The Devils Lake world and inter-ocean. (Devils Lake, N.D.) 1915-1920, 1918-03-20
BURNQUIST REFUSES INVITA-
TION TO ATTEND RALLY TO
STIR CLASS DIVISION.
TOWNLEY ORGANIZATION
CALLED PRoPoGANDlIsT
EXECUTIVE DENoUNCEs PARTY
OF Discomfort AS ATTRACT
ING PRO-GERMANS.
AFFILIATION WITH LAW
VIOLATORS IS CHARGED
STATEMENT RECTTES PEOPLES
COUNCIL, I. w. w. AND RED So
CIALIST ACTIVITY.

STATEMENT REClTES PEOPLES
COUNCIL, I. w. w. AND RED So
CIALIST ACTIVITY.
=:
Charging the Nonpartisan League
with disloyal propaganda and arraign-
ing its heads for stirring up fractional
and class feeling when the country
should working solidly and whole.
heartedly for winning the war, Cover
nor J. A. Burnquist today delivered
the most scathing condemnation that
it has yet received.
The governors condemnation Of the
league and its heads was made in q
letter to Arthur lie Sueur, former so
cialist mayor of Minot, now executive
secretary" Of the league, declining an
invitation to Address the leagues COM
ing campaign rally.
The Governors Letter.
The governors letter follows:
Dear Sir-Your invitation to adj
dress the Nonpartisan campaign rail-
ly is declined by me for the following
reasons:
"The name of. your league implies
that it is nonpartisan, but in fact
there is no organization more parti-
SAN. At this time, when other politi-
cal parties are trying to put aside,
for the good of: the country, any fac
tional spirit that might exist, your
organization is doing everything with
in its power to increase it.
"At the time Of our entrance into
the European conflict your organizers
condemned the government for enter
ing the war. When. it became appar-
ent that this course would result in
disaster for their organization, they
changed their course and made an
18th hour claim to pure loyalty, but
Notwithstanding this claim, the Ma
tional Nonpartisan league is a party
of discomfort. It has drawn into ii
the pro-German element of our state.
Its leaders have been closely connect
ed with. the lawless 1. w. w. and with
the red socialists. Pacifists and peace
advocates, whose doctrines are Of
benefit to Germany are among Their
number.
"Caters to Law Vi0lators."
"Those in charge of the league have
catered to that ecaction of labor which
has violated the law and been opposed
to compliance with, just orders Of duly
constituted authority. The leading ag.
itators in your party have through
their speeches and the circulation Of
contemplate falsehoods encouraged
disrespect for honest and patriotic
men in public positions. These self
appointed leaders, with whom you arr
associated, have Eeen and now are, en-.
deavoring to get farmers to oppos,
businessmen and employees to oppose
employers. They state, in your party
principles, that "the great thing thu
farmers need today to win is to stic9
by your organization to cooper
with wage workers organizations il
the cities and together win control o:
the powers of the state government
and then the national government.
Peoples Council Reviewed.
"You, who sign yourself as the ex
ecutive secretary of the league, wer'
connected with the Peoples Peace
council, which, through my proclama
ton Of Aug. %, 1917, wa barred iron
holding meetings in this state an,
thereafter in Wisconsin and Illinois
but which was invited to North Dako
ia by its governor, who was electe,
through the efforts of your league
The cheering and the applauding O
the unpatriotic ~rtterances of Senate
La Toilette at your last convention
put s. stamp Of disloyalty on it tina
Fan never be erased. Your present pub
1icity agent lost the position he hel.
at that time because he supported I;
Follette's unpatriotic ideas and, afte
his discharge. by his employer. he wa
employed by your Nonpartisan league
Another. of your leaders, Joseph Gil
bert, called a director and manager,
believe, has been convicted by a jur
because Of his disloyal %utterances. H
together with Mi. Manahan, attorne
for your organization, ~patriotlcall
used a strike situation here to advanc
the political interests of the league.
safety Board Maligned."
"These two men have maliciousl
slandered public spirited members q