Morris tribune., 1918-03-01

entially, with an attempt to muzzle the
public press and individuals, and you
says: "a declaration of war does not
repeal the constitution of the United
| States and the unwarranted interfer-
ence of military and other authorities
with the rights of individuals must
cease" There has been no attempt on
the part of the government to muzzle
the press or individual, nor has there
| been an unwarranted interference of
military other authorities with the
| lights of individuals.
Our public officials have been patient
to a marked degree with the attacks up
on our country's cause and that of our
allies by publications plainly in SYM
pathy with the kaiser and by individuals
who are doing the kaiser's work,
some knowingly and some unconscious
ly.
In the twelfth para graph you say that
this war" is largely convulsive effort
on the part of the adroit rulers of war;
ring nations for control of a constantly
diminishing market. Rival groups of
monopoliStS are playing a deadly game
for commercial supremacy"
This is plain denial of the truth ut
tered by our president when he said
that this is war to "rnake the world
ranted attack upon the high purposes
and humane efforts of our country. It
has no place in the literature of any or
ganization that counts among its men,
bers patriotic men or expects to have
It's professions of entire loyalty accept
ed at face value.
AS a part of your decided stand up
on the war question" you refer to the
statement of principles" by John M.
Baer, the congressman elected from
North Dakota by the National Non
Partisan league. You print this state
ment as a part of your war program
of principles
Throughout, Mr.. Baers Statement of
principles" is filled with ifs and lands"
and butts" While protesting devotion
to our countrys cause, Mr.. Baer, in the
second para graph, says: Patriotism,
however, cannot be stirred in a war for
destruction of German autocracy in
Europe if it is begun by the suppression
of democracy in America" Such a
statement, with the inference which it
carries, is wholly unjustifable and has
no place in American literature, parti-
cularly at this time.
In the third paragraph of this state
ment Mr.. Baer complains that congress
has already the lives of the men this
nation and that without first securing
their consent" 1t has never been neces-
sary for an American president or an
American congress to first secure the
consent of the American people in an
effort to uphold the honor and preserve
the life of the nation.
In the fourth paragraph Mr.. Baer
says: 1.-The president says the German
people are as peace loving as ourselves,
and that we are devoted to the pur-
suits of peace. Then, why the millions
of American manhood sacrificed upon
the bloody field of war? 1t is not be-
cause no means have yet been devised
for bringing to agreement these two
f,,1 T holt ic
BILE these two peace loving peoples could
and would agree to peace terms if their
governments led the way by defining
terms that would serve as a basis for
This statement by Mr..
Baer was made after the president had
delivered his, "peace with victory" mes
sage. The paragraph just quoted
amounts to an arraignment of our coun-
try and an effort to raise, in spirit and
purpose, the German government to the
high level taken by the American gov
eminent
We do not mean to say that this par
agraph is German propaganda, but we
do submit that 1t is Identical in terms
with the German propaganda with which
the American people have been sur
feited.
In the sixth paragraph, Mr.. Baer said:
while we are fighting to destroy Ger
man Imperialism, shall we fight to sup
port English Imperialism? Already, as
a result of the war, England holds in
Africa a million square miles Of ter
ritory After an imperial council had
been held recently by the British and
colonial governments of the British en-
pire, the premier stated to the world
that Great Britain would not relinquish
it's hold this territory" This, too, is
an unjust criticism Of our
own government, as though it's purpose
in this war is to uphold and support i'm
perialism in any quarter! Again we do
not mean to say that this is German