The Idaho Republican. [volume] (Blackfoot, Idaho) 1904-1932, 1918-10-11


Boise. Idaho, Oct. 8.-1nterest In
Idaho political matters the past few
days has centered around the vOlun-
tary retirement of Chairman Taylor as
head Of the Republican State commit
tee and certain expositions in regard to
some of the Non-Partisan league
leaders.
Chairman Taylor, prior to the meet.
ing Of the Non-Partisan league conven.
ton, was asked by league leaders az
to the position Of Frank R., GOOding
and D. w. Davis, later nominated by
the Republicans for United States SEN
ator and governor, respectively, should
the Non-Partisan convention indorse
them.
Mr.. Gooding has long fought much
the same elements as Is represented in
the leadership of the league, and
Chairman Taylor knew what strong
grounds he took. Without consulting
Mr.. Gooding he signed the latter's
name to a letter, stating that Mr.. Good
ing would accept the league nominal
ton for senator If rendered in the
right spirit, but that he was not solicit
lag 1t.
When the letter was made public by
the league leaders, Mr.. Gooding pro-
nounced 1t forgery. At that time
Chairman Taylor was in North Idaho,
en- route for Boise. When he returned
he admitted having written the letter.
He said 1t was generally understood at
that time that the league intended to
indorse the Republican platform and
straight-out Republican candidates,
and he believed he was performing
service for his party. He said he had
also induced Mr.. Davis, whom he had
seen personally, to send similar let
ter, but that the following day Mr..
Davis, on reconsideration, recalled 1t,
stating that his convictions were such
he could not see his way clear to re-
] ceive the Endorsement Of an organiza-
I ton, the leadership of which has been
shown to be VIGOROUSLY allied with
the I. w. w. and Socialists and who
were endeavoring to establish Boil
sheviki regime in this nation. There
was considerable criticism when Mr..
Taylor resigned.
II Says He Is an !. w. w.
During the week portion of the
evidence adduced at the trial of Bill
Haywood and other I. w. w. leaders
at Chicago was made public here in
fac-simile form. 1t was brought out
by Mr.. Gooding, following bitter att
tacks. made on him by Non-Partisan
league leaders. This evidence was in
the form Of a letter from Arthur LIE
Seuer, national secretary Of the Nom
Partisan league, who has charge Of the
work in Idaho, being conducted largely
by Ray McKaig and w. G. Scholtz
lie Seuer wrote this letter to Bill Hay
wood on April s, 1917. 1t was on sta
tionery Of the Socialist college, Of
which Eugene Debs. recently sent to
prison for ten years. was president.
LIE Seuer's name appeared as one Of
the officers Of the college.
Against Government.
4 In this letter to Haywood, Ls Seur
+, said, among other things, that 1t was
necessary In view Of this damned
war" TO fight anti-spy legislation, re-
ferriRg to the espionage bill, since en-
acted.
Governor Gooding points out that
this is only part Of the evidence show
ing the connection of the Non-P Partisan
league leaders with the I. w. W., and
he declares that McKaig and Scholtz
are In the same class with lie Seuer
and are upholding him In their work
among the farmers Of Idaho.
Mr.. Goodfng says that the fight now
being made on him is just a continue
ton Of the bitterness that has been
directed against him by Haywood and
the latter's associates ever since Good
ing was governor of Idaho and helped
to prosecute Haywood, Meyer and Pet.
tibone for conspiring to bring about
the assassination Of Ex-Governor Steu-
nenberg.
Confessed DlsIoyaIlst.
The present controversy resulted
from the. arrest Of Horace Mann in
Gooding county. Mann was an or
ganizer Of the Non-Partisan league.
Reputable citizens made affidavit an
to the sediti0us statements on his part,
but McKaig, as field secretary, with.
out investigating him, instructed him
to continue his work in that county.
When Mann was confronted with the
affidavits and additional evidence, he
made clean breast confessing under
oath that he was sent to Idaho by LIE
Seuer and worked here under the di-
rection Of McKaig; that he had made a
number of seditions statements. Mann
has since been held for trial, having
waived examination.