The Nonpartisan Leader Newspaper, October 3, 1921, Page 7

our behalf, and hereby assure him of our steadfast and continued support. Further, we extend our sym- pathy to him for hardships he has passed’ through, due to persecution by enemies of the League. “It has come to our attention that a representa- tive_of the Farmer-Labor party of Colorado, which party fought our candidates in the last election, has foisted himself on this convention for no good pur- pose. Therefore, be it resolved by this convention, that all members of the Nonpartisan league are hereby informed that August Lutteken, state or- ganizer of said (fake) Farmer-Labor party of Colo- rado, is barred from the hall; and be it further re-, solved, that a copy of this resolution be sent to the Nonpartisan Leader,that the entire membership may be warned against further operation of the fakers.” By way of explanation of the 'last resolution, it . should be noted that the Farmer-Labor party of Colorado is not recogrfized by the national party of that name. Notwithstanding the fact that a number of changes have been made in our state office, and some entanglements retarded our work in the last few months, we are once more entering an inten- sive campaign to restore the government of the United States and Colorado to the people. With our precinct, county, state, and national units, we feel that a more perfect organization exists today than at any time in the history of our organization work. i ~ WASHINGTON I —_—_ BY THE STATE MANAGER HE crew of organizers who have been at ; work in Whatcom county for the past-month expect to move soon to Snohomish county ‘ and push the work there. The work has also been started in-Stevens and Whitman counties. As soon as the apple picking is over the work in Yakima Valley will be ready to start. A number of farmers have in- quired at the state office at Spokane for work as organizers, but the state office will need many more men. 3 The state committee is holding a meeting in Yakima to complete the plans for the organization work dur- ing the fall and winter months. Sev- eral matters of importance are to be considered at this meeting and a re- port of the proceedings will be given in this department of the Nonparti- san Leader later. Leaguers and others are watching with interest and not a little sur- prise the activities of the so-called Washington-Idaho Wheat - Growers’ association, an alleged co-operative movement of farmers. The suspicion that this organization is largely pro- moted by business ipterests to head off real, effective political and co-op- erative organization of the farmers, is growing. Those working for fundamental agricultural reform, such as proposed by the League pro- gram, can not understand how any farmer organization, or supposed farmer organizafion, which has the _financial and moral backing of busi- ness and banking interests, and the approval of the- press which has “fought genuine co-operation and the Nonpartisdn league, can have any . solution for present problems. The Washington-Idaho Wheat Growers’ association has the editor- ial approval of the Spokane Spokes- man-Review, the paper which fought ‘the late C. B. Kegley during his en- tire life and tried to stop his efforts Are you reading the news items concerning the activities of your organization in the various states, which are ap- pearing in this department of the Leader every issue? If not, you are neglecting some very interesting material, and besides, you are failing to keep posted about matters which you may be called upon to explain at almost any time by League enemies. A Leaguer wrote us the otherday about a neighbor who is also a member. This neighbor went to an auction and heard a knocker make all kinds of wild statements about the League. When he got home he told our correspondent that, after hearing these charges, he was half convinced he was wrong in staying in the ‘League. “Do you read the Leader?” our correspondent asked him. “No,” he replied, “I get it but I confess I haven’t had time to read it carefully.” “Well,” was the reply, “no wonder you can’t answer charges like those made at the auction. The farmers’ cause would be hopeless if all members failed, like you, to read their own publications.” to help the farmer. It might almost be said that this newspaper hounded this great Grange leader into the grave. No sooner was he dead and his succéssor, William Bouck, elected by the Grangers to the head of that organization, than the Spokes-. man-Review started a dirty campaign against him, which resulted in the state Grange convention, which had re-elected Bbuck, being mobbed and driven from Walla Walla in 1918. After that, false and contemptible disloyalty charges, urged by the Spokesman-Review and the other big business sheets in Washington, wete filed against Bouck, and although these charges were found to be untrue and were dropped by the government, the Spokes- man-Review, the politicians of the state and the bankers kept up their fight on Bouck. Failing to convince Washington farmers that this farmer leader should be dropped, the case was taken by Bouck’s enemies to the national office of the Grange, and the national president recently suspended Bouck as Washington state master—this in spite of the fact that the Washington Grange has elected him and re-elected him state master at every annual convention by great majorities. He will be re-elect- ed again at the coming Grange convention. In the meantime many Grange locals are refusing to send dues to the national organization on account of the national president’s persecution of Bouck. The paper which has probably had the largest hand in this persecution of the Grange master is now backing the Washington-Idaho Wheat Grow- ers’ association. Stranger yet, that alleged co-op- erative farmers’ organization, editorially in its of- ficial publication, is printing fulsome praise of the Spokesman-Review. . Under the heading, “The Spokesman-Review,” an editorial in this so-called farmer organization’s paper, says: “The Spokes- [ ~ STUNG! | PAGE. SEVEN 7 . man-Review, with a circulation which makes it paramount as a moulder of public opinion in the field of the grain producers’ organization (the Washington-Idaho Wheat Growers’ association), always has frankly and boldly supported the move- ment. Its honesty, its fairness and its realization of the news value of the organization’s activities already have been of unmeasurable value. Farmers of the Northwest are neither unaware nor forget- ful of the attitude of this newspaper.” Now, what progressive farmers are wondering, is what sort of a deal has this alleged farmers’ or- ganization got with millionaire Cowles, owner of the Spokesman-Review, and with the business and banking interests of the state for which Cowles speaks in his publication? They would also like to know how any genuine farmers” organization can forget tha Spokesman-Review’s fight against pro- gressive farm leaders like Kegley and Bouck, and against progressive farmer policies such as the Grange has adopted in Washington, and against the Nonpartisan league and its move to give farmers better representation in the legislature and con- gress. > 1 NATIONAL OFFICE | — HILE President Townley of the League is awaiting the result of his attempt to ap- peal his case to. the United States su- preme court, and is prepared to go to jail for 90 days in Jackson county, Minn., immediately on word that the appeal is denied, League national headquarters is in receipt of the following letter: “National Nonpartisan League: “I have traveled this summer in my auto over four eastern and four western states, and have had conversations with hundreds of farmers, but have yet to find one that is satisfied with our present administration. I have heard A. C. Townley called every- thing from a crook to a Christian. resent his pending imprisonment. I heard one person say Townley was too crooked to lay_in a double roundhouse. " “Inasmuch as I am sure that this adverse criticism will fit me just as well as Townley, and as I am just as guilty as he is, I therefore offer my service, to take his place in that Minnesota jail, and serve his time of 90 days, whenever called upon. This ‘offer is in behalf of his little invalid wife, with whom he has had to spend so much time in Colorado lately. My offer should be consid- ered by the court. “I know that'I do not look like Townley; but God knows I think like him. Townley is needed badly at home, and I am no account any- where. Townley ought to be tickled to death to keep out as his family needs him. So, honest to God, whenever -the great court, in that great state of Minnesota wants me, wire, + “A. M. TEMPLIN. “120.S. 36th St., Omaha, Neb.” This sincere offer is deeply ap- preciated by President Townley, but he prefers to take the medicine himself. Anyway, since the Minne- sota political gang has. worked six years to “get” the League presi- dent, it is too much to expect they will let ‘him go, now that they have him for a brief period in .their power. They could not gloat over Mr. Templin’s incarceration. More people than you would expect” e e R s e