The evening herald. [volume] (Albuquerque, New Mexico) 1914-1922, 1921-08-23

dangerously radical body which seeks to gain aud hold power by d
mixture of demagogy and auioeraey and which has driven the state
experiments in collective ownership. Charges Of pro-Gernansm
and disloyalty were also freely made against some of the league
Professor Andrew A. Bruce, a former chief Justice of the supreme
court of North Dakota. is uneompromisinrly opposed TO the league
and all its works in his book on the movement just published by the
Mcmillan company. lie feels that the organization is Fundamentally
abuses which existed in the state government of North Dakota in
preleaguc days, he contends that the new despotism of the league
is worse than the old despotisnl of the party bosses.
The author, who was defeated for recollection as chief justice
because of the leagues policy of Furnishing its judicial enemies and
rcwarding its friends, is especially bitter in his criticism of the non
partisans for openly bringing the judiciary into politics He secs
in the open efforts of the league to elect some Judges that defeat
Others a pernieious tendency to destroy the dignity and impartiaHy
of the courts. He feels that the judges in a state controlled by the
nonpartisans are in danger of becoming prejudieed makers rather
han dspassionate interpreters of the law,
Professor Bruce is severe in his structures against the league
leaders. lie represents them as, for the most part, disappointed and
embitered men who are seeking consolation for business failures
in the exercise of arbitrary political power He speaks repeatedly
of the league leadership as "a socialist hierarchy, And he writes
There can be no doubt that, though the large majority of the
members Of the nonpartisan league perhaps ART economically sound
and are certainly morally pure and are certainly patriotic, they have
allowed their organization to become the tool OF a handful OF political
aud social radicals, TO whom nothing is now sacred or worthy to be
preserved, and whose ultimate aim is the destruction of all that can
make our civilization endure"
The struggle between the nonpartisans and the conservatives
for the control of North Dakota has gone on without ntcrmission
since the league won MS tlsi political victory N 1916: AZ tue last
election the power of the farmers organization was shaken, since
their opponents secured a small majority in the lower house of the
Legislature rms mas created something oi a deadlock III t' s'at,
administration, a IS the ponpartisals still coutrol the governor and
marketing OF an issue OF state bonds The conservatives refused TO
cooperate In this undertaking unless some of the more radical policies
Of the league were abandoned and the large Chirago and New York
financial houses declined TO accept the bonds for sale.
Naturally. in the course of a long and desperate political struggle
each side has accumulated a large number of grievances against the
other. Professor Bruce draws mp a formidable indictment against
the league He accuses i OF LEGISLATIVE terrorism, Of administrative
J. W. W. and other sediions elements. lie is inclined 10 stress the
legal aspects Of the nonpartsan movement. to rcproach the league Of
fcnk for dcstroyigg. in spirit at leas' the minority safeguards in
He also denouaee' the tendency of Townley and other league
." r." 1r leaders av r%'" Of ,G rT Lr "sar 1 u. S s%s &p MN he n n h lasting %sy. '. .,n"",
10 destroy the faith aud eonuadeslP Of America