The Fargo forum and daily republican., 1918-06-04
CALLS FARMERS
CAVE JEWELLERS
Also Hernits, and Insists
"They Have To Be
Led Around"
FORMER LEAGUE
ORGANIZERS TALK
Give Public Some Of The
Inside Facts Concerning
The Organization

Charles E. Gordon, president OF the
independent Political association
formerly a field man and field super
lintendent for the Nonparttsan league,
quit that organization because, nc
says, in a letter made public here TO-
day, he was advised by H. L. Elliott
managea of the Nonpartisan league
for NoEah Dakota. that none but
,"red card Socialists" would get good
,jobs IN the league.
John P. Lynch, another former or
ganizer for the Nonpartisan league
makes public an affidavit covering
much the same ground that Mr.. Cor
don does. while an affidavit, made
Jointly by J. p. Lynch, Ernest Cory
ell, Frank G. Mills and L. D. Lynch,
all former Nonpartisan league or
ganizers, contains the charge that
the leagues manager in North Da-
.kota made the declaration that
1.-The league wants 18 or 20 radical,
Tanting. roaring Reds to control the
hermits and cave dwellers in the
South Dakota legislature after the
next election"
Socialists Dominate.
The afldavits made public here to-
day form another interesting chapter
in the inside workings of the Nation
al INOnp pal liSaII I5dSuGs Will SSPSSAG@A
reference to the domination Of the
league by Socialists. Mr.. Elliott,
state manager in North Dakota, for
merly was connected with the Minot
Socialist local. and was candidate OF
that local for the post Of mayor OF
Minot. after Arthur LeSueur. vice
president of the Nonpartisan league,
and former mayor of Minot, stepped
out of the chair. LeSueur also is a
! Socialist and was a member OF the
Minot local.
Mr.. Gordon's letter is addressed to
J. G. Ingle, Of Dawson, N. D.. the
farmer who some time ago made a
public exposure of the inside work
1ngs Of the conference held in Bis
marck, n. D.. Jan. 28, 1918. when A.
c. Townley failed to get the approval
Of the Farmers union for his Con-
sumers United Stores company. In
part, he writes as follows:
Some time ago we wrote you en-
closing copy of the resolutions adopt
ed by this association Independent
Political association. and inasmuch
as we have not received q reply, we
believe you do not fully understand
the purpose of this organization, or
else you are not fully aware of the
crisis We are now facing, namely,
the overthrow of our state constitu-
leaders Of the NOnparusan league,
which is the first step toward the
overthrow Of our national constitu-
tion and government. So, while our
boys are fighting for world demOc-
Tacy, let us fight for democracy in
our own state. and the defeat of the
damnable Townley autocracy.
IF it. were the farmers OF the
state, we would have no fear. I quote
1 TerNA&
present manager Of the Nonpart1san
league in North Dakota. These are
his own words in the presence OF wit
nesses:
"'What would the d her.
mits and cave dwelling farmers
have done in the last session of
the legislature? Wouldn't they
have made a b of a mesS
trying to make law, had it not
been for few Reds we'll ground
ed in economics. that TownIey
kept on the job at Bismarck, to
lead them (the farmers)"
Another of his statements was to
this effect. l QUOTE HERE THE
EXACT statement:
"'The Socialists are building
this organization and they are
going to rule it. They (the So
ciafsts) will be placed in all re-
sponsibIe positions, both in the
organization and state affairs.
We are also organizing a homo
guard as nearly among. Reds as
possible. that will be Differed by
Reds, so that when we get con-
troll OF the state government
they cannot overthrow u.s.
Selfish Ends to Crafty.
"In view Of the above statement,
it is my candid opinion that unless
we can eliminate this leadership
from the control Of the state I"
it will eventually lead to bloodshed
Therefore, we believe it is a most
critical time, when every loyal Am
erican citizen should act in defense
of his country, and we can only do
this by getting together in order to
defeat. not the farmers organiza-
ton, but the present leadership of
that organization. whose sole pur-
pose is not the best interests of the
whole people Of the state. but their
hg" ifg." Ssl''S'' s'oS anu aims 10 graf
In a letter written by John P.
Lynch, former organizer of the Nom
partisan league. to Charles Gordon,
when both Of them were employed
by the league, Lynch wrote as fol-
lows:
II am very much surprised and
disappointed in the way things seem
10 be going with our organization.
1t seems to be coming to the Social
lists to get all the jobs and all the
money, according to MIR. Elliott, Mr..
Heck and Mr.. Brinton Cindicted man
aEer of the Consumers United Stores
company. / don't see how / can go
ahead and tell these farmers over the
country that this is not a Socialist
party when they come out and tell
me plainly that there is to be no Of
ficer at the head Of this movement
except Socialists. mean the Non
partisan league and the Consumers
United Stores company.
Socialists Get the Jobas
aMr Elliott told me that all good
jobs where the money was must go
TO men carrying a Red card. Mr..
Elliott also told me that they would
watch and keep all parties except
Socialists out of office: that they had
Arthur LeSueur doing the watching,
but needed a few more good Social
lists to help him.
u think as you seem TO have, that
ii Is time to get out of the work,
SO am now ready to go to work for
someone else. ! also think someone
ought TO start q movement to oust
the present state heads Of the North
Dakota Nonpartisan league, or make
this really a nonpartisan movement"