Idaho County free press. [volume] (Grangeville, Idaho Territory) 1886-current, 1918-02-07
F. P. WATERS ADDRESSES MEN
IN ODD FELLOWS HALL IN
GRANGEvILLE
ATTACKS BIG INTERESTS
District superintendent of Non-partisan
Organization is Heard in
Idaho County

District Superintendent f.. p. Waters,
representing the Non-partisan league,
spoke for two hours or more Saturday
afternoon in the Odd Fellows hall in
Grangeville before an audience of thir-
! ty-fve or lorty men, mostly farmers
Mr.. Waters, who had previously spoken
in Ferdinand and Cottonwood, opened
his speech by saying that he was a
farmer. "Though | am now wearing a
white collar he said at feel better
when wearing a blue shirt. - Then he
went on to tell that he had been for
twenty-five years a railroad man, in ad-
dition to having been a farmer.
Tells of Non-partisan League
Mr.. Waters spoke of conditions in
North Dakota which, he said, led up
to the organization of the Non parti-
san league, political party which
elected the present governor of North
Dakota. Mr.. Waters said the farmers
of North Dakota had not received
just price for their wheat, and, finally
under the leadership of one A. G. Town
ly, banded together and formed a po-
litical organization which, according to
Mr.. Waters, has been eminently sue
cessful in North Dakota.
Mr.. Waters said that Townley was
one of the greatest organizers the
world has ever seen, and compared him
to Washington, Lincoln and Wilson.
He said that Mr.. Townley was at
present going through bankruptcy, and
laid the man = financial failure TO the
activities of 'big interests "
Mr.. Waters fayed John D.. Rookie
Teller, the railroads, and other big Fl
nancial interests, including the power
companies OF Idaho. He said that
Rockefeller controls the power compan
les of the state of Idaho, and that they
are charging the consumer too much for
electricity.
Big Housecleaning Promised
The speaker referred TO the activities
of the Non-partisan league in idaho,
saying it was opposed to the present
political situation, and that "there will
be big political housekeeping in Ida
no this fall"
Mr.. Waters read number of news
paper clippings to his audience. From
the clippings he CLEANED material
through which he took fling at the
meat packers, and he did not forget to
pay his compliments to the idaho Coun-
ty Free Press.
The speaker read to the audience
parts of two editorials recently print
ed in the Free Press. He spoke at
length on the editorials,
and read list of names of men who,
he said, were members of the Non
partisan league, and who have sons in
The army or navy of the United States.
Mr.. Waters said the Non-partisan
league operates newspapers in North
Dakota and elsewhere, and spoke of
some newspapers being kept by
interests. These newspapers have
been waging a war on the Non-partisan
eague, he said
Where the SIG Goes
The speaker asserted that the $40 con
ributed by the farmer on joining the
league was used to keep the league
going--to pay organizers salaries, for
to the Non-partisan Lead
II. q publication issued at Fargo N. D.,
md to pay the farmers share of cam
Daign expenses He said the farmer
had paid his share of pc
itical campaign expenses through ex-
brilliant profits to big interests.
At the conclusion of the address,,
ards were passed through the audience,
md those interested in the movement
we're asked to so indicate by writing
heir names on the cards