Grand Forks herald. [volume] (Grand Forks, N.D.) 1916-1955, 1918-03-21
LEACUERS HAD
PRO-CERMAN
LITERATURE
Affidavit Reveals Circula-
ton of Remarkable Cam
paign Literature.

Pierre, S. D.. March 21.-The Nom
partisan league fight on the Defence
Council bill now before the special
session of the legislature. last night
brought out an affidavit from Opie
Chambers, head of the Gregory coun-
ty Council of Defence, who has been
charged by the Townleyites Of be-
ing the instigator of what they call
rough treatment accorded them
when five OF their number were APP
pretended. searched and escorted
from the county with the request that
they v return.
The affidavit is highly interesting
and reveals that the Townley organ
izers carried literature of pro-Ger-
man tendencies and that incriminat-
ing letters were in their possession.
1t says in full:
State of South Dakota, County OF
Opie Chambers. being duly sworn
according to law. deposes and says:
That he is a citizen Of the state of
South Dakota; above h age Of 81
years. and that he is the County
Chairman of the State Council Of De-
ferse for Gregory county: that as such
chairman he took possession of GER
tain baggage in the city of Gregory
that was supposed to belong to a
number of men supposed to be organ
izcrs for the National Non Partisan
league, or the National Farmers Non
Partisan Political league. and who
were suspected of being German spies.
or German sympathizers: that he eX-
amined the contents of the said grip,
and that among other things he found
a certain pamphlet called the Ma
tional Non Partisan League. origin.
purpose and method of operation, war
program and statement of principles"
That among other things in said
pamphlet one paragraph reads as fol-
lows: I'VE therefore urge that
our government. before proceeding
further in support of u European
allies. insist that they. in common
with it. make immediate public
declaration of terms of peace, without
annexations of territory. indemnities.
contributions. or interference with the
right of any nation to live and man
age its own internal affairs, thus being
in harmony with and supporting the
new democracy of Russia in her
declaration of these fundamental
principles"
That a number of letters were in
said grips. n among the correspond
cnce of the said strangers addressed
to Emil Sudan. or F.. r. Sudan: that
M of these letters was in an envelope
poStsHol e Ahdu1Suu, -. b.. anu liza
on the reverse side of the envelope
was the name of Mrs. f. F.. Sudan.
Madison. S. D.. that the letter was
dated at Madison. South Dakota.
February 81. 1918: that among other
things in said letters was the follow
ing: Sonny has to go to the Den.
Sat. and he is tearing his shirt about
it already. He is learning to sing
Star Spangled Tanner. and also learn
ing to salute OUR FLAG. Wish you
could hear it all. know you do not
approve of it Emil. but you know he
learns so many other things that he
really needs in life that one has to
overlook these things now"
That in the correspondence of said
Sndan and others there are many re-
marks which indicate hat the writers
ct h letters know the persons to
whom they are addressed to not be in
sympathy with the government of the
United States.
that said strangers We're locked in the
Jail in the town of Burke for the pur-
pose of protecting them from a mob.
and that said strangers gave their
names and addresses as follows:
Nathan Gorsuch, S;sseton. S. D.. r. F..
Parker. Sisseton, S. D.. n. f.. De-
Arnent. Sisseton. S. D.. Harry y.
Fisher. Flasher. y. D.. O.. D. NELLIE
more. Crystal, S. D.. f. Z. Sudan,
Madison. S. D.. and they admitted be-
ing organizers or speakers for said
league.
Dated this 18th Day of March. A. D.,
1918.
OPiE CHAMBERS.
Subscribed and sworn to before me
this 18th day of March A. D.. 1918.
CHARLES S. MILLER.