Grand Forks herald. [volume] (Grand Forks, N.D.) 1916-1955, 1920-06-09
Pershtng had been engaged in more
or less important dutieA
STRONG SOCIALIST ENDORSE
MENT,

STRONG SOCIALIST AaDOFtSEr
NEWT.
Fhore has Just been issued from
the press Of Harper & Brothers
book by Charles Edward Russell en-
dt3sd. ."The story Of the NoupartisAn
LAasue." To appreciate. such . book
and estimate its valve correctly 1t
10 necessary to know something Of
the identity and career. Of its author.
Who - Charles Edward Russell!
Mr.. Russell is rather we'll known.
has been consuicuoua for a good
many years az = writer ON economic
subjects. He has been q sturdy ad-
vocate Of the principles Of Marian
and was for many years q
prominent member OF the Socialist
pAr6. Shortly after the Unaeed States
eutesSd the late war he LETT that ar
t. but hia abandonment. Of Il was not
caused By sAYseAao1oin his opinions.
Hs.AWsossd Of taAe -paztiopAtion Of
the*un1EsdaSe&tas In ehs ~<sand ielt
the~socaaetst,p srty bsoews~he.haad,d&
10 besan~unpa41ssho ong1AAna4fon. bat
he II
tho ,ps4ncp1saeslS11aEx AAdfA3saopin-
Iona On 0eossus5aCka ,1enAtnsd un-
ohanEed.
In 1910, AE RUSSELL, sstxseeSh his
opa1ions.t1 . book sn4Akled why I
aH1n-A~=9ooaaltsk" andsaa rlatesas 1875
edaeton ofa this work Vas
psADl1hed. Observation-Disclosures By ~
sakhoR. Wilma f0w ~mnsahs altar
second edition,
and Wt1hocttD~Author-vA.sdNca mem
berstn good standing .ofrthe Socialist
pasx ana was contributing Socialist
A1f1nasD 10 PaArson's Magazine, of
which he was reported to be part
owner. he was insFareo in daily con-
sultatton with Messrs. Tovnley. Coates
Lamtse and their1mmediate~ associates
and assisting IN the organization Of
N~onpartisan League and the
Of the League organ, he
North Dakota Leader.
Thepzfncaples settforth and the pol
acies advocated in Mr.. Russelrs book
on Socialism are in general, common
to MAX and all his disciples. The
program there laid down. which the
reader will find in the fourteenth
chapter of that interesting volume,
includes the owneruhip and operation
by the state of all factories, banks,
collecting and distributing agencies.
all mean Of transportation, and the
Ian and its products. In short. 1t is
a complete public ownership program.
The individual. instead Of owning and
operating his " business, or being
free to choose his employer, Is to be
employed by the state and all indi-
viduals are to receive as their com
%pensation for their labors an equal
share of the necessaries Of life. Manu-
al labor, according to Mr.. Russell,
should be and will be limited to four
hours per day.
So much for Mr.. Russell and hks
view point. With this outlook he has
written The Story Of the Nonpsrtisan
League" One need be in no doubt Is
to the kind of story that he would
write. Mr.. Russell Is not a historian.
He is temperamentally an advocate,
a protaeonfst, a special pleader. He
owes to take sides in controversies
and to set forth the side which he es.
pouses in the best possible light. He
lacks entirely the judicial tempera.
ment which enables a man to write
discriminatory and fairly, and ia
place 4 Just estimate on the multitude
Of Items which form the basis Of =
controversy.
Hence The Story Of the Nonparti-
san League" is not a history, but an
argument, a defense and an enthusi.
astic commentator. In the opinion
OF MI. Russell the Nonpartisan Leasue
is very, very good, and everything op.
posed to it Is horrid.
The book is useful as a presenta.
ton Of an important Socialist move.
ment in the most favorable ltsht by
a man who il undoubtedly the mos,
conspicuous, and who il probably the
ablest Socialist writer on this CONT.
nent. To the student of economies II
is worthless have as 1t may supple.
ment other literature abailable to him
andras he may be able to read betveeu
Its lines. 1t is entertainingly written
n its arguments are forcefully put
1t gives a running story Of the organ.
lzadon of the league beginning viii
a very extreme stsesnent Of the caus.
es which led W to the movement. Th.
reader Who - really in search Of in.
formation may wonder why in a boob
which purports to be q narrative rath.
er than a bit Of propaganda, wher
mention Is so frequently made Of CD.
position to League plans, and Leagu,
arguments arc so pat1stakiagly Pre-.
sented. there shoxsd be no mentor
anywhere of tho grounds on which
opponents attempted to justify thei,
attitude. This lack Will be quite an.
parent to the outside reader who ha.
no advance knowledge Of the hhtor,
of'th3s state. 1t will be sttl more ~
parent to the reader who haus<kspt /.