The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1918-06-14
Lindbergh Banners Ripped
From Cars Right Lively
CROWD WAS INDIGNANT
Nonpartisan Shouters We're Told
To Make Their Display in
Germany


number of men drove in cars to ST.
Peter this afternoon. They met the
leaguers and also resistance. Several
of the men were arrested. Among
the number was man named Walsh.
Enraged at the sight of a process
sion of Nonpartisan leaguers in au-
tomobiles passing through the city
their cars decorated with the league
banners boosting the candidacy OF
Charles A. Lindbergh, a crowd OF
hundred or more persons halted
portion of the parade as 1t came
across the Main street bridge aid
removed all the banners. Men VINO
were driving the cars even had their
Red Cross and Liberty loan buttons
torn off their coats. All American
flags on the machines were taken OIL
also.
"Those are for Americans" men,
bers of the crowd told the Nonparti-
sans. "If you have any flag on your
machine it should be the double
headed eagle of Germany"
Some of those driving the ma
chimes showed fight and were rough
ly handled by the crowd. One man
leaned far out of his machine in an
effort to strike the men who were
removing his banner. He was badly
pummeled and struck in the face and
head several times. Members OF the
crowd followed the car as it gathered
speed and there was lively running
fight for a block or more down BEL
o~th
About ten o'clock this morning
word was received in the city that
large party of Nonpartsans We're
headed this way from the direction
of New Ulm and were coming across
the Main street bridge to parade In
the streets of Mankato. The word
was received by R. e. Brown OF the
Northern States Power company. Mr.
Brown at once told the police and the
mayor attempted to get in touch with
the sheriff and Captain Allison OF
the Home Guards.
few minutes after eleven the
first auto. a Ford touring car, cross
ed the bridge and stopped in front
of the Saulpaugh bar. The machine
had scarcely stopped before the Lind
bergh banner was ripped on. Other
machines in the procession did not
come across the bridge for fully fif-
teen minutes later The machines
all stopped on Belgrade avenue In
North Mankato and the CORTLAND
hand. which led the outfit got out or
their cars and played several num-
bers.
2o7 Cars in the Outfit.
A member of the party stated 10
The Free Press that there were 2O7
cars by actual count when the pro-
cession left Nicollet. After that a
number of machines joined the pa
rade at farms on the way to Nortn
Mankato The car leading the pro-
cession was a large Paige and was
decorated with bunting and fags ana
bore a large picture of Lindbergh on
the windshield.
After the band had finished, the
cars came across the bridge into Man :
kato. Mayor L. L. Champlin was at
the corner of Main street and gave
the notice orders to direct the ma
chimes to Second street and order
them out of town without stopping.
Several citizens who gathered at the
corner asked the mayor to order the
Nonpartisans to remove their ban
ners before they entered the CITY, he
refused. however, to do this. =
Rv actual count 100 cars, all deco
rated with Lindbergh banners and
American flags passed the Saulpaugh
corner. The crowd gradually grew
larger and there were repeated
threats made to remove the banners
Suddenly youngster ripped on
banner The crowd cheered and ap-
nIauded and Kissed the occupants as
tho machine passed. The next car
that came UP was dealt with by the
crowd. Even a paper picture o.
T.indhergh on the windshield was tort
off.
Cars Shorn of Banners.
As quickly as the cars came VI
thew were shorn of their banners ant
the drivers ordered to proceed anc
tbev did so among the boots an6
hiSses of the crowd Some of the
farmers speeded up and made IL I'M
possible for the crowd to seize the
banners. Others turned off the stree
and ran up the alley at the rear O
the Saulpaugh hotel. A few OF tns
farmers showed fight but they were
seized and held by members OF tne
crowd while others tore the banner:
from the cars.
Seeing that a number of machines were
esca ming the crowd moved down to tn
Mankato side of the bridge and stopped
the machines at this point.
al cts not allow this bunch OF pro
kaiserites In Blue Earth county" someone
"Back to NicoIIet."
ssBack to N;collet." was the cry am
the farmers were ordered to return to nj
collet: .sor clear to Germany. one of tn
crowd shouted, land when you get ther'
give the kaiser our best regards
Several farmers attempted to turf
around on the bridge and get back int
North Mankato before the crowd reache'
them. A new Overland machine in mack
ing to make the turn smashed into IN, tn.
curbing on the bridge and the. rear LEI
wheel was broken off, The crowd went OF
across the bridge and the last machine
in the procession were stopped In Nortl
Mankato and their banners removed. l
was here that fight took place. Severa
OTHER farmers started trouble and the.
were all roughly handled.
CONTINUED on Page Three.)