The Fargo forum and daily republican. [volume] (Fargo, N.D.) 1894-1957, 1918-06-22
WICK DECLARES
NORTH pAKOTANS
CANNOT ATTAIN
ENDS BY STRIFE
Congressional Candidate
Deals With Present Day
State Issues
MUST COME BY
SANE THINKING
Socialist Autocracy Has
No Place In Scheme Of
Things Here

In an address In Fargo on Wednes-
day evening, Henry G.. Wick. candi-
date for congress from the First
North Dakota district, set forth his
views Of present political conditions
in North Dakota in a most convinc-
ing manner.
In part. he said:
Talk of opposition to the best in~
terest Of the farmer is sheer nom
sense, for the farmer in North Da.-
kota is the basis upon which our
whole economic superstructure ID
erected, and prosperity for the far
mer, OF course, means prosperity for
US all.
Il am not so blind that I cannot
see that the farmer has had a grew
ance In the marketing and distIbu-
ton Of his products, but certainly
am too blind and stupid to see how
you are going TO right that grievance
by preaching socialism and class hat
red. shall be only too glad to
support any sane measure to right
the wrongs of the farmer. I shall
be only too glad to join any sane
movement to solve the economic
problems of the agricultural inter-
ests of the great northwest, but
refuse to be stamped by Bolsheviki
propaganda.
II am willing to go far in pro-
gressive legislation, but believe that
a good many of our so-caIled reforms
can wait until after we win the war.
] know that the Bolsheviki leaders
and lecturers get wildly excited If
you merely suggest the fact that
some Of their reforms are less
important than winning the war.
Yet If you were repairing your house
and 1t caught fire you certainly would
stop your repair work and give all
your energy to putting out the fire.
Today the world Is on fire and I'M
Gle Sam may yet have to be the
chief fireman in putting out that
fire. So I think we may say that
our first, Job, our main job, your job
and my Job, Is to win this war.
Put out the fire and then resume
house repairing.
And want to assure you that If
am elected to congress shall not
go to Washington and demand that
the president state the lowest pos
sible compromise terms on which we
viii quit; but rather I shall offer
to the president my vote on all meas
ures than can possibly help win the
war, and shall offer my voice in
praise Of the magnificent and states
man-Iike manner in which he has
stated to the world the cause for
which we fight. President Wilson
has not yet found it necessary to
have q coalition cabinet, but in a,
crisis like this the president and the
administration represent to ms as
they do to the world my country,
30 eta Il
by them. In such a crisis I would
put patriotism above party, and on
all war questions we must act, think
and vote, not as Republicans, not as
Democrats, but as one hundred per
cent Americans.
I'VE have come to the parting OF
the ways. Two or three years ago
many Of us in America thought this
great world war was not our affair;
but the time came when it was no
longer England's war or Frances
war but Americas war, your war and
mine. The time came when we could
no longer keep hands off and honor
intact. 80
Auteeracy In Control.
so with regard to this so-caIled
farmers movement, Two years ago
many Of us thought 1t was not our
affair. Many OF US were sympathetic
and more Of us were apathetic. Part
OF the program seemed to make q
special appeal to men of progressive
ideals. Most Of US, OF course, rec~
ogniZed the perfect right Of the far
mers to organize and hoped this or
ganiZation might be a great factor
in solving the economic problems of
the farmer. But 1t certainly does not
not now take any giant intellect TO
see that the farmer members are not
in control, but that the Organization
Is under the complete domination
Of an autocracy Of appointed
leaders.
1T should not take a giant intel
lect TO see that while the whole Give
ilized world has been fighting for
democracy and against autocracy, a
large mass Of the farmers OF the
sarcasm but in sorrow-a large mass
Of the farmers Of the northwest have
been paying so much per head to
build up an autocracy OF their own
an autocracy which they did not
elect, an autocracy Of few self ap-
pointed, self-constituted leaders, an
modelled as that in Ger
many.
German Propaganda.
Here Judge Wick told Of his knowl-
edge of Germany and German affairs
gained while a student at a German
He compared the propas
ganda OF miIitarism preached from
press and pulpit in Germany to the
Bolshevih propaganda preached by
ToWnIey and his lieutenants. He
showed the dire results Of the pera
sistent propaganda la hypnotizing the
German people and compared a like
result in North Dakota. He com
pared the controlled press OF Ger
many TO the controlled ToWnIey
press.
sTalk about the kept press
There Is no kept press In North
Dakota except the ToWnley press.
The Towuiey idea Of a controlled
press was made in Germany Gsr-
many has just such press els Town
ey wants There Is no large. strong,
.ree and influential independent press
n Germany. The papers Ia Germany
occupy a like position 10 that of The
Courier News and Nonpartison Lead
r.. When q. R was president he was
lften made % feel the sting Of crit
clam BY the independent republi lean
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