Saturday news. (Watertown, S.D.) 19??-19??, 1918-10-17
GET READY FOR THE 9TH LIB.
ERTY LOAN

which shall rise u of the ashes of
the worlds anguish, a democracy OF
free men and free women.
The special interests, who IRE OPP
posed to us and whom we oppose,
know and realize the full significance
OF these our purposes. Those inter-
ests are strongly ~entrenched in their
privileges and are endeavoring to
strengthen their political control in
both the Republican and Democratic
parties. Those powerful industrial
combines are organized politically to
secure advancement OF their interests.
We are obliged to organize, politically
against oppression and to advance the
common good. They act indifferently
of party organizations, to maintain
their plutocratic power. We organize
for nonpartisan political power, to de-
stroy that plutcracy and to regain
democracy.
There Is no consistent middle ground
between these opposing forces and
principles. They who are not for US, in
this political contest, are against as.
The conflict just mentioned is world
wide but at this particular time is
conferred in the principle grain produc:
ing states of our nation. Our first
duty lies at home and it is there our
first attention is required. In this
state, the forces OF Special Privilege.
acting through the Republican polite
al machine and assisted by some poll
Iticianss calling themselves Democrats.
n strongly e~ntrenched. THEY KNOW
AND FEAR THE NONpARTISAN
LEAGUE. They feel their former pow
ers slipping from them. In fea and
DESPERATION. they are fighting for their
existence. They will use every means,
fair or unfair, to maintain their priv.
leges and the autocratic power they
have 50 long welded. They have not
hesitated to use their majority in our
state legislature to create a new weap
on with which to intimidate. terrify
and prosecute League workers and
other citizens who are organizing vot-
ers for the characterization Of the gov
eminent and Of the political and In
dustrial institutions OF state. They
have also used and will continue to
use the servile press Of the state to
serve their unworthy and un-Ameri-
can designs.
These conspiring forces have found
In the governor Of South Dakota,
whether consciously or uncoflsciously. IL
facile ally. Under the support and in
fluence of this person, who owes
whatever sernfnence or distinction he
has attained to the farmers and other
producers Of the state, there rave
been enacted laws creating and conferr-
ing on so-called councils OF defense and
home guards, extraordinary political
powers. professedly to assist the ma
tional government in the maintenance
OF our army mi navy and the protec-
ton OF domestic peace. But, as inter-
preted by said bodies, those powers far
exceed those which the wise restric-
tons OF Federal and state constftu-
tion contemplate or permit to be en-
forced.
Used For Base Ends.
IN practical effect the attempt has
been made and is being made to use
these newly created bodies for low and
cOnteMptile ends. Under cover Of these
laws attempts have been made to rem
der nugatcry the Bill Of Rights and
to put American citizenship hack to
conditions that existed, when in 1776
ctr fathers threw of the
feuial yoke of theKing ofsEngland.
Uncertain settled sections Of our state
certain local officers Of these councils
81 fdeense and Of the home guard
have melted and participated in riot
oua mObs. On their orders and by their
hands hive been perpetrated the fel-
lowing slawless and sometimes Grim
inal act:
a-cnsixens have been prevented
the e-xercisessof the right Of free IS
gerlblage 70 discuss sqliestionsSof pnbllc
iinterSat and political import;
6ECftt1ensy have besn denied fhe
Eexerciee Of thesriGht 0f free apeechs
c-Cttieena have been vinlently a..
eaNateds stopped on the hielsWAys and