The Princeton union. [volume] (Princeton, Minn.) 1876-1976, 1918-03-14

Nll.NEsoTA. THURSDAY, MARCH IA,
our society, is we'll nigh incompre-
henslble. The only explanation that
can be given is the fact that some of
the leaders and organizers Of the Non
partisan league are evidently not yet
known as well to the farmers and la
borers Of our state as they are to those.
VINO have had more experience with
them.
Another reason for declining your
invitation is the possibility of constru-
ing my presence at your partisan cam.
palgn rally by some as an Endorsement
Of your propaganda. It is, of course,
the duty of the governor to be fair to
al classes and to oppose any program
winch is likely to result in division
OF our state into classes. Such array
ing Oh class against class would be
welcomed by the enemies of our re-
puDlc, Tor such a course will tend to
defeat our nation in this war and will
eventually mean the dissolution of our
form form OF government and the undermine
ing OF the economic and political free
dom Of our people.
He who in normal times needlessly
arrays class against class is most Of
ten the ambitious demagogue, but any
individual who will do so when our
naIlon IS IN life-and-d death struggle
is knowingly or unknowingly trai-
tor to his state and to his country.
In declining to speak at your party's
rally wish to say further that for me
there are during this war but two par
ties, one composed Of the loyalists and
the other Of the disloyalists. The only
party whose cause I shall strive at this
time to advance is the party composed
Of those Americans, who, heart and
soul, are loyal to their country.
The only issue that to me is para
mount at this time is the winning of
this war, and that cannot be done if
our house is to be "divided against
itself" through false accusations on
the part of political agitators such as
those who head your organization.
The only party and politicians who
IN this campaign am going to oppose
are5 that party and those politicians
who, for party purposes, by innuendo or
otherwise, are discouraging our people
by claiming this is a war begun by the
rich or that the burdens of the war will
falE more heavily on one class than
another or make statements which in
some other way will lengthen the con-
t1lct by creating dissatisfaction at home
and thus indirectly cause the death of
additional thousands if not millions of
our fellow citizens on European battle
fields.
We all agree that war profiteers
should be dealt with as drastically as
it is possible to deal with them. But
it cannot be said that this is a rich
mans war, for those who have gained
most from it would have made greater
profits if the United States had not
entered it.
slhold no brief for any class, but to
make farmers or laboring men believe
their sons are Disseminated against in
this war as claimed in your statement
OF principles is reasonable conduct,
for the rich mans sons are conscripted
proportionately to a greater extent
than the sons Of the farmers and labor
ers. This is apparent because of the
exemption of those needed to support
their dependents and the exemption
allowed because of agricultural and in
dustrial pursuits. Up to this date
about per cent of the male population
Of our country has been called and go
per cent of the war taxation has come
from business profits and incomes,
falling mostly on those best able to
pay it. If anyone, for money reasons,
would strive to continue this war or
make unreasonable profits through
the carrying on of the same, such an
individual is as much of a traitor to
his country but no more of the traitor
than he who would use this time to
divide our forces through the creation
OF class hatreds and fractional discon-
tent.
Your leaders are continually at
lacking what you term big business.
Personally / am as strongly opposed
as anyone to what is known as gov
eminent by big business. I would be
equally opposed to a government by
any particular industrial class. The
public official who would allow him
self to be controlled by the self-ap-
pointed guardians Of certain element
OF society would thereby render him
self unfit to hold public office.
II !, as governor Of this state, would
permit myself to be put in position
where could be compelled to cater to
any particular set of men, or where I
could not be fair to organized or un-
organized labor, to farmers organiza-
lions or any other organizations, to big
business or to little business, would
be unworthy of the confidence of the
voters of our commonwealth who can
freely and secretly exercise the rights
OF franchise without the payment of.
$l6 to Inscriptions schemers for the
privilege Of voting or being told how
to vote.
Knowing as I do the political am
bitions of your organization and the
false charges that some of it's leaders
and agents have made through your
official newspapers against honest and
patriotic officials, cannot believe that
back of the invitation you have sent
me is any sincerity Of purpose.
The failure on the part Of anyone to
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