The Devils Lake world and inter-ocean. (Devils Lake, N.D.) 1915-1920, 1918-09-18
Sept. II, 1918.
North Dakota Leader,
Fargo, North Dakota.

ASAv SAA0 SAAAN = ySA " I
the privilege, through your columns, of
correcting some errors in your issue of
Sept. 7th, 1918. The issues Of this
campaign are so large that there is no !,
room for personalities or mis-state-
ments, and such will be my position
through the campaign.
In you article you say that two years
ago l was a candidate for Congress
and that I sought the endorsement of
the League; you are mistaken in both
these statements. I have been a can
didate for office but once, and that was
in 1914, before the League was organ
lied; hence could not have sought the
endorsement either Of the League or
of it's leaders.
You also say that I accuse the
League of being socialistic and disloy-
al. I have never charged the League
or it's members with disloyalty or 60
cialism; on the contrary I have re-
peatedly declared that the members
of the League are anti-socialistic and
absolutely patriotic and loyal.
I have said, what I now repeat,
which is, that I believe Mr.. Townley,
Mr.. LeSueur, Mr.. Bowen, MI. Thoma-
son and Mr.. Tiegen, and, in fact all
of the leaders who are in control Of
the Leagues operations, are social
lists; proof as to many of them lies be-
fore me as I write in the North Dako-
ia Blue Book.
These gentlemen have the right to
be socialists if they believe socialism
expresses their hopes, aspirations and
beliefs.
I next said, what I now repeat,
which is, that House Bill A and the
proposed constitutional amendments
are, in many particulars pure social
ism, as for instance the amendment to
Section 1876 by which the state and it's
agencies are. authorized to engage in
any industry, enterprise OF business
whatever, and the customary debt
limit with respect thereto is destroyed;
this is the most dangerous for of So
lcialism.
I believe in cooperative enterprises,
the success of the farmers equity in
this state, the federal farm loan act,
the .Rochdale COOPERATIVE Stores Of
Great Britain and other enterprises
are ample proof in their usefulness but
there is nothing in common between
them and state or municipality operat-
ed enterprises, stores, farms, etc.
Under these amendments any NUM-
cipality is authorized to engage in
farming operation; bonds could be ISIS
sued in any amount to buy up the
lands and then it could engage in
farming; the authority is amply suf-
ficient; indeed, the legislature by am
ending the condemnation status could
authorize these subordinate agencies
!, to condemn the land and pay the own
ers the amount fixed by a jury.
I said, what I now repeat, that So
cialism is disloyal and unpatriotic ana
that no true socialist is, or can be,
loyal and patriotic.
I said this, among other reasons, be-
cause of the st. Louis adopted by the
Socialist Party, in April, 1917, after
this country entered the war; this
platform was reaffirmed at Chicago
by the socialists within the last sixty
days.
Space prevents quoting in full but
among other things in that platform
the Socialist Party declared:
/. cts unalterable opposition to
the war; and it calls upon the workers
Of this country Ito refuse to support
their government in this war"
2. "Our entrance into the European.
war. was instigated by the predatory
Capitalists in the United States***"
8. The war Of the United States
against Germany cannot be justified
even on the plea that it is a war in de-
Tense of American rights and Ameri-
can "honor."
4. ut is not a war against the
tmilitarist regime Of the Central Pow
ers."
S. "They (the American ,people)
have been plunged into this war by
the trickery and treachery Of the rul-
ing class of the country. We brand
the declaration Of war by our country
as a crime against the people Of the
United States**"; in all modern his
tory there has been noswar more just
|ifable than the war IN which we are
about to engages%ss 5
Z. "And in harmony with these
principles the Socialist Party emphat-
!. ically recommends Continuous, active
and public opposition to the war and
!, to conscription"' and pledges its mem
bers Ito oppose any attempt to raise
{ money for the payment Of war ex-
pense by taxing the necessities Of life
OF. issuing bonds ETC."
: The platform was adopted before
the enactment of the sedition laws
! otherwise those who promulgated Il
E would have been sent to the peniten'
j. tiary.
: And it is ebcause they have persistkt
E In carrying out this platform and
teaching these principles that 80 man,
of the leaders and organizers Of TIL