Denver labor bulletin., 1918-07-13
SUPREME COURT
ACQUTTS TOWNLEY
LEAGUE RESOLUTIONS
HELD TO BE LOYAL.
Anti-Farmer Gang in Minnesota Put
to Complete Rout, and Fake
Charges Are Unanimously
Thrown Out
Especial correspondenee.)

81. PAUL, MIMI, July Sine
Minnesota anti-farmer gang was ut
terly routed, its attempt to destroy the
Non-partisan League by securing the
conviction of President A. C. Town
ley and Manager Joseph Gilbert igno-
miniously squelched, and the dishon-
est and vicious character Of the politi-
cal prosecutions exposed on June 5,
when the supreme court Of Minnesota
by unanimous decision threw out of
court the faxed up charges Of disloy-
atty against President Townley and
Manager Gilbert.
The case was the most important
brought against the league by its po-
litical enemies. 1t was the supreme
showing that two separate league res
olutions contained matter opposing the
war and tending to discourage enlist
ments. The league itself was placed
on trial in the person of its two prin-
cipal officials. Had these two men
been found guilty, the political gang
sters, whose power has been threat
ened in Minnesota, believed that they
would have the league completely out
lawed and unable to continue its work.
Gangsters Are Discredited.
The decision of the supreme court
is notable. It effectively disposes Of
all future attempts to convict the
league rs "A whole on trumped-up
charges and 1t shows how far pros
tituted politicians and the sinister in
fiuences behind them will go TO de-
stroy an opponent they dare not fight
openly. The decision put these gang
sters in a bad light. 1t shows that
they are capable of attempting 10 de-
stroy a political opponent by methods
that will not stand the test of fair
court decision. In doing this IL dis
credits the entire attempt Of a few
politicians to monopolize all the pa
triotism Of the nation by making false
accusations against others.
The case in brief is as follows: In
March. 1915, A. r. Allen, an ap-
pointee of Governor Burnquist as
prosecuting attorney of Martin coun-
ty and one of the most notorious enc
mics of the league in Minnesota, Sc
cured the arrest Of Mr.. Townley and
Mr.. Gilbert as representatives. of the
Non-partisan League on the charge
that an official resolution Of the league
passed in June, 1917, known as the
league war resolution, and another
resolution passed Mt the conference Of
farmers and workers held under the
auspices Of the league in St. Paul in
September, 1917. contained matter OPP
courage cnlistments.
Following an illegal attempt to kid
nap Mr.. Gilbert in order to keep him
confined in the Jail in Martin county,
Attorney Allen hailed these officials
into the district court in Martin coun-
ty. The case was certified to the su-
preme court Of Minnesota. On the
day following Independence day this
body decided unanimously that these
league resolutions contained nothing
opposing the war or tending to dis
courage enlistmcnts.
Resolutions Held Loyal
Taking up the resolutions separ-
ately, the decision deals with the Sep
TENDER resolution first. II says that
in giving the causes of the war this
resolution accurately characterizes the
German-Austrian military machine
and its purposes and says the reso-
luton does not connect the President
or the government in any way with
the causes Of the war, that the lam
guage makes no reference to enlist
ments and does not oppose the war.
The decision says that the June rcso-
luton Is prcfaccd by n declaration of
loyalty which should be taken at its
face value and that it does not say
anything opposing the war or tending
to discourage cnlistments.
One part of the decision has the
effect Of direct slap in the face of
Allen. Burnquist and the others in
their endeavor to frame up n case
against the league. Near the end
of the decision the court says: ut is
perhaps not out of place to say that
the resolution has not yet attracted the
-