The Bismarck tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, N.D.) 1916-current, 1918-08-14

dicted several times for alleged seditious utter
; ances, and while acquitted in one instance, such
charges still hang their heads LeSueur is
the author of the letter reproduced by this paper
showing that he was making strenuous efforts to
get members of the l. w. w. put Of the penitent-
larry, after having been convicted in Minnesota on
charges of murder and conspirng to call strikes
and stop the production Of steel being used by the
government in the prosecution of the war against
Germany. ...,,r,s. la
/ The record of LeSueur shows that he is red
card socialist who was one of the central figures
in the l. w. w. riots at Minot. Prior to that time,
he was an instructor in the Peoples college, a
socialist school at Fort Scott, Kan. The board of
trustees of this institution is headed by Eugene
V, Debs, several times the nominee of the social
list party for president, and who is also under ar
rest for alleged seditious utterances. 49,
While in Kansas, LeSueur became acquainted
with Marion Whornton, socialist woman lecturer
and married her after dvorcing his wife. Kate
Richards O'Hare, under sentence for sedition now,
was also member of the board with Miss Whorn-
ton and LeSueur. I'LL.
LeSueur is now Townleys chief legal advisor and
tion He is credited with being the brains of the
INonpartsan league and in St. Paul they say
Townley is working for LeSueur instead of Le-
Sueur working for Townley. Anyway they are
fellow conspirators to get the farmers vote into
the socialist party and turn the government of
western states over to the Nonpartisan league and
the l. w. w. This LeSueur promised the !. W. w.
he would do when he attended their conference in
Kansas City on May 80, 1917, addressed the con-
ference, saying:
eff we (the |. w. W. can come to an under
standing with the Nonpartisan league of North
Dakota, it will mean the balance of power will be
shifted from the state government to the Indus
trial Workers Of the World and the Nonpartisan
league ..,.ts. a
There is additional evidence right here in Mon
tana that the leaders Of the Nonpartisan league
are in partnership with the Wobblies-that they
have reached the understanding which LeSueur
said was desirable and would mean the selling of
the state government by the |. W. w. and the
N. P. L. -.:a.3." .s.@..
Former Sheriff Whitaker of Missoula, went to
Chicago to testify in behalf of the good character
of the l. w. w. members undergoing trial on a !
conspiracy charge instituted by the United States
government. Whitaker is an l. w. w. sympathiz-
err How does this statement that the l. W. WIS
are loyal citizens and honest, patriotic workmen
sound to farmers whose crops have been burned
and their livestock destroyed? How do the yell
lowstone county farmers regard the Statement |,
of Ira Worey that members of the l. w. w. har-
vested so per cent of the crop in North Dakota
and Montana last year? If the statements of these
farmers can be credited, the ordinary Wobblie
simply works enough to get stake whenever he
can be induced to work at all.
How can Montana farmer deceive himself
into believing that there is anything in common
between members Of the l. w. w. and their own
calling? If the Nonpartisan league leaders in St.
Paul are playing into the hands of the l. w. w.
as indicated, what in common have the Montana
farmers with them? Townley himself registered
in North Dakota as socialist, and the action of
his executive secretary as shown by the Haywood
letter, removes all doubt as to LeSueur's jolitical
leanings. a
Under these circumstances, can Montana farm
ers afford to be affiliated with such men? This
paper has never denied the right of the farmers
to organize. On the contrary, it has admitted
time and again that they have number of just
grievances which should be righted 1t is for the
farmers themselves to determine the best method
of achieving their ambitions. But the Billings
Gazette earnestly beseeches them to taboo the
present executive officials Of the Nonpartisan
league if that organization is determined upon as
their vehicle. Let them choose their own offic-
ials and from among their own mebership Ger
tainly among the farmers of Montana are to be
found men just as capable as Townley, LeSueur
and Gilbert, and upon whom no faint rests. Aside