The Ely miner. [volume] (Ely, Minn.) 1895-1986, 1918-03-15
GOV. BURNQU|sT
PLACES LOYALTY
ABOVE POLITICS
ocATHiNG LETTER TO A. c
TOWNLEY IN WHICH HE USES
PLAIN, POINTED
LANGUAGE.
NO TIME FOR CLASS STRIFE
Declares Townley League is Purely
Political In It's Aims, Works
Wit, DisloyaI Element and Mis-
leafs Farmers and Labor.

Governor Burnquist does not want
the people of the state to have any
doubt as to where he stands on the
fullest measure of loyalty.
In a letter that fairly burns with
patriotic feeling and loyalty the. gov
ernor tells A. C. Townley, president
of the National Nonpartisan league,
where he stands regarding that or
ganization, and does not hesitate for
want of words in making it known
that he believes Townley is leading
a propaganda that is hindering the
war purposes of the nation and is
seeking to divide the people of the
state and nation by stirring class
hatred.
Governor Burnquist wrote the letter
in reply to an invitation to address
a campaign rally Of the Nonpartisan
league. 1t was addressed to Arthur
LIE Seuer, who sent the invitation as
Nonpartisan league.
The governors letter is as follows
Governors Letter.
Dear Sir-Your invitation to adj
dress the Nonpartisan campaign rally
| is declined by me for the following
reason:
"The name of your league implies
| that it is nonpartisan, but in fact
there is no organization more parts.
an. At this time when other political
| parties are trying to put aside, for
the good of the country, any faction
| al spirit that might exist, your or
| ganization is doing everything within
| its power to increase it.
cat the time of our entrance into
| the European conflict, your organic
| entering the war. When it became
known that this course would result
in disaster for their organization, they
changed their course and made an
| eleventh-hour claim to pure loyalty
but Notwithstanding this claim the
National Nonpartisan league is a par
| ty of discomfort. 1t has drawn to il
the pro-German element of our state
Its leaders have been closely connect
ed with the lawless |. w. W. and with
Red Socialists. Pacifists and peace
advocates, whose doctrines are OF
benefit to Germany, are among Their
number
| Opposed to Local Authority.
"Those. in charge of the league have
catered to that faction Of labor which
has violated the law and been op
posed to compliance with just orders
of duly constituted authority.
"The leading agitators in your
party have through their speeches ant
the circulation of contemplate false
hoods encouraged disrespect for hon
est and patriotic men in public posi-
tions. These self-appointed leaders
with whom you are associated have
been and now are endeavoring to ge
| farmers to oppose businessmen anC
employees to oppose employers. The!
state, in your party principles, tina
the great thing the farmers need to
day to win is to stick by your organ
ization, to cooperate with wage work
ers organizations in the cities and to
gether win control of the powers O
the state government and then thu
national government
DisIoyaIty Plainly Shown.
"You, who sign yourself as the ex
ecutive secretary of the. league, were
connected with the Peoples Peace
council, which through my proclama
ton of August %, 1917, was barred
from holding meetings in this stat
and thereafter in Wisconsin and Hi
nois, but which was invited to Nortl
Dakota by it's governor, who wa
elected through the efforts of you
league.
'The cheering and applauding o
the unpatriotic utterances of Senate
La Toilette at your last convention
put stamp of disloyalty on it tina
can never be erased.
"Your present publicity agent los
the position he held at that time be
cause he supported La Follette's un
patriotic ideas and after his dis
charge by his employer, he was EN-
ployed by your Nonpartisan league.
Wolves in Sleeps Clothing.
Another of your leaders, JOSEPH
Gilbert, called a director and manage
1 believe, has been convicted by
jury because CT his disloyal utterant
es. He, together with Mr.. Manahan
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