward way by
large group of sincere young men
whose good citizenship is demon
strated by the fact that they are
thinking and talking about the big
things of life. 1t takes a deal more
moral courage, at this particular
time, to sign such resolutions of hon
est conviction than is displayed by
the Hon. Mr.. Miller of Duluth who,
from his safe seat "in the capitol at
Washington cries, "Yellow- streaked,"
'CoWardly" and some other epithets
synonymous with traitor.
Mr.. Miller has been, since 1909,
the representative in congress from
the steel trusts particular bailiwick
of Duluth. The steel trust supplies a
large proportion of the steel enter
ing in untold millions Of war NUM-
tons manufactured in the United
States since 1914. The steel trust
likewise has recently shown the most
tremendous net earnings in its his
tory-$196, 05S,602 more net earnings
in 1916 than in 1915. The most
pointed of the resolutions signed by
the Manchester students calls for the
absolute elimination of private prof
it in war munitions.
Notwithstanding these more or less
significant facts, far be it from us to
question the motives or the patriot
ism of the Hon. c.. B. Miller of Du-
luth.
We suggest that in the future he
be equally chary in casting cheap,
vicious slurs ON earnest young men
who bravely set forth their honest
beliefs, at the same time declaring
their willingness to give their lives
for their country-a declaration
which we have not yet heard from
Mr.. Miller.