The Nonpartisan Leader Newspaper, April 1, 1918, Page 10

president of a so-called “third degree” organiza- tion at Billings, organized to prevent disloyalty and pro-Germanism. C. H. Perrine is the head of the state department of animal and child protection. H. B. Albin is a member of the firm of Hart & Albin, proprietors of one of the biggest stores at Billings. Joseph Pope is one of the leaders and a prominent figure in the Anti-Saloon league of Montana. The others who signed the telegram are also prominent Billings citizens. In reply to the telegram sent to Mr. Martin, D.'C. Dorman, superintendent of the Nonpartisan league in Montana, wired Mr. Arthur as follows: “Hon. Thomas Arthur, “Billings, Montana. * “Your telegram welcoming Robert Burns Martin to give a return date that all the people of Billings might hear his message received. Permit me in behalf of the 30,000 members of the League in this state to thank the people of Billings for the spirit of fairness in which the papers and people of your city have treated our movement. He can be with you April 9 or 10.- 3 “D. C. DORMAN, “State Superintendent.” The dates for Mr. Martin’s return engagement at Billings at the request of the people of the cit have not been definitely set as yet. g After the big Billings meeting, Mr. Martin ad- dressed several thousand citizens at Lewistown, Mont., who had gathered at a state tax conference. There had been hints that Mr. Martin would be pre- vented from speaking by the people of Lewistown, who had been misled as to the program of the Leéague by the anti-farmer interests. Mr. Martin talked for an hour, which was the time given him by the program committee, but the crowd made him go on for almost another hour. PAPER OPPOSED TO . LEAGUE APPROVES MARTIN Speaking of Mr. Martin’s address, the Democrat- News of Lewjstown, which is opposed to the League, editorially said: “The meeting held yesterday afternoon at the Judith theatre was an altogether inspiring occa- sion. A representative crowd of citizens including hundreds of farmers filled the big building. Some were perhaps attracted to the meeting by the ex- pectation of seeing some sort of a controversy with Mr. Martin, the Nonpartisan league orator, as one of the participants. Nothing of the sort occurred. Mr. Martin delivered an ‘excellent, patriotic ad- dress. The most rabid opponent of the new party could not possibly find anything objectionable in his presentation of his subject. Many of those who went to the opera house with the certainty that the League speaker would say something not com- patible with the patriotic impulses. of the nation were doubtless sorry that Mr. Martin did not have more time for the elaboration of his ideas on the organization of the Nonpartisan league. “The Democrat-News is glad that the people of Lewistown indicated their usual spirit of fair play by giving Mr. Martin an opportunity to speak before a large audience. The business men of this city have always been keenly alive to the absolute necessity of cementing the interests and welfare of the city resident and the farmer into a closer bond of union. Just as the farmer is recognized as a business man whose prosperity is vital to the pros- perity of the man who runs a store or bank or newspaper, so will many unnecessary misunder- standings, jealousies and antagonisms be avoided. “It is an exceedingly shortsighted city business man who would attempt to deny the right of the farmers to form organizations for the protection “and advancement of their great industry.” - Minnesota Platform Is a Clarion Call Organized Labor and Farmers Adopt Campaign Principles at St. Paul—Platform Rings With Loyalty—Democracy at Home and Abroad Demanded . is as follows: HE state convention of the Non- partisan league of Minnesota met in St. Paul last week and adopted a platform for the Minnesota campaign. The con- vention consisted of delegates elected by the membership of the League. at state-wide cau- cuses, and assembled at St. Paul to form a platform and indorse candidates. The platform adopted is a clarion call to the progressives of the state. It is the battle cry in Minnesota this year of organized labor and or- ganized farmers. The Minnesota league was forced to hold its convention at this early date, because the regular primaries occur in June. The election occurs in November. The platform adopted was signed by every delegate of the convention, after being adopted by a unanimous vote. It pledges the farmers and workers to the government in the suc- cessful prosecution of the war, incor- porates the entire Nonpartisan league program and announces other para- mount issues. The program in full GERMAN AUTOCRACY CONDEMNED BY FARMERS “We, the delegates to the state con- vention of the Minnesota™ branch of the National Nonpartisan league, in convention assembled, do hereby adopt the following platform and declara- tion of principles: . “We pledge anew our devotion to our country in this supreme hour of trial. We reaffirm our faith in the principles of democracy and pledge our lives, our fortunes and our sacred honor to the struggle to free the world from autocracy and establish democracy, political and industrial, among the peoples of the earth. “We declare it to be our solemn conviction that the German mili- tary autocracy, revealed in all its horror - by the ruthless rape of Russia, is a menace to the world. We pledge our unqualified sup- port to our government in the . war to free the world from this menace. “We indorse wholeheartedly the statement of war aims by the presi- dent of the United States. We be-"~ lieve that he has stated clearly and unequivocally the real intent in the hearts of the American people, and that this statement forms a sure basis for-a lasting and a democratic peace. “We extend greetings and . pledge our support to the forces in every country which are struggling. for The common people of M and adopted the platform have clasped ha democracy, and especially to the people of Russia in this hour when the new democracy of the East is beset by foes within and without. LAWLESSNESS IN STATE IS ROUNPLY CONDEMNED “While giving our utmost energies to the prose- cution of this world war for democracy, we are not unmindful that there are enemies of democracy in the homeland. These are the powers of special privilege, which take advantage of the opportunity which war affords to more firmly entrench them- selves in their control of government and of in- dustry. These interests are amassing enormous fortunes out of the world’s misery. They are reach- ing for our remaining public resources. They are striving to destroy the organizations of farmers I THE SPIRIT OF MINNESOTA I —Drawn éxmressly for .PAGE TEN ‘the Leader ‘by W..C. Morris in.nesota'—the producers—met at St. Paul last week given in full herewith. The farmer and union labor nds to win the state for democracy. “We'll Stick! We'll Win{”* and workers. They are handicapping the progress of the war by their profiteering and thus prolonging the war and sacrificing the lives of thousands of America’s finest sons. “We view with deep concern for the future of our state a condition of lawlessness, in which open and notorious violations of civil rights continue un« rebuked. A condition in which citizens of our state are mobbed and deported, and violence takes the place of reason. “We deplore the attitude of our governor in attempting to array class against class by raising the issue of loyalty against the organ- ized farmers and the organized workers. No bagis in fact exists for such charges. They bring the fair name of our state into disrespect at home. They give aid and com- fort to our enemies abroad, by fostering a belief that our nation is divided against itself in our war for the realization of our national aims as set forth by our presi- dent. < “The war aims of the government of the United States are the war aims of the American people, including the organized workers and organized farmers of this state. We deplore and condemn law violation under the guise of loyalty. We point with shame to ourselves and pride for our fellow citizens and the governments of other states, to the fact that Min- nesota alone tolerates lawlessness alty. The sinister influences that cause this condition to exist must be overthrown or justice and democracy become a travesty. PROGRAM OF LEACUE PART OF PLATFORM “The workers of America would be false to the heritage bought by the blood of their fathers and recreant to the trust reposed in them by. those who are fighting for democracy on foreign soil, if they did not maintain their birth-right of democracy at home. We will not surrender. Despite slander, lies, vilification, mob violence, despite all that the wealth and of- fic_ial power of special privilege can bring to bear, we dedicate ourselves to emancipate our state from the big business. “The producers of our state suffer tremendous losses through the extor- in the necessaries of life and unneces- sary middlemen. As a means to im- prove the economic conditions of.the farmers and workers of this state, (Continued 'on page 20) - under cover of the noble spirit of loy- - -political and industrial domination of- tion of trusts, monopolies, speculators. = .——*—4" — - i N ¥ Lo e it