Willmar tribune. [volume] (Willmar, Minn.) 1895-1931, 1918-12-04
OBSERVATIONS
(By q Cornfleld Philosopher.)

(By Corntleld Philosopher.)
xIv.-soME STRAY THOUGHTS.
The writer has been on the firing
line" about forty-seven years, during
which time we have gained many not
able victories for the cause OF good
government.
Forty years ago the business enc
mics of the farmers had two argu- |
ments that were kept working night
and day. If the crops were good and
prices low, it was "overproduction."
If crops were Highland prices fair the
cry was "raise more!" II no other
argument was available some change
in the Tariff was advocated. Repub-
lican farmers we're told the tariff must
be boosted; Democrats thot it should
be lowered.
remember that it was seriously
claimed and believe by some that
q mortgage was an evidence Of pros
perity. They told this to crowds OF
farmers and succeeded in corralling
the votes of many Of them!
When one falsehood was worn out,
it was discarded, and a new one in
vented and this process has been re-
peated over and over again even unto
this day. But fortunately. the num-
bers of gullible farmers is daily grow
ing smaller, and beautifully less"
The one hundred and twelve thou
sand Independent voters just record
ed here in Minnesota are causing the
denizens OF Wall Street no end of
worry. We will now have Campaign
of education" financed by big biz to
convert us from the error Of our ways.
The paper makers raised the price
of print paper from about cents per
pound to seven and thereby put nearly
a hundred publishers of country papers
out of business. The League pro-
| poses that the State. shall manufac ture
! it's own spulpWeod Into paper and fur
nish it to publishers at small frac-
ton above cost, just as it does bind
ing Irvine to farmers. And don't you
think there are some wise 90 editors
living on the ragged edge; of prosperity
who oppose this program?
1.-The National Security League" is
the high sounding name OF an organi'
ton located in the shadow of Wall
Street, and financed by some benevol.
ent CD gentlemen with offices located
in that quarter, that is flooding the
country with literature carrying ap.
deals for universal compulsory mill
tary training" the future policy OF
the nation. And they are urging this
ostensibly as means Of preserving
Peace! The question is, will America
fall for such sublime foofishness in. the
face of the experience that Germany
has gone through with?
The Republicans gloat over the fact
that they will have a majority in the
next Congress. But the actual test
will show that the Republicanism 81
principles oftSenators like La Toilette
Gronna, Norris, and Capper, not tC
mention others, does not jibe with the
views and purposes of Penrose and
Lodge and other reactionaries. we
are very likely to see the great party
split squarely in two in the middle
when the 1920 campaign opens.
There are really only two politica,
parties. The reactionaries or defend
ers of privilege" and the progressives
. or advocates of the doctrine Of "Equa
rights for all, special privileges fol
r none" The plutocrats or special priv
r ilege defenders masquerade under var
ious names and titles, one OF then
being Lincoln CD Republicans, bu
{ their aims and purposes are the same
, To maintain control Of the system an(
: means of distribution, both of agri
cultural products and the output from
the forests, mines and factories.
, The Non-Partisan League is making
, some miraculous conversions. II
, North Dakota the Democrats have &C
cepted the full League program though
, not without making some Wry faces
: as though the pill was a little bitter
And in South Dakota both old parties
have adopted all of Townleys program
) though they are little shy at adopt
: ing Mr.. Townley himself. Is it TOT
; much to expect that all Of the Wester1
: states Will annex "Townleyism" b!
1920? And would it be very grea
? stretch of the imagination to believ'
) that even Wall Street will ''com'
!. across by 1924?
: The Trojan Horse.
The Greeks once built on wheels :
great wooden horse just under tn
walls of Troy, their ancient enemy
and filed it with their best and brav
est soldiers. The pnsuspecting Tro
jams rushed out, drove the guard ava!
captured the animal and pushed it in
side the gates with great joy. Blu
the Greek warriors, when inside tn
gates, rushed out, surprised ard over
powered the Trojans and took thu
city. This gift of the Greeks proved
Troy's undoing. So conversion tt
, League, principles on the part of those
who live Oft Of the farmer, and espe
cially Of those holding or seeking pub
lie office should not be taken at it!
face value. It might prove to be an
; other Trojan horse.
J The speeter Of Socialism.
The kept press is filed with warn
ings to farmers to beware OF Social
ism and of Socialistic ideas and teach
ings. The we'll (?) meant endeaVOrs