The Nonpartisan Leader Newspaper, April 1, 1918, Page 9

N S, B P R S 1 LA A R 5 O BN S AP A5 A 2 A e \'\’5‘\\ N \ }\\'4 fu‘./_ ’/ "W & \ I z ‘WHILE THE PRESS PULLS THE WOOL OVER THE EYES OF THE PUBLIC WHEN | GET THRY WITH You YOULL BE as BUND as a BAT ; orere e —Drawn expressly for the Leader by W. C. Morris Adjoining Governors Shame Minnesota Three States Issue Orders to Prevent League Meetings and Speakers From ~ Being Interfered With, While Gopher State Allows Mobs to Rule HE attempt to start mob action against the farmers of Montana has reacted in the strongest possible way against those in that state who tried to bring about a situation there similar to that in Minnesota. Follow- ing the mobbing of R. B. Mar- tin, one of the League lecturers, at Big Timber and Columbus, Mont., and after the attorney general had issued a proclamation warn- ing the people of the state against any further dis- order or rioting, the governor of Montana issued the following statement: g “It is highly essential that the right of free as- semblage and free speech should not be denied to any one in the state of Montana so.long as they keep within lawful bounds. Montana now has am- ple laws for the punishment of those guilty of treasonable, disloyal or seditious utterances, or acts. advance. If any man gives voice to words or statements of a disloyal character, he should be dealt with accordingly.” v This .makes three states whose governors have shamed the governor of Minnesota by issuing or- ders suppressing outrages against the farmers and against League members, which Minnesota lets go unrebuked. Some-time ago, the governor of South Dakota issued similar orders to peace officers and, of course, the farmers’ governor of North Dakota would not for an instant permit any mob action in that state. ; There has not been-the slightest attempt to stop League meetings in North Dakota. In South Da- kota, there have been two serious incidents of out- rages against the farmers, but the governor’s stand is expected to prevent any further outbreaks, and League meetings are being held unmolested. The only disorder that has ‘occurred in’ Montana was the outbreak at Big Timber and Columbus, which was followed by the ahnouncement of both the governor and the attorney general that this must not ‘happen again, and that if ‘any law- It is therefore unnecessary to take action in: less persons attempted to in- terfere with League speakers or League meetings, they would be arrested and prose- cuted. The League is holding thousands of meetings in other states and there has been no trouble. In Minnesota, how- ever, contempt of the law and constitution is still rampant in about 20 counties of the state, and the governor and state of- ficials refuse to take any ac- tion. : Last week farmers were rotten-egged at one Minnesota town, where they had assem- bled to hold a legislative dis- trict convention of the Non- partisan league to indorse men for the legislature. Without the slightest color of legal au- thority, town and county offi- cials continue to forbid League meetings in Minnesota and, in many instances where they are held with the permission of the local authorities, mobs are formed to man-handle the speakers and insult and attack the farmers. After the incidents at- Big Timber and Celumbus, Mont., which resulted in'the official warning by the governor and the attorney general that League meetings must be protected in the future, R. B. Martin, who was the victim of the mob action atthe places mentioned, addressed one of the big- gest audiences that ever assembled in - Billings, Mont. The Billings merchants and citizens, even be-" fore the action by state officers, had refused to join . in & plan started in Billings by League enemies to PAGE NINE '~ L7 g . o Attorney ' General Ford of Montana prevent Mr. Martin from speak- ing there. Mr. Martin’s speech made such a big hit with the people of Billings that, after he had left the city to fill another date, he received the following telegram from prominent Bill- ings’ citizens: “Billings, Montana, March 13, 1918. “Robert Burns Martin, “Lewistown, .Mont. “In contradistinction to the treatment accorded you recently - at Big Timber and Columbus, the people of Billings, after having listened to your patriotic and logical discourse, are so pleased and gratified with your fairness and loyalty as to prompt them to herewith urge you to return to this city at your earliest open date, that all of our citizens may be privi- leged to hear the splendid mes- sage -you bear. Leading busi- ness men and the local liberty committee are subscribers: to the fund to defray all expenses of such a meeting. There is no intolerance or bigotry here. We wish to hear both sides and pro- tect in this city the constitu- " tional and fundamental right of free speech and peaceable as- sembly. Please ‘wire if you can accept this urgent invitation, naming date, and leave the rest to this community. “THOS. ARTHUR “B..H. BARTH _ %“C. H. PERRINE “B. R. ALBIN “J.- E. ARMSTRONG “F. H. HOGAN “C. B. CLARK “JOSEPH POPE.” 5 Thomas Arthur, who signed. the above telegram, is ex-chairman, state Democratic committee, and L T R R T S . A \ T T Y i A N