Grand Forks herald. [volume] (Grand Forks, N.D.) 1916-1955, 1917-08-10
AND GRONNA

A preacher once took, for his text the words 49,
and Bartholomew He had noticed that In the script.
ure Bartholomew name never occurred without the con.
junction. He was never mentioned alone. It was always
Philip and Bartholomew" Just what lesson the preach
er drew from this fact is not stated. but IL the same
preacher were doing business now he might find matter
for a sermon in the words. '-7--and Gronna.,.
Senator Gronna has elected to be the echo OF Senator
LaFollette. and his efforts in that direction are being
crowned with success. North Dakotans are Interested in
this pair because Senator LaFollette has had in this state
a large following, and because Senator Gronna is a North
Dakota man. and his behavior has done much to bring the
state into disrepute.
These men have played the part of obstructionists
in everything pertaining to the war. = If the kaiser mad
mapped out the course Of two United States senators in
the way best calculated to serve the interests Of his gov
eminent he could not we'll have arranged for more effect
i've work. They have fought with persistence every act
calculated to interfere with the German ambition for
world rule. They counselled a timorous and shameful
policy of dealing with the German sea menace. They
conspired with some ten other senators to block the arm
ed neutrality bill. They opposed the declaration Of a state
OF war. They have opposed every step taken by the gov
eminent to provide men and equipment for the carrying
on Of the war. They have become identified with the
work of a disloyal society whose stock in trade is denun-
citation of the American government and opposition to
what the American government is doing. And, with
scrupulous care and painful consistency, they have voted
against the food control bill through which the govern
ment will be able to conserve the food supplies Of the
United States and direct Its distribution in such a manner
that adequate supplies may be provided for the consumer
at prices as low as are consistent with a fair return to the
producer. II, for his own advantage. the kaiser could
prepare a better program for two American senators, we
should like to see him try his hand at it. l
The fact that the obstructive tactics followed have
been only partially successful does not change the char
acter Of the acts. The United States has actually assert
ed itself. Formal war is actually in progress. The con-
scription law, the just, effective and democratic method
of selecting soldiers, is in operation. Arrangements are
being made to send American soldiers to the place where
the fighting Is to be done, and some Of these soldiers are
already on the ground. This is in contrast to the coward
ly policy Of remaining safe at home while others do our
lighting for US. The food control bill is a law, and it will
ha all NV a 10 AE A11a - k1.i. -aA-ixL
standing the valiant efforts of LaFollette- and
Gronna.
Whatever the failure of these men to. produce the re-
suits at which they aimed. the quality of their acts is the
same as If those acts had been followed by their intended
results. and even by the results which, even If not spe-
officially intended, were the logical outcome of their
course. The country is to be congratulated on their fall
ure, but the senators themselves are chargeable with all
the possible consequences of their unpatriotic acts.