Saturday news. (Watertown, S.D.) 19??-19??, 1918-10-10
a Vital Issue i'm South Dakota

While our nation is fighting 10 make
the world safe for liberty democ-
racy, are liberty and democracy in
South Dakota to be degraded to mere
pawns in Il political game?
on September "a, Mark p. Bates,
or Of South Dakota, was deprived OF
his right TO address the citizens of
Britton and vicinity on the issue of the
campaign and departed from the coun-
", on orders issued by the mayor of
Britton who is also county chairman
of the council of defense.
Nor was Ii all. While this candi-
date of the organized farmers and
wage.earner was awaiting the tn'rlv.
al of an armed escort OF Britton's pa
triotic and distinguished business and
professional men who had assumed
the function of courteously compelling
this guest to drive across the line into
North Dakota with a number of load
ed rifles and shot guns turned upon
him a cEowd of hoodlumS in emulation
of their a~narchisttc elders pelted Mr.,
Bates and his party with over-ripe
hen fruit.
On the evening of the same day, in
the city Of Webster, the Ford touring
ear, in which MIR. Bates and his party
we're travelling, was painted yellow
while it was stored in u private garage
with two other automobiles. Neither
of the others was defaced,
AT the Non-Partisan League rally in
Watertown, on the eev)ling of Septem-
er %, occurred another manifestation
OF moi violence which was directed
against the sane f~armerlabor candi-
date ~ his associates pm the cam
paigning tour, OF all the officials pres
emf. the city attorney was the only
enc, apparently, WHO made any effort
-:.=.s=:sIi tic roWdy youths whose
~efferyescent patriotism could find no
wortlier vent than to turn off the
light, while the Bates-Townley meet
ing was in progress and afterwards to
hurl cabbaGes and eggs at the
candidates and speakers who took part
III itttl meetih9.
1t will probably be claimed by some
newspaper apologists for mob action,
that the above mentioned outrages were
directed against, not the farmer-Iabor
candidates, but against Mr.. a. c,
Towpley. the president of the Nation
III Non.Partisan League, who accom-
panied Mr.. Bates. AS If that made any
less reprehensihle the conduct of the
MODS! MIR. ToWnley is also a citizen
and as we'll entitled to the protection
of the law in the exercise of his rights
IS is any other. Cur complaint is not
concerning the persons assaulted but
the assaults themselves,
President Wilson has aptly and tru-
" said: Every American who takes
part in the action of a. mob or gives it
any sort of ~countenance is no true
son Of This great democracy but it's be
trayer.s We endorse that sentiment.
At is as true Of members of county de,
ssfsstssSe a5anels or business or profess.
SIGNAL Ifief, ~native.born or naturalsze5
as Of my other American.
&AAalIi,f III &nr9citiln11l0 OF July
- s~ssailst mob violence, til, President
ics tise tinted s.satrs expressly an9I
solfsnnly called non. Governor and
tie law officers Of every community
20 cooperate moi passively merck,
but actively and sylteffntly to make an
si,sl go this disgrRcefil evil
lie complaint We MAKE. in tlsis
seeslIlection, III that the political office.
hSaaers IN this stare, from the chief
eSeclstise OF the stats dcMn to the hum
hest constable, haze displayed so little
zeal Or effor to comply WITH that time
slSSana solssysn nroc1sims, saa.l of Tns
president Iayen If there be no spirit
81 Estate pride Of even that of fair-play
to move them, hive our public officials
no regard for their oaths Of office that
tlasy suffer such gross invasions OF
citizens rights to pass llrl-
c~hallenged and nnpnnishads Apparent
ly sucll " the Illuminating case
onsPartisalis the Victims
Those mentioned are not the only
pceaaioias when the public meetings
of~eatadtdates who are endorsed hy tie
asNonsPartlsan league have benil III.
Tnohbs and the civil rights of
alsss and aet;s ssstio laat
Ate our state, oupry and rnunicipa