The Meridian times. (Meridian, Idaho) 1909-1938, 1918-10-25

Arthur IL Seuer executive secre-
tary the National Partisan
League. St. Paul, Mimi
Dear Sir-f Your invitation to adj
dress the Partisan campaign
rally is declined BY me Tor the fol
lowing reasons
The name Of your league implies
thar II is Iion-partisan. but in fac;
there is no organization more parti-
san. At this time. when other politi-
cal parties are trying 10 putaside for
the good OF the country. any iacrional
spirit that might exist. your organiza-
tion i doing everything within its
power 10 increase II.
At the time of our entrance into the
European conflict your organizers
condemned our government for en-
tering the war. When it became ap-
parent thar this course would result
in disaster for their organization they
changed their course and made an
eleventh hour claim to pure loyalty,
but, notwithstanding this claim, the
National Non Partisan League is a
party of discomfort. 1t has drawn
TO it the pro-German element of our
state. Its leaders have been closely
connected with the lawless /. w. w.
and with the Red Socialists, pacifists
and peace advocates, whose doctrines
are of benefit to Germany. are among
their numbers.
Those III charge Of the league have
4 catered TO that faction oi labor wh'Sl
has violated the law and been oppose,
| 10 compliance with Just orders o
| duly constituted authority
You, who sign yourself as the exec
utiye secretary of the league, wer,
connected with the Peoples Peac,
Council, which through my procla
nation o. August Is. 1917. was barret
| and thereafter in Wisconsin and Hi
nois. bur which Was invited to Nortl
] Dakota by lis governor, WHO VA
elected through the efforts oi YOU
leagu The cheering and the aP
| plauding Of the unpatriotic uttersnce.
Of Senator La Toilette at your las
convention nut stamp of disioyaltI
on it that can never be erased You
| present publicity agent lost the posi-
| ton he held at that time because h:
supported La Fonette's unpatriotio
ideas, ami after his discharge by hi:
employer he was employed by your
| Non Partisan League.
| Another of your leaders, Joseph
Gilbert, called director and mana
ger, | believe, has been convicted By
Jury because of his disloyal utter
ances. He, together with AIR Mana
/ han. an attorney OF your ORGANIZE
ton, unpafriotically used a strike sit
uafion here 10 advance tie politica
interests OF the league
These two men have mahc;oGsi.
slandered public spirited members 0
| the public safety commission. II al
| attempt to bring together the farmer
and wage earners Tor the poIitjca
| purposes OF your political part, ; sell
| constituted leaders. who are neithe
real farmers nor real laborers. blu
self-seeking demagogues. who. tn
actual farmers aud the actual labor
| ing men al orr state viii sooner Q
later lind are nothing but prerendet
friends wolves psrading in sheep
| clothing.
You. who appear 10 be tie rNecu
tive secretary 81 this organization
were the attorney who defended th
murderers in the /. w w trouble o
range two years ago, and who In
assisted the L w. NJ, Organization
which has publicly announced snat
is It's intention ultimately to take th
| farms from the farmers. whose head
! quarters since the commencement Q
the war have been raided bv the led
eral government. and whose member
are now taking refuge IN such organ
zarions as the National Nou-fartiSa
League
How. under such circumstances iii
farmers OF Minnesota. who have hee
Threatened with the loss OF thei
| farms. WHO have tilne and time agar
heen compelled 10 appeal 70 eac
officers Tor protection against I'll
members 81 this lawleSs. anarchist
organization. can now Join a leagn
with promoters whose sympathie
have heen with this lawhreaGine 10
SheHik element in our society. is We
nigh ineomprehcnsihle
mother reason for declining you
invitation is the possibility 81 C
struing nlr presence At your parts