The Daily Missoulian. [volume] (Missoula, Mont.) 1904-1961, 1917-12-19
ALETTER AND 4 REPLY.
~;

Apropos of your recent editorials
denouncing the men OF the Non
Partisan league movement ana m
wiling the suppression of both
themselves and their cause through
making the men appear to be
treacherously opposed to the war
permit me to suggest that s"ch
attacks provide them with soou
deal OF their ammunition. II
through your editorials and their
speakers. the farmers become con-
WINGED that YOU are unfairly prelu
diced against any change IN meth
DDS of marketing and distrlboitloh'
are your remarks not likely 70 De
accented only by that section OF the
m;ddlemen who are already very
severe in their structures upon the
farmer?
| am in no sense a part or inns
movement, but ! clearly perceive II
as symptomatic of general condl-
lions which should and must chal-
lenge the democratic genius of our
country to correct. This move
ment must ultimately serve a good
purpose by fixing attention upon
evils of exploitation and waste
which should be eliminated.
WHY not meet these men fairly
ON their program, and show where
their program is wrong? AS | un-
ierstana it, this program is no
more directly concerned with the
war than is equal suffrage. The
people are entitled to pass on
domestic program without war
pre- uidice. AS u matter of fact. by
Nour admission. these organizers
arr. talking in favor of the war
and are putting up money ior II,
which would he Il curious pro-
cedure for traitors. | believe prhc-
tically all farmers, whether inside
or outside of this organization, afs
thoroughly patriotic and devoted
to the attainment of our aims. rs
announced by President Wilson,
now that they are awakened 10 the
real facts, and have had time to re-
cover from the HE kept us out of
the war fallacy.
I think it will he conceded that
farmers in general over the coun-
try We're not reached by the flrst
Liberty loan, owing To their rela
tive remoteneSs from the main cur
rent of events. But look what
happened IN the second, and watch
out for the third. The farmer like
Paul Jones of old, has just begun
to fight, and he will be the last
to quit.
In the interest of good sports
manship, you will doubtless publish
this comment, in pursuance OF the
liberal policy OF Your editorial
page in Carrying Letters From the
Missoulian Family
Certainly. il WAS not our pu
pose to dcnonnce the rank al
file OF the membership of Il
Equity. nor have We dol
so. In all Of our CONNER
we have said specifically tn
this movement was found
for excellent purposes. We ha
stated our conviction that u
farmers have suffered real gflc
ances, that they We're wise to ,
ganize to protect their lnteres
that they are entitled to the fl
returns of their toll. We ha
favored the use Of their organic
ton TO protect them against G
ploltation Of any sort. Indeed,
wish the whole people were {
ganized for that purpose. y
as Mr.. Logan says, this progri
is no more directly concern
With the war than is equal 81
frage. We have no criticism
their program, providing it
kept within the lines that '
have indicated.
The point that We have fail
to make quite clear 10 MIR. Log
and, perhaps, to others. is that
group Of dangerous, radical :
ciaIl~ts are using This mnVemc
Tor their own selfish and reyol
tionarN ends. They are trying
steal this organization to work
an anil-War party in this cou
Try and to create conditions {
ut which they hope to start son
Thing akin to a social rrNolltl'
They incIudc rantlng and erin
nal domugogIlrS who are hopi
and PRAYING for The failure OF q
tau>c III TINS war, and are seer,
~ Working against our Cover
mcnl as ii i now constituted.
extreme typ" Of This class is NJ
Kate Richards D'iIarc who. VIII
sentenced IL Il GiNc-Ncar term
Imprisonment al Bismarck for
dilious uttcrancrS. devoted
large part Of her address
praise of The NOn-partis
league. declaring it to be
greatest revolutionary SociaI
phenomenon of the age. At t
point. we might ask Mr.. Log
and the farmers Of Monta
whether they should not vi
with inquiry and suspicion {
organization that wins the e,
berant praise of Mrs. Kate Ri
ards O'Hare.
We also invite them to sl1
the speeches and record Of