The Farmington times. (Farmington, St. Francois County, Mo.) 1905-1926, 1918-09-27
G. O. p. OFFICIAL INDICTED

The indictment of w. P. Elmer of Sa-
lem, Mo-, member of the Executive
Committee of the Republican State
Committee, last May on two counts in
which he is charged with disloyalty,
was made public by the st. Louis Post
Dispatch Tuesday, Sept. II.
Mr.. Elmer refused to discuss the
matter with a representative of the
Post Dispatch, but said he saw nothing
in the situation which called for him
to retire from the Republican Commit
tee.
The following are the facts in the
case as given by the Post Dispatch:
Indictment Not Made Public
The indictment, although returned
last spring and in spite of the fact that
Elmer gave bond of $4,000 July 8,
did not become public and has not been
published previously.
1t is charged that Elmer wrote andl
published in the Salem Republican the
following article under the heading,
"Pray or Bray"
"The Post contained local about
soldier boy who was leaving home
after furlough and said there was
an expression seen in the faces of the
Sc boys never seen before. The Post
prayed for their safe return after Kill
ling the Kaiser.
"Ti.cre is look on the faces of the
Sc boys not there when they roamed
like free Americans at home, but a
look of resignation to fate and utter
helplcssness for the future. They feel
it. Protest from the mouth is futile,
so it works at the heart and in due
time is reflected in the face.
"Then think of standing for sys-
tenn that is sending out that boy on a
mission to kill and get killed, and hay v
ing the audacity and hypocricy OF
praying for his safe return. We should
have more respect than to lombard the
Lord with such request. We should
have more respect for than that.
The inconsistency of the position is ut
terly profane. Sending him out to
get killed ad tken praying he may re-
turn safely home. Isn't this grand
conception of the fatherhood of God
and the brotherhood of man? 1t wou-
Id be just as well for the Post to bray
as to pray"
Other Alledged Writings
Other things which he is alleged to
have written are:
"When our country is right, keep it
right; when it is wrong, set it right"
"Allied chorus: Let Sam DO it."
"Of course tie Food Administrator
is not a "Food Dictator" Oh, mol"
England is perfectly willing to con-
tinue the war until every Fretnchman
and American is killed"
"More than 100 American boys dro-
wned in the sinking of the Tuscania.
Baker says this only calls for more"
"Who is right in the Interpretation
of American doctrine? Every states
man from Washington to Mckinley, or
Woodrow Wilson,"
"Who can whip Germany? Allies:
Sam Great applause.) Who can
pay the costs of the war? Allies
Sam Who is the goat in the war?
Allies: Sam
Chairman Cole who appointed Ell
mer to the Executive Committee, was
not in the city today. Elmer, declin-
ing to discuss the charges against
him, said:
81 was chosen a member of the
State Committee by the District Com
mitteemen, all of whom knew of these
charges, and who were convinced of
my innocence. see no reason why
| should retire from the Executive
Committee unless the other boys
want me to-"
Elmer is the Republican nominee
for the Legislature from Dent county.