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

Legion have hit upon a scheme for
evadlng 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
tarist clique that not one of the bills |
offered in congress has made any dis
tinction between training" and 'serv.
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 a swift
courtmartial.
Yet it is common talk in Washing
ton that four-ffths of the members
of congress will vote for g. system OF
universal compulsory military "train-
| ing" before this winter has passed.
Joker" IN RAIL BILL
Glenn Plumb has discovered anoth-
Ell startling possibility in section 20
of the Cummins railroad bill. Sec
ton 20 prohibits any two or more
persons from combining or conspiring
to prevent the transportation of pas
scngers or commodities, OF doing any
thing which has the substantial effect
of preventing the transportation of
passengers 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
were low. Under this law they might
be held criminally liable. Their act
would be the refusal to accept prices
offered them by dealers-private per-
sons. For refusal to accept prices OF
fered to them by dealers-prlvate
persons. For refusal to accept prices
, offered to them, then, they would bt
I, liable to fine and Jail. In the same
l way, coal producers might be held II
= Jail for refusal to ship coal at price,
:, offered by factories.
. Essentially, this section under
- takes to brand men as criminals be
, cause they refuse certain prices ant
: conditions offered them by prlvat
= capital. Aside from the fact that tn
l scheme violates the constitutions
: right of freedom from involuntary
I servitude, it is a direct violation Q
the constitutional and statutory RICH
Oh freedom of contract
S BERGER CASE REPORT
! To Dig volumes, containing som
E HOO pages OF hearings and docu
q nIents in the case Of Victor l.. Berg
, er, the Socialist member-elect iron
u the fifth Wisconsin district, have bee
e. published by the special house con
ii n7ittee when has been consldenn
IL wGctnel he shall be excluded tfol
u CONGRESS-. In these volumes are mo-
le OF the Socialist party documents e
the period of 1917-1918, together VII
n a vast amount of propaganda matt
and the record of the trial OF the ,
o. cialist officials in Chicago.
OIL The kernel of Berger's plea to u
AZ committee is found in the appeal
ay his counsel. Henry F. Cochems, tn
g, the people of any congressional ol
ne trict are the sole judges of what pc
VI son shall represent them IN congIe'
% There is no immediate prospect
action on the part of the commute
lg' When a congressman tres 10
;eS the war department to surrender al
thing from military boarding to
rs: mediate public use, he finds INNS
10 involved in a swamp Of red tape.
lgs ANOTHER RED TAPE CASE
ont Representative Sinclair mas
~ some months beca exchanging lew
oe With the department, on behalf on
CO. State engineer Of North Dakota, IN
~ hone of locating some of the ex
L. tres and spare parts that VIII
WIS Wooded for the upkeep of the
VICTOR trccks which were allotted
W The state by the recent postofllce
IN n rro act for highway deVel
fha ment work.
ION After a voIuminous correspond3e7
with generals and lesser persons
mo resentative Sinclair finds thaI
the nudge advocate general has decl
ned that until congress shall nave pas
nal . snecial bill on the subject, the 50
can tires and parts can not be dlSVfioO
fin along with the motor trucks
rike More than that, the military
t,aman to whom inquiries are tul
NJ" over, makes lengthy argum
you against the permitting OF any S
with government to get more IMAM .
airy, Years supply of tires and spare p P
"because it would create scanai
rna- the tires should go to pieces ana :,
hose metal parts rust on their nan e7o+
ross wants the lawmakers to see thaI
xico. but one years supply Of these e
shall be left to the department
in 'a'I on the wholesale market
e of what we can get"
the Chairman Kahn of the mouse
of mittee on military affairs has Il
Al as dncod a bill providing tor Gus.
: the tion to the states of "reasons
i'm sunDlv Of tires and spare parts