The Nonpartisan Leader Newspaper, July 14, 1919, Page 9

introduction from Mr. Pal- mer. Before leaving Oma- ha, Palmer advised me to ask Joyce if he knew any- thing that would help me in -regard {o League ac- tivities, Joyce -answered that he “knew them to be a thor- oughly bad lot,” and that he was very glad I had arrived, as my services were very much in de- mand. He told me, how- ever, that he couldn’t help me find a place with the League, but that he would be glad to assist me in any other way that he could. I spent the rest of that day around Lincoln, trying to pick up all the infor- mation I could about the League and hoping to find an organizer. In this, how- ever, I failed, and the next - morning I decided to visit the League offices. There I met Mr. Evans, state manager, J. Frank Taylor, Arthur Olson and one or two others, and two ste- nographers. I told Evans that I was looking for .a job as organizer. I said that I had been working as a labor organizer in Okla- homa, and that I was deep- . ly interested in the League movement, Evans asked me where I had first heard of the League, and I told him through the newspapers. He questioned me at length regarding my past history and my sincerity in seek- ing to join in the farmers’ movement. He asked if I was thoroughly familiar with the League program. I answered that I knew something about it, but there were points on which I was not informed. TOLD PROGRAM OF LEAGUE ! Evans then sketched for me briefly the aims of the League. He said it was their plan to elect mem- bers to the legislature who would carry out the farm- ers’ program, and said that public- ownership of cer- tain industries was neces- sary. He gave me copies of the League program ‘ and one or two pamphlets, which he urged that I read and become familiar with, and then asked me to call again on the following day. Before I left I asked him on what terms they sold Ford cars. He told me I could get one for $497, paying $97 in cash and the rest at $50 a month. I wired at once to the Kansas City office for Who Paid the Bills? ERE are some more letters exchanged by J. P. McGrath, agent of the Omaha branch of the Thiel Detective agency, and W. H. Ware, manager of the Kansas City office of the service. J These letters bear out much of what Mr. Moore tells in the accompanying article. The Leader has at its disposal the originals of - these letters. -More of them will be reproduced in these pages next week, when Mr. Moore will continue his story of the work of the big interests against the League. The letters: Mr. W. H. Ware, Omaha, April 3, 1918. P. O. Box 466, Kansas City. 3 ' p Dear Sir: Enclosed please find signed contract for the Nonpar- tisan league operation. ‘ This man; Jesse P. Palmer, is a local attorney, located in 206 Bee building, this city. As stated in former letter, Palmer’s financial standing is not very good, but one of our old clients, Joe Barker, has assu:‘}e;d me that our bills will be taken care of at the end of each month. . , This operation is being financed by the Omaha Business Men'’s Protective association, that is, they are standing back of this investi- gation; as a matter of fact there has been no definite arrangements made regarding how much money is to be spent or exactly where the . money is to come from. : But the understanding I have is that each individual is to con- tribute at the end of each month his respective share of the expense incurred relative to the League investigation. _ : Palmer informs me that the business men of Lincoln, also several other cities, will be asked to help finance the campaign. : It is their desire to have a good man here as soon as possible. Kindly advise return mail just when you can get an operative to me. ; Very respectfully, (Signed) J. P. M. Mr. J. P. McGrath, Kansas City, April 5, 1918. P. O. Box 726, Omaha, Neb. Dear Sir: Relative to yours of the 3rd inst., Operative Moore ar- rived here this morning and will be in Omaha to take up the Nonparti- " san league work April 7th. : Am glad that you was able to close this contract; sorry, however, that you could not make it for longer than 60 days. =~ — In view of Palmer’s questionable financial standing, we insist that all bills be settled in full at the end of each month. Kindly bear this in mind, and keep me informed as to what prog- gress operative makes, etc. : ' : Respectfully, H. W. Mr. W. H. Ware, Omaha, April 8, 1918. P. O. Box 466, i ; | Kansas City, Mo. : /. Dear Sir: Operative Moore arrived this morning and I went with him to the client, J. P. Palmer. Palmer instructed operative to proceed to Lincoln and if possible to obtain a position with the League. : I have no doubt but that this operative will make good, as he seems to be just the man for this job. The client was well pleased with operative’s appearance, etc. Will keep you well informed as to progress of operative, efe. 3 Very respectfully, ks (MORE NEXT WEEK) . - cuse. He called McGrath and asked him to come to the office. R. L. Metcalf . and another man came in- to the office at about this time. Palmer introduced me and explained what I was doing. “That’s good, I'm glad you’re on the job,” Met- calf exclaimed. Palmer went on to tel him that I had been, or- ganizing but that they wanted me to stay in Lin- coln for a time. Palmer, suggested that I pretend to be sick, and Metcalf said he thought the plan was the best. PLAN TO KEEP WATCH AT OFFICE Later, when McGrath arrived, the matter was discussed again, and it was finally decided that I should return to Lincoln, where Palmer would make arrangements with a Lin- coln physician for me to take® treatments. Palmer came to Lincoln the next day, but failed to make the necessary arrange- ments. Before I left Omaha, however, McGrath gave me a Thiel Detective agency business card in- troducing me to L. E. Hurtz, then manager of the Lincoln Telephone company. McGrath told me that Hurtz was one of the business men interest- ed in the fight on the Non- partisan league. After Palmer left with- out making the necessary arrangements, I decided to take matters in my own hands. I went to Hurtz and told him my difficul- ty. He called a physician on the telephone, and then’ sent me with his card to Doctor R. B. Adams, sev- enth floor of the First National Bank building, Lincoln. Hurtz said that Doctor Adams could be de- - pended on, and told me to talk to the physician as I would to any other person interested in the anti- League fight. I called on Doctor Adams at once. After explaining - what I wanted, he said he would give me a statement to the effect that I was suffering from an ailment which would require daily treatment. He also gave me a small box of medi- cine which I could carry in my pocket should it be necessary to convince any doubting Thomas that I was_telling the truth. I then went to the League offices and told money to make a payment on the machine. I re- ceived this and later bought a machine on the terms Evans gave me. For the next several days I stayed around the League offices to get what information I could. It got so that I hated to go into the offices, for Olson would say,. “Well, aré you ready to begin organiz- ing?” and I would have to make an excuse, some- times that I was sick, sometimes that my wife was, and again that my brother was visiting me. It was eventually arranged that James Bissell would drive my car to Grand Island, where I would meet him and begin .to organize. About two weeks after I reached Lincoln, we started on this trip, and wé went into Hamilton county, where we were busy organizing for two days. We got eight members, and then I received a telegram from Palmer urging me to hurry back to Lincoln and get in touch with headquarters. : 1 telephoned to Palmer as soon as I reached Lin- coln. He told me that I would have to arrange to stay in the city until after the meeting of the “Farmers’ War Council.” I told him that I couldn’t stay in Lincoln without some legitimate excuse, and he advised me to come to Omahz to see him. I did very. little' more. organizing that summer, but I rode with other organizers and once or twice went out alone. However, I never made any great efforts to sign members, as Palmer told me that. they did not wish me to sign any more than I . could help. Although I got very few new members, the League office evidently was not suspicious of me, but the men. there jollied me a great deal over my lack of “nerve” and gave me a great deal of en- couragement. ; g But to get back to Palmer. I went to Omaha as he had requested. He told me there that our clients wanted me to stay in Omaha until after the meet- ing of the Farmers’ War Council, of which C. H. Gustafson was president, and I told him that in order to do this I would have to make some ex- e PAGE NINE Olson that I couldn’t organize because of my ail- ment. He expressed his sympathy and said he hoped that I would be able to work soon. I told Olson that I would boost the League on every pos- sible occasion, and probably pick up a few mem- bers now and then. i During the first month or six weeks I was with the League I made written reports daily to the Kansas City office and also made telephone reports to Palmer and McGrath in Omaha. : Both Palmer and McGrath informed me that they wanted to get any kind of evidence that would make it appear that the farmers belonging to the League, . and the League officials and organizers, were un- patriotic. I was especially instructed to investi- gate the personal habits of Evans, Olson, Sorensen, the League attorney, and the organizers. Palmer said he wanted to “get something on” these men, Palmer referred to. A. C. Townley, president of the Nonpartisan league, as a “Socialist, bankrupt, - (Continued on page 13) . i i 3} & E 4 s b