The Rathdrum tribune. (Rathdrum, Idaho) 1903-1963, 1918-10-25


of This Letter. 1t States Many
Important Truths.
Arthur LeSuer, executive secretary,
the National Nonpartsan league, St.
Paul, Mimi:
Dear Slr-Your invitation to
address the Nonpartisan campaign
rally 10 declined by me for the follow
ing reasons:
The name OF your league implies
that 1t is non partisan, but in fact
there is no organization more partisan.
At this time, when other political
parties are trying to put aside, for the
good Of the country. any factional
spirit that might exist, your organiza-
tion is doing everything within its
power to increase it.
At the time of our entrance into
the European conflict your organizers
condemned our government for enter
ing the war. When it became
apparent that this course would
result in disaster for their organiZa-
ton, they changed their course and
made an eleventh-hOur claim to pure
loyalty, but, Notwithstanding this
claim, the National Noupartlsan
league is party of discomfort. 1t has
drawn to it the pro German element
of our state. It's leaders have been
closely connected with the lawless I.
W. w. and with the Red Socialists,
pacifists and peace advocates, whose
doctrines are of benefit to Germany,
are among their numbers.
Those ia charge of the league have
catered to that faction of labor which
has violated the law and been opposed
to compliance with just orders of
duly constituted authority.
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 state,
and thereafter in Wisconsin and
Illinois, but which was invited To
North Dakota by its governor. who
was elected thru the efforts of your
league. The cheering and the applaud
ing of the unpatriotic utterances of
Senator LaFollette at your last con-
vention put stamp of disloyalty on
1t that can never be erased. Your
present publicity agent lost the posi-
ton he held at that time because he
supported LaFollette's unpatriotic
ideas, and after bis discharge by his
employer be was employed by your
Nonpartisan league.
Another of your leaders, Joseph
Gilbert, called director and manager
| believe, has been convicted by
jury because of his disloyal utterances.
He, together with Mr.. Manahan, an
attorney of your organization, un-
periodically used strike situation
here to advance the political interests
of the league.
These two men have maliciously
slandered public spirited members of
the public safety commission, ia an
attempt to bring together the farmers
and wage carriers for the political
purposes of your political party's self
constituted leaders, who are neither
real farmers nor real laborers, but
self seeking demagogues, who, the
actual farmers and the actual labor
10y men of our state will sooner or
later tud, are nothing bnt pretended
friends, wolves paradng in sleeps
clothing.
You, who appear TO be the execu-
tive secretary of this organization.
were the attorney who defended the
murderers in the l. w. w. trouble
on the range two years ago, and who
has assisted the I. w. w. organlza.
ton, which has publicly announced
that it is its intention ultimately to
take the farms from the farmers.
whose headquarters since the com
mencement OF the war have been
raided by the federal governments and
whose members are now taking refuge
in such organizations as the National
Nonpartisan league.