The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1918-04-29


so monstrous thing, Such a thought
is, OF course, abhorrent to all loyal
citizens; and, OF course, Governor
Davis is not going to do so. That is
why The virginian stiTl hopes. strl
believes that the governor will yet
find some way to set Virginia right
in this matter of the state council of
defense, that he will yet fnd some
way to comply with the request of
the secretary OF war for ADEQUATE
provision for the state council of de-
Tense. and for the appointment of
men representing the various business
interests and farming interests OF the
state to mem bership on the state
council. and that is why we believe
that he will yet find way to take the
leadership in extending the orraniza :
ton OF the council into the counties
and the townships
Men versed In reading political
signs and portents have become con
WINGED that insidious propaganda and
appeals to the farmers off Virginia
have in some way a connection with
a purpose to create antagonrsm be-
tween the farmers and the national
administration. There may be a sin
lister aspect Of this situation. We
hope there is no, with many Just
grievances the farmers Of North Da-
kota organized a Non-P artisan league
and elected the entire state ticket
/ The head OF the organization was one
A. c. Townley. Since, then the organl-
zation has become the National Non
| Partisan league, with the same Mr.
Townley at the head OF H. II has
organized or Is organizing in thirteen
states Quoting from Mr. John
Thompson. who has become actively
connected with, the league. in a re-
cent number or the American Review
OF Reviews. we find this frank express
sion Of ire purpose OF the league 10
control the political destinies OF the
United states;
| The National Non Partisan
league, or some other organiLa-
ton cmbodying the ideas that
| arc its basis. will control the
| United States, To that
end the National Non-Par4isznn
| league will have candidates for
states in which organization mas
| reached the point whore the
members want TO lndorse can
| ddatcs. Indications seem To
point tn the election OF from
/ fifteen 10 twenty congressman
| this wear The National
! Nom Partisan league is now COM
| posed of farm workers. Industrial
| workers are showing an intense
/ interest in 1t. These workers
| form the majority of the people
! OF the United States The po-
| lItical coalition OF these workers
| fbtSaftS TnuIitft EoNtT IpT ti1STn.
They will send men to Washing
ton who owe their election To
| them. These office holders win
| respond To the interests of those
who sent them To Washing
Again quoting from the same mum
Der OF the American Review OF re
views from a companion article writ
ten by MI W. H Hunter. managing
editor of the Minneapolis Tribune. we
find this:
/ The cardinal count In the indict .
n1ent against the National Non Parti-
san lea gue, on which It's managers
and promoters are seeking verdict
Iof mot guilty by a jury OF the pub
lie, is disloyai leadership.
/ Political leaders or the league, than
whom the country has produced no
shrewder or more resourceful are
contendtng that the farmer is down
trodden and oppressed, that every
mans hand IL against him and that
for his own salvation his hand must
he a@ainst every man, They have
sought to embitter the farmer against
bankers, gra In dealers elevator oper-
atorS ana mtIiers ana to ally the
lahoring mon of the cities with the
farmer by the contention that this
} is "a rich mans war and a poor man :
fight that while the farmers and
Aboring men are bearing the hrunt
of the fighting, the manufacturers
and business men generally are piliug
up wealth, through munitions
ing and profteering.
The cuttlefish when attacked sheds
ink to becloud the waters and elude
pursuit The league leaders are play
ing the role of political cuttletish
just now and trying to hecloud the
political waters by claiming that the
! wicked interests are trying to prevent
the farmers from organizing. There
is not and has not been anywhere
in Minnesota or the Dakotas the
slightest opposition to farmers organ
izations. The opposition the Non
Partisan league, an opposition that
in Minnesota is assuming menacinc
form, is caused not by the organiza-
ton OF farmers, but by the secret or
open disloyalty of leaders of the
league. The line is being closely
drawn in Minnesota between the loyal
lists and the disloyalists, and no less
a person than the governor of the
state. j. A A. Burnquist, elected by
farmers votes and by the largest ma
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