The Bismarck tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, N.D.) 1916-current, 1919-01-20
FISHING FOB ENDORSEMENT

Sta-ereots r1ade by r1arnoars u tne see~sI
league caucus a Bls1nacc. ano published IL lsag1s
paDerz are 70 the fsec- that President Kane q
cae University u Nos-n Dakota addressed -ns
Caucus al Z recent 1nee-Ig anG expressed his ap
prevail If the league program which II e pro
ppsed 10 pr into effect. President As1e, 50 the
story GOES. Dold his auditors that this program
is in accord with the Development Of worlo ds1noc-
rag. ard hade them be Of god cnee, even J.
they found il impossible TO put the entire program
into effect Al once, az the reforms proposed were
sure 10 colne. s... .......-..... ..- .s.....
The Herald does not believe that President Kane
did anything Of the sort. Il is true that he spoke
at meeting Of the CAUCUS L is quite likely that
he emphasized the democratic progress Of the age
spoke Of the need for reforms, and pointed out
10 the legislators as one statement has il, that
theirs .Tas z great opport unity But that Presi-
dent Kane endorsed the Wild and visionary pro
gram proposed BY the socialists who are Tow run
ming the state The Herald does not believe, for
such an attitude would be entirely foreign ~ the
character and Inconsistent with the record Of
President Kane, as these have been understood.
Il is 70 be remembered that none but league
members and league newspaper men are admitted
10 the caucus, 50 that Whatever WAS said was in
the presence Of decidedly biased audience. And
the presumption is that those members Of the
caucus who nave occasional gimmerings Of under
standing Of the value Of popular support have
seized upon this address as means Of creating
the impression that their program has the en-
dorsement Of such an authority as the head Of
the leading institution Of learning in the state.
But, aside from what the president of the uni
Il n<+o IN TIM
3tantIy remembered by all who are Interested in
the welfare of the state and the nation that in
with the activities Of the Nonparti-
san league there is something more at stake than
the items Of an economic program. The fate of
North Dakota is not bound up for instance, in the
question Of whether not the state shall operate
it's own terminal elevator. That question has it's
Importance Capable and conscientious men diff
fer on it. And very many Of those who do not
believe that such project is wise will regard its
with composure and without any
hard feelings if the majority is in favor of it. So
it is with number Of other business projects.
These are all important, but they do not go to
the root Of the matter. The question is whether
or not certificate Of respectabiity is to be given
to spirit which, as expressed on scores of plat
forms by the leading speakers Of the Nonpartisan
league, is identical with the spirit Of selishness
and destructiveness which animates the Bolshe-
wiki in Russia, to form Of expression as lawless
and ncendiary as anything that ever came from
the lips Of an |. w. w. agitator.
That sort of thing is a disease which, if permit
ted to run it's course, will be fatal to any society
1t is running rapid course here 1t is one of
the things on which there can be no compromise
We NAV compromise on elevators, on insurance
bills, on all sorts of business policies But there
can be no comprimse on the basic principles Of
organized society. We must stand with the forces
that are trying to tear society down or with those
that are trying to build it up.-Grand Forks
Herald,