Grand Forks herald. [volume] (Grand Forks, N.D.) 1916-1955, 1921-05-16
FRAZIER BELONGS WITH THEM.

Governor Frazier spoke in Grand Forks On Satur.
day night. The ostensible purpose of his visit was to
stimulate interest in the purchase of state bonds State
bonds and state politics are inextricably interviewer. It
is impossible to discuss the one without touching on the
other. Therefore no one was surprised that the COVER
nor's remarks had a political bearing. That was expect
ed. and nobody objected. But we doubt that anyone ex-
pected that a. this time and under these circumstances
the governor OF the state would revert to a discussion
of war issues. However. that is just what Mr.. Frazier
did. In the course of his remarks he said:
Men have stood onithe floor Of congress and
have declared that a large navy is essential for
the protection of American business. Three years
ago men were sent to prison for suggesting that
the war was being fought to protect business.
Some of them arc there yet.
Mr.. Frazier occupied the conspicuous position Of
governor Of a state during the years Of the world war.
At the time which he mentions, three years ego, the
United States had been q participant in that war for q
year. The governor himself was making speeches about
that time. He expressed himself forcibly and at length
on many subjects. So far as is now recalled his enthus-
iasrn for the CAUSE in which this nation was engaged.
and in support OF which 1t was sending four million OF its
men to the front. was indicated by hs famous remark
that we were In the war and he supposed we must go
through with It. How tina young North Dakotan over in
France must have been cheeeed and stimulated by that!
othar people dd talk quite poantsdly about the war.
Some of. than bstsvsd that on the part of the United
States II wss > righteous war, ana because they so be-
ahsved they gavs it III the support in their power. Others,
as the governor ssys, m~aintained that the war was an
unworthy and unrighteous one, and said so. Some Of
thenn- very .few-wen<, to prison for expressing them
solves In this manner, and'some of them are still in prison.
Now. the governor having stated a certain fact, just
why did he do SO? There are various ways of saying .
thing. Townley and Debs, for instance, were both OPP
posed to the war, and both did what they could to die.
sconrass e~nltstments in the American service. and to
hinder in other ways American war activities. But the
Two men expressed themselves quite differently. Debs
va frank and outspoken. He not only got his meaning
~ those who heard him. but he stated IN it plain Lam
gua1S which could not be nniscoigtrued. He never de-
niAG what he had said or what he, had meant. He was
arrested and tried. He admitted his utterances and. ref
Aksr,ted them. He vas convicted and sentenced. HI
wsuf To prison declaring that the law under which he
49, convicted vas an unrishteous law but that Ne had
ID i. Gair trial. a
Eowniey took q different course. He preferred
Sf1nSaN6 to direct statement. and was quits careful IN his
a&SctcSN 81 Serdsg seditiods though he VA. ana yteors
- - sousht TO create the spir1t Of ssditton N 9TH
Y ey1idsd direct statement ~ : rule. Re aid Stub