Grand Forks herald. [volume] (Grand Forks, N.D.) 1916-1955, 1917-07-14

men and supplies for the entente armies. And, because
it would place our allies at a decided disadvantage, and
would greatly diminish their effective fighting strength,
1t would increase the need for men from America, and
would render their transportation to the scene Of ac-
tivity more slow, difficult and dangerous. For the
United States it would mean more men, more material,
more money. more of everything that can be used to
crush an active and resourceful enemy.
Mine strikes in Arizona have brought that section
almost to the verge Of civil war. The I. w. w. organ
ization itself actively in the strikes, and a thousand
men, said to be members OF that organization have been
forcibly deported from the city Of Bisbee, while dis
turbances of various kinds are noted all through the
western mining region. 1, w. W. workers are active
everywhere in the affected territory. In view of the
experience which this country had with German agents
before the war, when strikes were fomented by them,
and plots were made, and in many cases carried out, for
the destruction Of property: all over the country, it
would be surprising if German agents had not a hand
its face. And the history Of the !. w. W. is such that
it is easy to credit the statements that have been made
as to the intent Of members of that society to engage
on a wholesale scale in the destruction, not merely Of
the property Of men interested in the employers side Of
the strike, but of property all over the country.
In this connection 1t is interesting, to note the re-
ception being given by various gatherings of North
Dakota farmers, which gatherings are confined to Nom
Partisan league members, to the proposal that has been
made for an agreement between the farmers ana the
l. W. w. or its substitute, the Agricultural Workers
Union, as to wages and working conditions for farm
labor during the harvest season of this year. The
agreement seems to have been framed on the part Of
the league management by Arthur, Lesueur, the well
known Socialist who has appeared as counsel for the
I. w. w. or its members on several occasions. The
agreement is for a wage basis of $500 per day Of ten
hours, with extra time for over time and Sundays. The
meeting at Minot to which the agreement was submitted
endorsed it by a large majority vote. The Valley City
meeting rejected it with equal emphasis, and it is re-
ported that other gatherings are ready to reject 1t.
No statement has been made as to the reasons for the
rejection of the agreement made on their behalf by
Mr.. LeSueur and having the support of Messrs. Town
ley and Coates and others of the leaders. It is not
known whether the chief objection is to the wage scale,
to the general policy of making contracts with an or
ganization composed Of unknown and irresponsible men,
or to negotiations with a society whose record is black
with violence and anarchy.
An event of immediate concern to the people Of the
eastern part Of the state was the election of John M.
Baer as congressman from the First district. The facts
relating to the campaign have been quite fully covered,
and it is not necessary to fight the battles over again.
Mr.. Baer will belong to a party in congress, and it
will scarcely be possible for him to influence legisla-
ton in any important manner. But he will be the first
congressman elected under the auspices Of the
Non-Partisan league, a fact which will attract attention
to him both here and Elsewhere. The fact of his cleo
ton will naturally be used as a stimulus to the work of
league organization in North Dakota and the six ada
cent states in which that work is being pushedN