The Kennewick courier-reporter. [volume] (Kennewick, Wash.) 1914-1938, 1918-08-22

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the prosecution of the war. But,
walls, Mr.. Gardner, the supreme court
of Minnesota "threw out the charges
of disloyalty." 1t set some leaders
free, not all, nor did it hand down
decision that Mr.. Townley was
patriot, nor a man of character, nor
did it state that Mr.. Townley wasn't
creating domestic strife for. the pur-
pose of Fleeing millions from we'll
meaning farmers.
The speeches of the senator from
Wisconsin would not convict him of
disloyalty, but they do convict him of
hampering the government and Great
ing domestic strife, and it was be-
cause of this that the Germans put
millions of copies of these speeches
into the hands of the Russian Bolshe-
Wiki.
Mr.. Gardner boldly substitutes a le-
gal definition of disloyalty in place
of the word "hampering" in an effort
to build up a defense for the leaders
of his most-partisan league.
Because an utterance against the
draft law, or advice to farmers not to
purchase Liberty Bonds did not con-
vict a man of being traitor under the
law, it does not follow that such ut
terances are not traitorous in effect,
nor does it justify Mr.. Gardner In
inferring that his SIG godfather is
supporting the war program. Mr..
Townley has admitted under oath that
his propaganda has earned him $4,-
100000. Mr.. Gardner says the league
lis Sin complete sympathy with the
war program of the administration. |"
If Townley and Wilson are such close
friends, why not quit enriching Town
ley and give the money to the Red
Cross?
If the administration thought Town
ley was helping anybody but himself,
President Wilson would say so. Pres
ident Wilson with the help and adj
vice of the best men in the country is
taking over industry after industry.
Patriotic socialists are asking the pres
ident to go no faster for fear of in
efficiency and reaction. Mr.. Allan L.
Benson, 1916 socialist candidate for
the presidency, in Current Opinion
of this month says: Enough is
enough. Transfer of industry from
private to public control cannot be ac-
complished over night. The burden
of proof is still on Trotsky." But of
course Wilson and Benson are be-
ginners compared to Townley in states
manship.
Let me give Mr.. Gardner some polit-
ical advice. It is this: Washington is
controlled politically by the city votes.
The city will never accept leader of
the Townley character or calibre.
Therefore, save your SIC. Go into
some reputable organization like the
grange and carry a campaign against
the profiteer to the consumer in the
city, who is now bowling about the
cost of living. Show him that the
profiteer is the mutual enemy of both
producer and consumer. But don't
try to turn the cities upside down with
your league or the farmer will be
political goat in this state for years
to come.
Credit has been freely given to the
non-partisan league in North Dakota
for accomplishing market reforms
and to this point the public backs the
league. However, there must be
parting when men of the Townley
type commemorative good thing by
tying it to every economic device
known that will disturb the equilibri-
UNI and lower the efficiency of America
in this war. That pro- Germans are
almost unanimous for Townley is
shown in election returns from Ger
man communities and in reports from
local defense councils.
But what's the use? None are so
blind as those who won't see. Even
in a crisis like this, when our Presi-
dent has adopted an economic policy
of which all statesmen of all parties
approve, political mushroom like