The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1918-03-01
Martin COUNTY LEGAL
ADNSORSTANDS' PAT
Comes To Defense Of Nicholas
And Lee, Jackson
CRILLS NON-PARTY TALK
Slips Roast To Manahan For
Insulting the Officials and
Citizens
From fridays Daily.

interviewed County Attorney Allen
concerning the charges made against
County Attorney Nicholas and Sher-
iff Lee of Jackson by the Nom Partf-
san league, and it's attempt to have
them removed by the governor for
preventing the advertised meetings
of the league in that county after its
speakers and officers had been &C
cused of repeatedly violating the state
anti disloyalty law.
''Messrs. Nicholas and Lee will well
come the attempt at their removal
and all possible investigation" said
Mr. Allen.
"The meetings were stopped, Gill
bert arrested and Townley placed
under charges only after the most
conclusive proof of guilt came out of
Joseph Gilbert's mouth before Just
ice Wendt, jury of twelve and a
crowd of hundreds.
Gilbert Was Given Free Hand.
"Mr Gilbert was given free
hand and urged to repeat his speech
es then under consideration by the
jury. He admitted saying to the
farmers, in substance, that farmers
boys should not be taken into the
armies of the country; that they are
better off at home that you farmers
have already produced double crops
to help the government, and now they
want to take your boys"
"How about the alleged mobbing
of James Manahan?" Mr.. Allen was
asked
Alleged Mobbing of Manahan.
'"That l saw nothing of, and heard
nothing of until Manahan had fed |
would have faced any mob to pro-
tect him had I known it. But l am
sure he brought the attack upon him
SELF In a room crowded with excit-
ed people, who had for twelve hours
heard him repeatedly insult and criti-
cize the county officials, patriotic or
CARNATIONS and almost everyone
present except members of the Nom
Partisan league, it is certain he
promised to build a fence around
Lakefie,d and raise grass in it's
streets. Excepting himself and COL
leagues everyone were politicians.
grafters and robbers, enleagued and
organized to plumber and rob the
'downtrodden farmers
League Pianks Borrowed.
"You have read the demands in
the platform of the Non Partisan
league" it was suggested, What do
you think of them?"
"They are mostly very old and
mostly very good" said Mr.. Allen.
"They are borrowed from Weaver of
Iowa. Pfeffer of Kansas, Loucks of
South Dakota, Donnelly of Minneso-
ia, our own eccentric but honest Eric
Olson, and their fellows of the nine
ties.
Every honest man is willing such
demands should be discussed: but it
is not necessary that honesty should
be led by disloyalty. The sacred
right of Free Speech cannot be used
as the shield of anyone to go about
Minnesota and teach that any man or
boy should not be taken into the army
and navy of our country to prosecute
the war against the public enemies of
the United States.
Public Will Back Up Officials.
"DisapprOval of their demands had
nothing to do with stopping their
meetings. The profession of Christ
tianity cannot atone for the practice
of barbarity; nor the sublimity of
creed for crimina'ity of conduct any
where. If this is not true, the kaiser
is right, and the principles of the
Non Partisan league, however high
cannot excuse it's disloyal course. E.
H. Nicholas and Ole Lee are right.
| believe the governor will, (and /
know the public wild, sustain them"
County Attorney Nicholas said over
the long distance phone today that
he had no statement for publication; ;
that he had simply performed his du-
ty and would continue to do so as
long as he holds office.