New-York tribune., 1918-03-21

rally I wish to say further that for me
there are, during this war, but two parties,
one composed of the loyalists and the other
of the dsloyalsts The only party whose
cause / shall strive at this time to advance
is the party composed of those Americans
who, heart and SOUL are loyal to their coun
try. The only issue that to me is para
mount at this time is the winning Of this
war, and that cannot be done if our house
is to be divided against itself through false
accusations the part of political agita-
tors such as those who head your organi-
zation
The only party and politicians whom /
am in this campaign going to oppose are
that party and those politicians who, for
party purposes, by innuendc otherwise,
are discouraging our people by claiming
this is begun by the rich, or that the
burdens Of the conflict will fall more heav-
lily on one class than another, who make
statements which in some way or another
will lengthen the conflict by creating dissat-
isfaction at home and thus indirectly cause
the death Of additional thousands, if not
millions, Of our fellow citizens on European
battlcfeds.
Tyeasonable Conduct
We all agree that war profteers should be
dealt with as drastically as it is possible
to deal with them. But it cannot be said
this is rich mans war, for those who
have gained most from it would have made
greater profits if the United States had not
es1tered it. l hold no brief for any class,
but to make the farmers or laboring men
believe their sons are Disseminated against
in this war, as implied in your statement of
principles, is reasonable conduct, for the
rich mans sons are conscripted proportion
ately to greater extent than some of the
farmers and labOrers
Attack "Big Business"
Your leaders are continually attacking
what you term "big business" Personally
! ! am as strongly opposed any one to what
is known government by big business.
would be equally opposed to a government
by any particular industrial class. The
public official who would allow himself to
be controlled by the sef-apponted guar
dians OF element of society would
thereby render himself unfit to hold public
Office. If I, as Governor of this state, would
! permit myself to be put in position where
could be compelled. to cater to anv par
ticular set of men l could not be fair to
organized or unorganized labor, to farmers
! organizations or any other organizations,
to big business or to little business
Not Sincere
Knowing l do the political ambitions
OF your organization and the false charges
that some of its leaders and agents have
made through your official newspapers
against honest and patriotic public officials
cannot believe that back Of the invitation
you have sent me is any sincerity of pur-
pose. The failure on the part of any one to
turn over the state government to those of
your officers who have assumed the organi-
zatlon OF the alleged Nonpartisan League
and the control of the millions of dollars
collected from its members will undoubt.
edly create opposition, but know that such
men, pretending to be friends Of some par
ticular class and deceiving some well-nten.
toned people, cannot long continue their
policy of deception, for the patriotic farm.
ers in the country and the loyal laborina
men in the ctv know that their true
friends are among those who strive for the
maintenance of law, order and justice, espe
cially in this the most serious hour of ou,
history, for that unity of the American peo
pie essential to the successful Termination
OF the war. Very truly yours.
j. A. A. BURNQUIST.