Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1916-1918, 1918-02-01
LOYAL IoWA,S DUTY.

LOYAL loWA's DUTY.
Loyal, self-respecting citizens OF
Iowa should meet the organizers of the
Nonpartisan league at the state line,
a correspondent writes, "and tell them
firmly that they are not wanted In this
state. Iowa should not be bothered
at this critical time by band of poll
teal guerillas."
The sentiment meets with our entire
approval, but unfortunately 1t is too
late now to warn the Townleyites to
stay away from Iowa. They already
are on the ground. They have head
quarters in Des Moines and several
county organizers are busy, signing up
a few recruits and laying plans for the
extensive campaign which they have
decided to wage in Iowa beginning In
April
This is why loyal Iowans must wax
en- to the menace of this socialistc
propaganda and lose no opportunity
to counterfeit its baneful influence.
The Nonpartisan league today Is the
most persistent and insidious lnflu-
ence for destruction Of government
and disorganizat!on Of society that ex-
lists within America. 1t is more dan
gerous than mere socialism because 1t
IS backed by an immense war chest
and is able to plant it's socialistic seeds
of disorder where the plain socialist
himself cannot obtain hearing. 1t is
more dangerous than the |. w. w. De-
cause that frankly lawless organiza-
ton has set itself beyond the pale OF
responsibility and is stamped with
its true un-American brand.
The Nonpartisan league has for its
organizers and leaders men who for
years have been identified with the
socialists and the /. w. W. 1t has
torn whole pages from the creeds Of
both these organizations. 1t has en-
couraged disorder and lawlessness. 1t
has prompted disloyalty and sedition.
In Minnesota, where it has made its
greatest progress except in North Da-
kota, one of it's recognized leaders is
under indictment for melting a. riot
which resulted in extended destruction
of property and in the injury OF many
persons. This same rioting and the
street car strike of which it was fea-
ture, were responsible for a cessation
of work in many factories and shops
where work of vast importance to the
nations war making activities was in
progress.
II the Nonpartisan league were con-
structive or designed to serve any
good purpose it might be forgiven for
some of the methods it adopts, al
though its encouragement of disloyalty
could not be condoned under any cir
cumstance. But it depends for its
existence on nothing but prejudice, the
unrest that is an inevitable accom-
paniment of war conditions and the
readiness of certain proportion OF
every community's people to be lead
away on false and Improbable paths
by the oily-tongued presentation of
any new set of idealistic theories, re-
gardless of their impractability or OF
the impossibility Of their being re-
allied.
For the Nonpartisan league, like the
/. w. w. and the other kindred cults
which have sprung up in America from
time to time, is founded on socialism
and its impractical creed. Its profes.
sed aims are socialistic and the meth.
DDS it proposes to pursue are social.
Socialism dooms its followers and
Socialism dooms its followers and
its victims beyond hope of rescue by
reason of it's basic principle Of athe-
ism. It's materialistic theories of ne
cessity 60 back to a refusal to believe
in God 1t counts itself successful
only when government is overthrow
and governments laws are invalid.
Thus, should socialism gain the upper
hand in America, for instance, as 1t did
in Russia less than a year ago, its
destruction of government and law
would introduce chaos here as wild
and hopeless as that chaos which has
held Russia in its ruinous grip for
months.
Discipline, upon which all govern
ment and all order are founded, Is
based on two sorts of fear Of the pen
atty for infraction of discipline's rules.
The man who believes in God follows
His precepts as best he may because
of his religious faith and because Of
his fear that disregard Of those pre-
cepts will bring endless punishment
and woe. This statement. Of course,
would need to be expanded If this
were a theological discussion, but any
exception that could be cited would be
based on increased faith rather than
uCCI cthSCu lSAi oAu WouAo ohiy PAO'S
the efficacy of religious belief as an
agency for observance Of law.
The man who does not believe in
God is restrained from wrong-doing
only by his fear Of punishment as pre-
scribed by man-made laws. Social.
lists, though they oppose the govern
ment under which they live, have re.
Trained OF late from fighting it and its
war policies openly because OF their
fear Of arrest and Imprisonment, not
through any feeling of loyalty nor
through any conscientious realization
that America is engaged in the war
for the sake of Christianity and the
defense Of humanity.
Should socialism, through the
agency Of the Nonpartisan league and
similar socialistic organizations, OBJ
tain control of Americas govern
mental functions, the first step. Of
course, would be to wipe out all dis
Observation-Disclosures Vas done in BINS