Grand Forks herald. [volume] (Grand Forks, N.D.) 1916-1955, 1917-06-11
NOTHING NEW IN 1T

Shocking as 1t is. there is nothing new in the effort
Of Socialist agitators in North Dakota to hamper the
in its prosecution Of the war. 1t is a fol-
lowing out Of the regular Socialist program. We have
seen numerous manifestations of the same spirit, and the
only difference now is that the issue before the country
is SO pressing and 80 tremendous that 1t seems incredible
that men living under the protection of American gov
eminent should, in this time OF emergency, raise their
Voices to utter anything that can in any way tend to
make the work of that government more difhcult than
it is. no matter what private grievances there may be to
be redressed. no matter what domestic wrongs there may
be to be rghted.
For instance, once a year in Grand Forks public
subscriptions are taken for the support Of the Associated
Charities. The business of that organization is to relieve
families that are in distress. This is done by supplying
food, clothing, medical attendance. and so forth, whore
these are needed. and wherever possible, by finding work
for those who are able to perform 1t, in order that the
wholesome sense of self-support may not be destroyed.
Most people have contributed to this cause gladly.
They recognize the fact that always there are cases which
need immediate attention, and that it is necessary that
there should be some central organization through which
this work can be handled intelligently and effectively.
But on several of these occasions-two or three. at least.
local Socialists, some Of whom have since become lieu
tenants of Townley. have not only refused to contribute
to this fund. but they have sought to dissuade others
from doing so. Their opposition has been shown in the
distribution of circulars and handbills. in the display Of
posters rdiculing the charitable work, and in the mouth
ings OF these agttators on the street corners and in public
places in condemnation Of the whole movement.
Why has this been done? Consider the explanation
given by the Socialists themselves. Society, they say.
is organized on a wrong basis. Some people have too
much money. some not enough, and some none at all.
Poverty 10 the result Of a wrong system. Reform the sys-
tenn and poverty will disappear. Hence, to make. dona-
lions to the poor is the wrong way to go about the busi-
ness.
This is just a sample Of something with which we
have long been familiar. This sort of thing has been OF
commo occurrence. 1t has been a part Of the regular
Socialist program. And now the same methods are be.
ing employed in the nations great emergency. The
nation is at war, but what Of that? Some people are
making too great profits. Others are not making enough
Therefore we will refuse to perform .the duties that ON
citizenship imposes on US. We will take the govern
ment by the throat and compel the changes which w
maintain should be made.
That is the program. In the local case there VA
no thought for the suffering which could not await tn
slow processes Of political and economic change. Their
were hungry mouths to be fed, freezing rooms to be heat
ed. the naked to be clothed and the sick to be ministere
unto. But what does the agitator care for all that. LIE
the poor suffer. Let them die. Some day things will b
different, and there will be no poor. So in the nationa
emergency. The fact that the nation has entered upo
q struggle for its very life counts for nothing. Let gu