Idaho County free press. [volume] (Grangeville, Idaho Territory) 1886-current, 1918-08-01
TWELVE ARE BUSINESS AND PRO-
rEss1oNAL MEN, PRESENT
OUT OF CURIOSITY
PURCELL DOESN'T SHOW UP
waters Speaks to Meager Audience, as
Does Muir. Vice President of Labor
Federation.

IF the Non-p partisan league meeting
held in Grangeville Wednesday evening
was OF a fizzle, the attendance was visi
bIv disappointing to the speakers, who
frequently during the speaking, apollo
gized to the audience for the slight at
tendance, declaring that the meeting
had not been adequately advertised.
Twenty-seven persons, exclusive OF
the speakers and one hireling of the or
ganization, were present. Of this mum
Der, twelve are known to have been
Grangeville business and professional
men, who were present purely out of
curiosity. This leaves total of fiji
teen others who were in attendance.
Of these four are known to have been
farmers. One of the four is not af-
filiated with the Non-partisan league.
Eleven men, therefore, are accounted
for so far as sympathy with the league
is concened. They were total strang-
es to the reporter, but four of them
we're boys, who are believed not TO be
of voting age. This would leave unac-
counted for, seven men. 1t is not known
whether they were members of the
league, or whether they were present
purely because of curiosity.
r-u,, 49,
l.. 7. Purcell, editor of the Weiser
Signal, erstwhile Republican, and now
candidate for the Non-partisan nomina-
ton for congress on the Democratic
ticket, was scheduled to deliver an adj
dress, but Mr.. Purcell did not appear.
It was stated that he did not leave
Boise until Tuesday evening, and there
fore could not arrive in Grangeville in
time for the meeting. Reports current
in the streets Wednesday evening were
that Mr.. Purcell was afflicted with
"cold feet" and for that reason did
not come to GrangevilIe.
William A. Fife, railroad conductor,
of Pocatello, and partisan league
candidate for secretary of state, billed
for speech, was present, but did not
address the audience.
Waters Opens the Meeting.
The program was opened by F. P.
waters, of Rice, Wn., district superin-
tendent of the Non partisan league. Mr..
Waters is the man who addressed an
audience of thirty-five in Grangeville |
last winter, at which time he threaten
ed to put the Idaho County Free Press
out of business, by means of boycott.
he subsequently was escorted from
whitman county, Wn., for melting class
hatred.
Waters this time did not threaten to |
run the Free Press out of business. He
was reminded, on Tuesday, by the edi-
'of OF this paper, that the newspaper
was still in operation, and was enjoy
ing much better patronage than when
ue was here last winter. He said he
uid not wish the Free Press any mis-
fortune.
Refers to the Free Press.
waters contended himself, at the
,penlng of the meeting, with citing the
rec Press as being opposed to the
eague, and he declared that every
MOCK by the paper on the league was
BOOST for the organization. He said
ud' ne regretted the league was not
'osSessed with sufficient funds to hire
"e editor to keep up his opposition to
he league.
waters then read excerpts from
WOODROW Wilson g book, The New Free
'O"' and stated that this book was
!, ~ oiole of the Non-paYtisan league.
, "'ers arranged profiteers, and de-
JARED farmers are not receiving for COW
,ues prices in proportion to those
narged for shoes.
Introduces Labor Leader.
'aters then introduced A. w. Muir,
se president of the Idaho State Fed
"'iOn of Labor, who spoke for an hour
N'0ie Muir flayed Frank r. Good