Clearwater Republican. [volume] (Orofino, Idaho) 1912-1922, 1918-08-09
NOnpartisan League Opens
Campaign In Clearwater County

The Nonpartisans opened their
campaign in Clearwater county
Monday evening with good meet
ing,
The first speaker was VIM. A.
Fife, candidate for secretary OF
state. Mr.. Fife stated that he was
not public speaker, but that 1t
was not necessary for a man to BE-
able to deliver public address in
order to serve the people efficiently
in the capacity Of secretary of state,
as business man rather than an
orator was needed there. He said
he was the candidate selected by
organized labor, being one of the
Oldest passenger conductors on the
Oregon Short Line railroad. and he
spoke of what organization had
done for the railroad men. He said
what they had accomplished the far
mers could accomplish. and that 1t
was step in the right direction
for them to get together as produc-
er and consumer and knock out the
big profiteer between them.
l.. l. Purcell, candidate for con /
gress made the main speech of the
evening, and he stated that the war
had brought about new economic
conditions, and that the change had
proven the claim of progressive re-
publicans and democrats that be-
tween the producer and consumer a
horde of profiteers were cleaning
unearned millions from both. That
it had also proven that even the
government had been unable to con-
troll the situation so far as the pub
lie service corporations were con-
cerned, and was finally compelled
to take them over to secure the
greatest amount Of efficiency and
protect the people.
Mr.. Purcell showed that the mill
ing trust, the beef trust Standard
Oil, the steel trust, the Dupont Pow
der trust and other concerns of this
kind had made excess profits of any
where from $50 per cent to $500
per cent year since the war start
ed, and that this money was being
covered up as rapidly as possible in
order that the government could
not get at 1t in order to make the
profiteers pay their full Share Of
the war burden. The league, he
stated, had demanded this and they
intended to continue the ight until
the i'll gotten gains had ben taxed
from these parties, in accordance
with the recommendation of Presi-
dent Wilson, and laws passed which
would prevent the future plundering
of the people Of this country.
In speaking of the loyalty of the
league, Mr.. Purcell stated that nc
one except those with political axes
to grind and the big interest which
opposed the league program evel
questioned the loyalty of the mem
bers. He said he did not want thu
support of any man who is not 10t
per cent American, and he also die
not want the support of men whit
were proclaiming their patriotism
while robbing their fellow citizen,
of the wherewith to support th'
boys who are fighting for the pres
erva,ion of our country and to pro
tect iur homes and fresides.
The speaker paid his respects t,
state politics and handled withou
gloves the men who have vote,
away our resources in lands. timbe
and water power. and stated tina
he would not be satisfied until peo
pie put men In office who would Ii
to the bottom of the past recor
and show who had prohted by th
steals and make Idaho too hot 10
both them and their tools who ha