The Princeton union. [volume] (Princeton, Minn.) 1876-1976, 1917-06-14

Today is the one hundred and for
tieth anniversary Of the birth of Old
Glory-our flag, and the sacred en-
blen of the high ideals and sublime
principles that make our beloved coun-
try the hope Of the civilized world.
May it live forever. FIJI =.
nnnHn
Constantine, the degenerate king of
Greece, has quit his job and is Sue
ceeded by his second son, Prince Alex
ander. Greece, it is expected, will now
line up with the allies. Constantine
was pro-German and his wife was a
sister of the kaiser.
HnnHH
Governor Burnquist made no mis-
take when he appointed Ex-Governor
John Lind a member of the State
Public Safety commission. Owing to
Mr.. Lind's large experience in public
affairs, his honesty Of purpose and
his fearless independence he is valua-
BILE member of the commission, and
will do his duty as he perceives- it
| without regard to consequences.
HHn 49,
| Read Hon. Franklin K. Lanes
speech, recently delivered in Washing
ton, which appears elsewhere in this
issue of the Union. Mr.. Lane is Sec
rotary of the Interior, and is generally
regarded as by far the ablest member
Of President Wilson's cabinet. He
tells why the United States is in the
war, and makes use Of no superfluous
words in his presentation of incontro-
vertible facts.
- HHH
Commenting on the fact that John
Spargo in shaking the dust of the
socialist party from his person said
| that the organization ''is probably the
greatest single obstacle to socialism
in America" the Toledo Blade peril
nently says: "Perhaps the leaders of
the party don't want it to progress.
It might mean dividing the kaiser's
money into smaller lots" That is just
about the size Of it.
~ - -
"Prison reform" is the latest fad to
be exploded. A lot Of meddlesome
sentimentalists some few years ago
conceived the idea of instructing ex-
perienced wardens how to discharge
their duties. Considerable public SEN
timent developed, and the various re-
form societies were enabled to dis
organize prison discipline to certain
extent. One Of the results was the
| recent revolt in the Illinois peniten-
tiary.
- HnHn
Congressman James of Michigan
recently handed straight-fro
shoulder reply to a chronic critic who
wrote him complaining of his vote on
increasing the army. Here it is:
1t occurs to me, sir, that you do not
like this country. You seem to want
to neither fight for it yourself nor to
allow anyone else to fight for it. If
your own Congressman is too busy to
get you a passport to the country that
you seem to prefer to this, I will glad
ly secure the same for you.
~ - -
A number of good souls have pro-
fessed to be more or less alarmed Of
late, lest certain necessary stringent
war measures change America from
a democracy to an autocracy. Bosh.
In this connection the Preston Times
hit the nail squarely on the head when
it said that American people will not
lose their liberties until they lose their
manhood. Certainly not. No matter
what restraints are imposed during
the war, America will emerge from the
| conflict as democratic as it was prior
to hostilities.
- HRHn
Shame on the American citizen who
for business or political reasons is
afraid to show his colors in the pres
ent crisis. The American who fails to
stand up for his country is an arrant
coward. Up until the time that this
country was forced to take steps to
protect it's citizens and maintain the
honor and dignity of it's flag it was not
out Of place for any American to SYM
pathize with any Of the belligerant
nations, but now there is only one
side to the question and that is the
American side
- - -
The Duluth Herald calls attention
to the fact that virtually all Of the
men who have fought registration are
foreign-born, and then says:
Punishment Of those who evade
their duty to the country should be
rigorous and should miss none. But
after this punishment is inflicted, why
not, at the earliest opportunity, de-
port those aliens who have abused the
! hoc i%o1S of IL 1o~,;