The Nonpartisan Leader Newspaper, August 19, 1918, Page 4

What the South Dakota Farmers Want First of All, a Governor Who Will Preserve 6rder—Then Officials With the People’s Welfare at Heart—The Platform - -JHE National Nonpartisan League of South Dakota, in conven- tion assembled and in sober realization of the mighty re- sponsibilities which devolve upon us as citizens of the United States of America and as producers of the nation’s food, do solemnly make the following affirmations: At this momentous period of world history, when our nation is engaged in a death-grapple with the powers of military and political autocracy, and to defend, uphold and advance the immortal prin- ciples of freedom and democracy in which this nation had its birth.and on which its institutions are established, we pledge to the government of these United States our hearty, loyal and un- equivocal support, both material and moral, in the titanic struggle in which this nation is engiged; and of every means and measure which our govern- ment shall deem necessary to the successful prose- cution of this war, in order that the United States of America shall fulfill their appointed mission and that government of the people, by the people and for the people shall not perish from the earth, but shall become the common heritage of all the people of every clime, tongue and na- tion. - In furtherance of this supreme duty of the hour, it is not enough that we citizens profess and proclaim with our lips our loyalty and patriotic devotion. We must demonstrate that devotion by the willing acts of our lives; by the productive labor of our hands and minds; by ungrudging sacrifice of our substance, in support of the authorized war-sustaining activities of the nation; and by the greater sacrifice, if need be, on the altar of patriotism of our own flesh and blood, of our very lives. ']'l'u(sl we have done and will continue to do. THE POLITICAL DUTY OF THE PRODUCERS Nor is it less essential that we act with as high resolve and as lofty pur- pose in our political capacity—that -we see to it that the government of our nation and of our state truly re- flects the popular will; not that of _special interests and self-constituted guardians of our political affairs and destinies. As national sovereigns, it is up to us citizens to exercise our sovér- eignty. . To such practical and devoted sery- ice we of the National Nonpartisan league dedicate ourselves. And ‘we call upon the patriotic and loyal citi- zens of South Dakota, of whatever station or walk in life and of whatso- ever former political affiliation, but especially upon the farmers and wage- earning producers, to join with us in the loyal and righteous purpose to take the political power and control of our state and nation out -of the hands of the financial and industrial magnates, who enjoy special privileges and who for too long a time have di- rected our political affairs, and to restore that power and control to those to whom it rightfully belongs—to the common - people who feed, clothe and .house the world; .who by their labor of hand and of brain create the wealth The platform adopted by the South Dakota convention of the National Nonpartisan leagl_le in Mitchell, July 23 and 24, gives unqualified support to the national government and President Wilson in the prosecution of the war against German autocracy. It is a platform to which every true patriot will subscribe. . In language which sears, Governor Norbeck and his Republican machine are denounced for the reign of mob outlawry which terrorized the state for months. y Every measure advocated in the League program when organized work was begun in South Dakota less than two years ago, is reiterated in the platform. Some of these reforms have been appropriated by the Republican and Democratic parties for vote-catching purposes only. The platform and accompanying resolution on woman suffrage follow. and produce all the necessities of life; to whom alone can the political, industrial and financial destinies of the state be safely intrusted, and by whom alone will its sovereign powers be exercised in righteousness, justice and equity. ‘THE VITAL ISSUE OF DEMOCRACY We solemnly affirm this, our purpose, to be the most vital political issue of the hour. Upon the success of these endeavors, more than all else, is depending the successful prosecution of the war. Upon this, also, will depend in greatest measure the kind of peace that shall be concluded at the end of the war, and the nature of the social recon- struction which will inevitably and of necessity follow the conclusion of peace and the disbanding of the armies:” The victory which shall end the war must be, can only be a victory for democracy; the peace which shall conclude it, a democratic peace; the reorganized civilization which shall rise out of the ashes of the world’s anguish, a demoec- racy of free men and of free women. The special interests, who are opposed to us and . whom we oppose, know and realize the full sig- nificance of these, our purposes..:Those interests are strongly entrenched in their privileges and are Uncle Sam soon will see three rube hats hanging in the cloakroom of congress. They’ll look furiny among the shiny black tiles that are part of the old-time statesman’s uniform. . Baer, Sinclair and Young—the farmer hats belong to them. They are Nonpartisans who are assured of election to the house of rep- resentatives from North Dakota. Now South Dakota Leaguers are planning to. send Tom Ayres and R. E. Dowdell to the loyer house.. Idaho Leaguers have named C. R. Jeppeson and L, L Purcell. The old place never will look '~ the same after the League gets busy. : PAGE FOUR- s and un-American designs. OH, LOOK WHO’S HERE! endeavoring to strengthen their political control in both the Republican and Democratic parties, Those powerful industrial combines are organized politically to secure advancement of their interests. We are obliged to organize politically to defend ourselves successfully against oppression and to advance the common good. They act indifferently of party organizations, to maintain their plutocratic power. We organize for nonpartisan political power, to destroy that plutocracy and to regain ‘democracy. There is no consistent middle ground between these opposing forces and principless They who are not for us, in this political contest, are against us. THE VOICE OF THE NEW WEST The conflict just mentioned is worldwide but at this particular time is centered in the principal grain-producing states of our nation. Our first duty lies at home and it is there our first attention is required. In this state, the forces of special privilege, acting through the Republican political machine and assisted by some politicians calling themselves Democrats, are strongly entrenched. THEY KNOW AND FEAR THE NONPARTISA LEAGUE. 3 They feel their former powers slipping from them. In fear and desperation, they are fighting for their existence. They will use every means, fair or unfair, to maintain their privileges and the autocratic power they have so long wielded. They have not hesitated to use their majority in our state legislature to create a new weapon with which to intimidate, terrify and persecute League workers and other citizens who are organizing voters for the democratization of the government and of the political and industrial institutions of our state. They have also used and will continue to use the servile press of the state to serve their unworthy These conspiring forces have found in the governor of South Dakota, whether consciously or unconsciously, a facile ally. Under the support and influence of this person, who - owes whatever eminence or distinction he has attained to the farmers and other " producers of the state, there have been enacted laws creating and -conferring on so-called councils of defense and home guards extraordinary politic powers, professedly to assist the na- tional government in the maintenance of our army and navy and the protec- tion of de:mestic peace, But, as inter- preted by said bodies, those powers far exceed those which the wise re- strictions of our federal and state Constitutions contemplate or permit to be enforced. - USED AUTHORITY FOR BASE ENDS In practical effect the attempt has been made and is being made to use these newly created bodies for low and contemptible ends. Under cover of these laws ‘attempts have been made to render nugatory the Bill of Rights and to put American citizen- ship back to conditions that existed when in 1776 our Revolutionary fathers threw off the feudal yoke of the king of England. - In certain settled sec- tions of our state certain local officers of these councils of defense and of the home guard have incited and par- ticipated in riotous.mobs. On their orders and by their hands have been perpetrated the following lawless and sometimes criminal acts: Citizens have been prevented, the exercise of the right of free assemblage to discuss questions of public interest and political import. : : Citizens have been denied: the exercise of ‘the right of free speech, 5 57 > - Citizens have been violently as- - . saulted, stepped on the highways_