The Mankato free press., 1918-06-21


Veigel is manager of the Equity store
cry company.
During the remainder of the after
noon the crowd gradually thinned
away and there were no more out
breaks. Several workmen in front OF
the Commercial hotel were closely
questioned to see if they were /. w.
w. members. The men hastily de-
MED any affiliation with the organi-
zation and were not molested.
The BuIWarks of Defense.
D. l.. Williams and Fred True, two
hulwarks of defense for the league,
arrived in the city after the fracas
had passed over. The men stopped
their cars just opposite the police
station. Remarks were exchanged
between the leaguers and several
men on the street.
Suddenly a pile of Nonpartisan lit
erature in the Williams car was es-
pied. In jiffy the pamphlets were
thrown out of the car to the street
and torn into small bits. Williams
called for officers to come and pro-
tect his property. Officers respond
ed and prevented the mob from injurZ
ing Williams or True. Chief Ario TOOK
a seat in the car besides Williams
and escorted him out of town. FREQ
True drove away later but was not
molested.
They Aren't Saying Anything.
"We aren't saying anything about
what action we'll take in this matter
mill after Tuesday" said Dan l..
Williams this morning, when inter-
viewed by a Free Press reporter re-
garding steps that may be taken by
Nonpartisans for damage done their
property yesterday. we'll wait until
Lindbergh is nominated" said Will
liams, 'and then we'll see what is to
be done. My car was badly damaged.
The tires were cut and driven full OF
tacks and nails and others suffered
even greater damage than did,"
Williams stated that the treat.
ment in Madison Lake was an out
rage. He said he heard the people
turned the hose on some cars but did
not get into the thick of the fray for
this part of the reception. His own
machine was stopped by two men
armed with shotguns, Williams stated,
and one gun was pushed into his face
and one against the head of the,
driver of the car, man named
Knutson from Courtland. Knutson
became so frightened at the sight of
the gun that he tainted.
"The Free Press is to blame for all
this trouble said Williams. "You
can't tell the truth if you want to.
You won't make any mention of the
fact that l tried to get the deputy
sheriff to go back and arrest those
two men with guns and he refused
me- / tried to get into the Jail to
see Mr. and Mrs. Smith but could
not. Finally 1 got in the entry and
then they threatened to lock me in
too, SO went out"
Brown Counters Come Here.
Williams said that over eight hun
dred cars were touring Brown county
today, boosting for Lindbergh. He
said he did not know whether or not
they wolld come through Nicollet
county and over into Mankato to
parade.
"The articles in the paper last
night spoke about drenching the
leaguers' Sunday meeting
clothes as if it were joke" said
Williams in an aggrieyed manner.
"You never bring up anything about
the league unless it is written wrong
or mentioned carcastically as if it
were cute or something funny"
Williams said the Courtland band
did not refuse to play patriotic airs
at st. Clair. Daniel explained by
saying that the leader of the band
was bringing up the rear of the pro-
cession, two miles behind. His tires
had been driven full of tacks and
nails on the trip, hence the modest
rate of speed. Toward the end of
the tour of triumph" the band be-
came disgusted and left the process
sion for their homes. They even
failed to be present for a serenade
after the welcome rendered the leag-
uers in Madison Lake.
leaguers Insult The Dead.
Rochester Post and Record: Lind
bergh banners were torn from dozen
or more cars at Stewartville yester-
Gay when they were seen on the
streets by indignant citizens who had
assembled to pay a tribute of respect
to Olmsted cOunty's first soldier to
fall in action, Ivan Stringer. It was
a grave and solemn occasion tinged
deeply with loyalty and patriotism.
1t was time to honor a hero who
had died for the flag. And when those
citizens observed the detested BAN
ners advertising the political ambi-
tlons OF a man who would stick SOL
diers in the back, they could not
stand it. They tore the Haunting
signs of disloyalty down. There was
no resistance either. The people were
IN no mood to tolerate it,
FarmeIs Were Prosecuted.
Three farmers in the crowd yester
DAY afternoon We're discussing the Non
partisan league. They freely expressed
their dislike for the movement and fold
now, when they refused to Join the or
ganlzation, leaguers had prosecuted them
ana tried to force them to enter the.
league 'i0
All saloons in the city were ordered
closed between six and nine O'clock last
evening, as it was during these hours
the league cars were passing through
the city and police officers feared a row
or brawl might spread to more seri-
Gus trouble. At nine o'clock the saloons
opened again.
Inc leaguers were holding a picnic at
Vernon Center today A man named
sullivan. candidate for attorney gem
eral was the principal speaker.
. IL is reported that a number of autos
We're We're badly damaged in the melee at
Madison Lake yesterday Tires were cut
and IL is said that an ak was plunged
through the bottom of one car. D. l.
Wliilams stated today that his Red Cross.