The producers news. [volume] (Plentywood, Mont.) 1918-1937, 1919-10-10
this conference.
MiLITARIST PLANS

prominent men in the American
Legion have hit upon a scheme for
evading the issue of universal mill
tary service, against which the rank
and file of the legions seems to be
firmly set. They are planning to pro
pose, at the national convention of
the legion in Milwaukee in Novem-
Der, the same resolution which slid
through the state legion convention
in Minnesota condemnation of
universal military service" in time
OF peace, but an Endorsement Of "uni-
versal military training"
1t is pointed out by the men who
are opposing the schemes of the mill
ta!lst clique that not one of the bills
offered in congress has made any dis
tlncton between training" and "scrv.
ice." A boy under the control of the
general staff for training" may be
sent to the Philippines or anywhere
else for his training" in the art Of
war. He will obey or get swift
courtmartial.
Yet it is common talk in Washing
ton that four-fifths of the members
OF congress will vote for system OF
universal compulsory military "train-
ing" before this winter has passed.
JOKER IN RAIL BILL
Glenn Plumb has discovered anoth
CT startling possibility in section 20
Of the Cumnins railroad bill. Sec
lion 20 prohibits any two or more
persons from combining or conspiring
to prevent the transportation of pas
Ecngers or commodities, or doing any
thing which has the substantial effect
of preventing the transportation of
or commodities on the
railroads. 1t is meant, of course, to |
forbid strikes of railroad employees.
But Plumb sees something more in it.
Suppose" he told the senate COM
mittee on interstate commerce, "the
California fruit growers organization
should decide TO withhold shipment
OF fruit to the market, because prices;
We're low. Under this law they might
b. held criminally liable. their act
would be the refusal to accept price,
ouclvu them by dealcrs-private per-
sons: For refusal to accept prices Of
1crcd to them by dealers-prjvatc
persons. For refusal to accept prices
to them, then, they would be
liable to fine and Jail. In the same
way, coal producers might be held in
Jail for refusal to ship coal at prices
offered by factories.
Essentially, this section under
takes to brand men as criminals be-
cause they refuse certain prices and
conditions offered them by private
capital. Aside from the fact that the
scheme violates the constitutional
right of freedom from Involuntary
sclVitude, it is a direct violation OF
the constitutional and statutory right
Vi freedom Of contract
BERGER CASE REPORT
70 big volumes, containing some
LOO pages Ct hearings and docu-
rhcnts in the case of Victor l.. Berg
r, the Socialist nlember-elect from
lie fifth Wisconsin district, have been
b. the special house COM
rittee which has been considering
vn"i.,cl he shall be excluded from
congress. In these volumes are most
ii The Socialist party documents of
lie period OF 1917-19lS, together with
! vast amount Of propaganda matter
md the record of the trial of the So
:ialis: officials in Chicago.
The kernel OF Berger's plea to the
committee is found in the appeal of
lis counsel, Henry f. Cochems, that
he people of any congressional dis
,rict are the sole Judges of what per
,on shall represent them in congress.
There is no immediate prospect of
;ction on the part of the committee.
When a congressman tries to get
he war department to surrender any
hing from military boarding to i'm
Mediate public use, he finds himself
involved in a swamp Of red tape.
ANOTHER RED TAPE CASE
representative Sinclair has for
ol1c n10ill,,:; ';c-: Titan .,,irg letters
With the department, on behalf on the
tate engineer Of North Dakota, in the
lope Of locating some OF the extra
Tres and spare parts that will be
'ccded for the upkcep of the 40y
motor trccks which were allotted to
he state by the recent postoftice APP
'ropriation act for highway develop
:lcnt work.
After a voIuminous correspondence,
With generals and lesser persons Rep
'csentativc Sinclair finds that the
Judge advocate general has decided
hat until congress snail have passed
! special bill on the subject, the spare
Tres and parts can not be distributed
along with the motor trucks.
More than that, the military gen.
leman to whom inquiries are turned
'vcr, makes lengthy arguments
against the permitting of any state
government to get more than one
ears supply Of tires and spare parts
because it would create a scandal if
he tires should go to pieces and the
metal parts rust on their hands, He
wants the lawmakers to see that all
ut one years supply Of these goods
hall be left to the department. to
II on the wholesale market, "for
What we can get"
Chairman Kahn of the house CON-
nittee on military affairs has intro ,
't'cId bill providing for distribu-
ion to the states of reasonable
'l3i y of tires and spare parts.
EEXl- ASSICTA Mt AT