The Nonpartisan Leader Newspaper, April 8, 1918, Page 17

- didacy, he said: PROFITEERING IN SPUDS AGAIN Stanchfield, Minn. Editor Nonpartisan Leader: We joined your great organization last fall and we are greatly interested in it. I often read the letters women write so I thought I would write a few lines. We are with you in this struggle and will stick. The League means to me the brotherhood of man, the true Chris- tianity, the day when farmer and worker will go hand in hand to feed, clothe and work for each other in- stead of for the profiteers. We live on a farm and our main - selling crop is potatoes. We work early and late, but sometimes have not enough for the most necessary things of life. ‘They pay 75 cents per 100 pounds for potatoes now; my sis- ter writes me from New York that they are paying there 5 cents a pound. I think that A. C. Townley and others like him who go out to write and speak what they think right and just, aré -often slandered and mis- . treated—even. by those whom they seek to benefit and befriend. They are true patriots to the cause of free- dom for the oppressed, but it has al- ways been so, those who.are the first to speak the truth have been misun- ~ derstood and often crushed, the peo- ple not recognizing their true friends. =3 HARRIET KRINGLEN. FINDS FARMERS MISREPRE- . SENTED Cabin Creek, Mont. ~ Editor Nonpartisan Leader: William Duncan gave his - first speech in Melstone, Mont.,, and they all thought that it was to be a pro- German meeting, but the town coun- cil turned out to hear it, and the mayor told me himself that it was not as represented to them, and he begs our pardon for putting us farm- ' ers down for what we are not. Mr. Duncan gave a good speech, -but there were not many there, as it was not advertised long-enough. We did not get the bills until three days before the meeting; but better luck next time. He would have had a big- gér crowd if it had been at some * schoolhouse among the farmers. If Mr. Duncan is sent out south of Mel- stone I will give him a full house if I know in time. Wishing good luck to the League. JOHN DOUGALL. ' GEORGE WASHINGTON NONPAR- TISAN. .. Brighton, Colo. Editor Nonpartisan Leader: George Washington, as the Leader truly said, was a nonpartisan. = But he was by no means the only non- partisan of America’s great men. For, at his first election; Wilson said that he was a Democrat, not because he believed that the principles and the policies for which that party stood were alone right, and that those of - the rival parties were all wrong, but he sai¢ he was a member of a party - because it was alone through such an instrumentality that he could give his convictions any practical execution. And again, during his second can- “I am the candidate of a party, but above all things else I am an Amer- ican citizen.” - - o 0 ©. No really great fthan ever hedged - himself in by the narrow confines of a sect or party. He was broad enough to see and courageous enough ‘ ‘to_adopt and use the good wherever - R it;.i:bfluld_dbg:_ found, ~W. F. HILLER. - e puy 7 2y, WELCOMES THE FACTS Nucla, Colo. Editor Nonpartisan Leader: A Articles like “The Senate Passes Oil Land Grab” in your issue of Feb- ruary 4, with rollcall of those voting for or against such acts, I think de- serve a prominent place in the Leader and should be given as fully as pos-. sible. Through“them the people can keep tab .on what their representa- tives .are doing, and can contradict any statements not in accord with truth. / J. H. BURHEIM. .nation of. traitors.” preme hour of .trial. ples.of the earth. world from this menace. ON TO WYOMING NEXT ‘Kearney, Wyo. - Editor Nonpartisan Leader: I note with pleasure that front-page illustration of your paper of January 28, the good. government map of the ‘United. States. I note the pencil in the cartoon points to Wyoming—and’ that is the spot for the Nonpartisan league to land on next. The time is now at hand when the farmer and the stockraiser should wuse and assert their rights as citizens of the United States. - ¢ et The needed reforms will never come at the hand of either of the two old political parties and the farmer has never received any -consideration,” and ‘never will, at the hands of political parties dominated by monopqu and _ corporation ‘interests. Now the field in old Wyoming is a good one to work in, and one reform . especially. needed here is in the line of our taxation. This is a burning question. : ; : I send hervewith a check to cover three subscriptions to the I.eader. With hopes-for great success to the Leader, respectfully, -~ _ . - . GEORGE E. GEIER. Doesn’t Sound Seditious * (Editorial in the Cleveland (Ohio) Press). i It has become more or less popular in some publicity chan- nels, controlled or influenced by big business, and upon the part of some unthinking individuals to denounce the Farmers’ Nonpartisan league as a “pro-German, anti-American combi- . This organization of farmers with a membership of nearly 200,000 in Mississippi valley and Rocky mountain states, has been accused of many un-American things, and in one county its leaders have been indicted by a county grand jury for cir- culating a pamphlet which the United States postal depart- ment permitted circulation through the mails for months, and with which the federal department of. justice found no fault. ¢ The other day the Minnesota state convention of this Non- partisan league was held. Included in its platform, which de- clares for government~ownership ‘and operation of all public utilities, packing houses, flour mills, etc., were these words: “We pledge anew our devotion to our country in this su- We reaffirm our faith in principles of « democracy and-pledge our li%es, our fortunes and our sacred honor to the struggle to free the world from autocracy and establish democracy, political and industrial, among the peo- “We declare it to be our solemn conviction that the German military’ autocracy, revealed in all its horror by the ruthless rape of Russia, is a menace to the world. We pledge our un- qualified sypport to our government in the war to free the -+ “We indorse wholeheartedly the statement of war aims by the president of the United States. We believe 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 democratic peace.” : If this be treason, doubtless Patrick Henry would say if he were writing this, “make the most of it!” It doesn’t look like treason; it doesn’t sound like pro-Ger- man; it doesn’t sound like anti-Americanism. " terested in the ',dreaz_ns, 'I% e * %, 7y 2, '/I/”/// Yyt ////4/ Yt % THEY’RE ALL DOING IT Berthold, N. D. Editor Nonpartisan Leader: Following is a letter which I sent to the Farmers’ Dispatch of St. Paul: “You can take my name off your mailing list. I do not want a paper coming to my address that is knock- ing the only movement that the farm- ers have that amounts to anything. And you had better strike the name ‘Farmer’ off and insert ‘Big Biz,’ if you want to keep your paper in cir- culation.” F. J. MELINS. ~ NON-MEMBERS WILL HELP. Landusky, Mont. Leader: Just a few lines to the Leader to Editor Nonpartisan thank the ladies and Mr. A. C.._ Ebaugh for having their picnic at the Power plant dam.” Not being very well from receiving a shock of 19,000 volts of electricity, they insisted on me being present and that is where I had the pleasure of meeting your representative, Mr. Duncan, and..as-- certaining the grand features of the Nonpartisan league, and while speak- ing he informed me he was going to send me the Nonpartisan league pa- pex for one year. p This is the reason I am writing these few lines to show my- apprecia- tion for his kindness and ‘heartily thanking Mr. Duncan and the Non- partisan league. = . A3 His - remarks were well weighed, and while the most of us are just get- ting . started . and. do. not have very much surplus cash we can possibly help the good cause along by voting for: your ‘candidates’ for the various offices. The children‘are awfully in- cartoons and Cria:gty’s __H. H. NEFF. /// % / et D ATTORNEY UPHOLDS FREE - SPEECH Perham, Minn. Editor Nonpartisan Leader: The League meeting took place here as advertised and an able lec- ture was enjoyed by all present. There was some talk of not allow- ing the meeting to proceed. The writ- er went to the marshal, who had no instructions to cpen the hall, and ad- vised me to see the mayor and coun- cil. The mayor had no objections and the marshal opened the town hall. A number objected and asked the vil- lage attorney’s opinion, who said there was no law to stop free speech. I should judge some 250 or 300 farmers were present and the ther- mometer 40 below zero. The speaker asked all those who had- joined the League to hold up their hands, and when he saw them all go up he near- ly fainted. ; This county will elect every Non- partisan candidate put up. We want all from United States senator to dog catcher and the supreme court thrown in. Big Biz has got to go some to manufacture a scheme that the Lead- er will not nip.in the bud. Every farmer and laboring' man should dis- continue supporting any paper that doesn’t’ uphold our cause. SAM G. WALLACE. TEXAS COMING ACROSS Cooper, . Tex. Editor Nonpartisan Leader: I was in Smith county, at Tyler and other places a few days. ago and found John P. Craig of League fame in the Northwest has recently estab- lished his office for a time at Tyler. I found him hard at work in a sys- tematic way putting things in fine shape. He is so enthusiastic that I fear he will' overtax his strength. Had the pleasure of hearing him make one of his fine addresses. He convinced-us that the League will also promote the interests of the mer- chants too, which, of course, is a fact if the merchants only desire to’ do a legitimate business in a legiti- mate way. Old Texas is going to come across. ' The people are ready for it.. So we have only to press the battle and vie- tory is sure, but the stress must be laid on pressing forward. T. H, LAYMAN. TRUTH EASY TO TELL e Salina, Kan. Editor Nonpartisan Leader: I am inclosing another -clipping from ,the Salina Union.- I think it is a trick of the press.” I think you made a good hit on Zimmerman. I hope he gets to see it. I have since found out that he isn’t so much thought of. I am pleased with the way the Leader handles the slander of the lickspittles. It don’t take much to tell the truth, but- it takes a good deal to explain a lie. " _ F. 8. BARTELL. WHAT THE DAILIES SAY : Cologne, Minn. Editor Nonpartisan Leader: The Leader is one-of the few pa- pers today which dares and does pub- . lish the ‘truth. The big dailies like ' to publish nice things also, but I am sorry to state that they print only great big lies about the Nonpartisan league. Sl e o The big dailies -and big business better -remember on whose feet they are stepping. The day is net far dis- tant when they will be sorry for it. The Nonpartisan league has come, and come to-stay for the good of the - common people. R. H, STUEVE. AT U ) TR O e TN CT NG T N R A8 5 A =0 0T BB @ BT BT @D e 1y Y e TV R e VT T S YRR R e TeT T o LR S e )