The Nonpartisan Leader Newspaper, May 13, 1918, Page 3

. serve the dignity and fair name A 3, A T A T3 e A s s S A 358 In the interest of a square deal for the farmers VOL. 6, NO. 19 nparfigan Teader : ’ Official Magazine of the National Nonpartisan League A magazine that dares to print the truth ST. PAUL, MINNESOTA, MAY 13, 1918 . WHOLE NUMBER 138 Put South Dakota Slickers on the Run Pitiable Effort of a Governor Seeking Re-Election to Avoid Losing Political Supporters Who Used Violence Against Leaguers OVERNOR PETER NORBECK of South Dakota, as reported in the Leader some time ago, is- sued a statement in which he decided. that the right of the Nonpartisan league to hold political meetings in South Da- kota would be protected. He stated that the constitution and laws of the state guaranteeing citizens the right of peaceful assemblage and free speech would be en- forced by him without fear or favor. Subsequently, March 13, at Gregory, S. D., where - the Nonpartisan league had sched- uled a meeting, a body of so-called leading citizens of the town, aided and abetted by town hoodlums, cruelly beat up a number of organizers and members of the League who were in town for the meeting. After forcing these League farmers to submit to gross in- dignities, robbing them of their money and personal effects, the mob compelled its victims to walk many miles over muddy roads to the next town, while their captors rode in automo- biles, driving them along like a herd” of cattle. Here the League farmers’ were forced upon a train, guarded by a part of the mob, and compelled to go over the line to Nebraska. Following these events, which showed the character of Amer- icanism which exists in the South Dakota town, the League filed with Governor Norbeck affidavits from a score of per- sons and other evidence fully substantiating the above state- ment of facts. The governor announced that he would make a full investigation, and that if he found that the laws of South Dakota had been violat- ed, he would see that prosecu- tions against the guilty per- sons were instituted to pre- of the state. That was two months ago. To date the governor has done nothing but says he is still investigating. > In the meantime, the lawless citizens of Gregory have dared the governor to take action .' against them on account of the Gregory outrages. Expressing the sentiments of the “lead- ing” citizens of Gregory and members of the mob, the Rose- bud Investor, the local paper, published the following edi- torial insultingly challenging the governor of the great state of South Dakota to attempt to enforce law and order in Gregory: “The governor’s action in connection with the : Nonpartisan league has of late been distasteful to loyal citizens, - He has insisted on their rights to spread their unpatriotic propaganda, so long as they do not violate the.letter of some motheaten law made for use in time of peace. His insistence makes no difference in Rosebud county, at least, . for he:may rest assured that regardless of his de- sires or commands, no:unpatriotic move will be tolerated in this part of the state, and he isn’t man enough, hasn’t backing enough, nor influence enough, to compel it.” PINNED THE GOVERNCR DOWN In other words, the citizens of Gregory insult and deride the governor of South Dakota and dare him to enforce the law of the state in that town. Submitting to this intimidation by insolent law- breakers the governor has to date refused to take any action. Instead, among other things, he has THEY’LL STICK TOO _ —Drawn especially. for the Leader by W. C. Morris The original bug doom is the National Nonpartisan league. All over the Middle West you can hear the despairing buzzing that a fly makes just before it turns up its toes. It’s the grafters. They are caught, and they know it. written a letter to the Nonpartisan league, in which hie says: ) “I have already abundant proof that two of the men who were there and got into trouble were dis- loyal, and letters taken from them when they were searched cast some serious reflections upon some of the leaders of the Nonpartisan league.” In response to this the Nonpartisan league of South Dakota first requested, and then demanded that Governor Norbeck at once make public or sub- mit to the prosecuting authorities any evidence he PAGE THREE succeed in beating the old machine at the capital ?” has as to the disloyalty of any person connected with the League. The League has announced that it will assist in the prosecution of any member or organizer of the League shown to be disloyal by any information which the governor says he has. In addition, the League will cancel the membership certificate of any League member or worker proved disloyal by any evidence the governor has. But the governor has declined to make public proof of his insinuations. The governor is merely dodging. He is intimi- dated by the lawless element at Gregory. He dare not act to enforce law and or- der as he had promised. The League denies that any mem- ber who appeared at Gregory for the League meeting is dis- loyal, but is willing to revise that opinion if information the governor has warrants it. The mob violence at Gregory was a violation of the law, and should " be vigorously prosecuted, and would be, except that those charged with authority in South Dakota are a bunch of white-livered politicians. AND THE GOOD WORK GOES ON The Leaguers are calling for the ENACTMENT and EN- FORCEMENT of laws ena- bling the state to establish and conduct markets for the hand- ling of farm products direct from the farmer and finished products direct to the consum- er; to supervise the grain grad- ing and docking; to establish farm loan banks and cheap state hail insurance, and to exempt farm improvements from taxation. : This legislation, unlike the recent amendments to the state constitution, will contain no nullifying jokers. It will be of benefit to the farmers of the state, and to the consumers in the cities as well, by eliminat- ing middlemen wherever they are found to be unnecessary. Many honest business men are coming to see the benefits that will result from the de- A committee of business men of Mitchell, which city is now the headquarters of the League, invited the officers to make their center there. The business men of Watertown, after rebuking the sham pa- triots of Gregory for their un- American violence, also invited the League to establish its main office there. The newspapers of the state, ‘at first hostile, are feeling the effect of the disap- proval of the League farmers, and are coming over to a fair attitude. This movement was so strong that supporters of Governor Norbeck have had to establish a paper at Mitchell which they are at- tempting, with ill success, to give away to the farmers. : The Edgeley Mail hits the nail on the head when it says: “Isn’t the real fear that the League is grow- ing in power, and if continued unmolested it may struction of special . privilege. : SRR A i i