The Elk Mountain pilot., 1918-07-18
SECRET FIGHT ON
FARMERS LEAGUE
South Dakota Paper Exposes
Underhand Campaign by
Big Business.

organized campaign by Big Business
to injure the Nonpartisan league came
to light in a secret meeting called at
Aberdeen, South Dakota, by represen-
tatives of Philadelphia organization.
This is in line with the Carpenter in
cident in Minnesota, In which Min
neapolis capitalist is charged with
having attempted to corrupt league
employe; it is Of the same order as
the fight being waged against the
farmers organization by the Greater
Iowa Association, and by the great
interests that control the daily press
of Montana.
The Mitchell Republican tells of
the secret attempt to harm the league
in South Dakota as follows:
| From the outset, the National Non
partisan league has done its work en-
tirely in the open.
Why, then. should there have been
a SECRET meeting of over 100 South
Dakota men in the city Of Aberdeen
]ast week for the purpose of plotting
the overthrow of the league?
II there is good reason for opposing
the league. why isn't 1t done openly
and frankly and above board?
Again. we in South Dakota have .
right to know why an Organization
with headquarters in Philadelphia is
coming into this state to say to the
farmers that they cannot organize In
support of a publicly advocated legis-
lative program.
Philadelphia Interested.
| When did Philadelphia acquire the
right to dictate to us here in South
Dakota what we should do and what
we should not do?
How much does Philadelphia care
about the welfare OF the farmers or
the merchants or the bankers OF the
newspaper men of South Dakota, that
1t should attempt to besmirch and be-
foul them all in a secret, underhanded.
contemplate campaign to break down
the league?
What is more, who is back of this
nationwide alliance that was disclos-
ed at the Aberdeen meeting as carry
ing on the subsurface campaign
against the farmers. OF South Dakota?
II 1t is decent interest. why doesn't
1t show itself?
Smells Of Beef Trust.
The whole infamous scheme smacks
of the Beef Trust. No other smell is
bad enough for 1t. Revelations by
Francis ]. Heney af the net drawn by
the Beef Trust around the members
of congress, of its widely laid public
ity campaign. of its schemes to check
mate Investigations by the govern.
ment, are all such as to indicate that
somewhere in the dim recesses behind
this alliance made to break up the
! Nonpartisan league, will be found tho
Beef Trust, financing and directing
the nefarious campaign. And all. of
course. because the farmers propose
state-owned packing plants to be used
to break the absolute monopoly now
held by the Beef Trust over both pro-
ducer and consumer
! Insuranee Men Baked.
It certainly is to the credit of the
fire insurance men of the state who
attended the Aberdeen meeting, that
great majority OF them picked up
their hats and walked out when they
found out the real purpose OF the
gathering, which they were tricked
into attending by concealment of its
actual nature.
For that matter, after the disclosure
at Aberdeen of the carefully laid plans
to break up the league, all emanating
from Philadelphia, no one can oppose
the league without being subjected to
the suspicion that he is an ally or
agent Of the Beef Trust.
He who fights the league is doing
-
honestly mistaken in taking such a
course, he nevertheless is in an en-
barrassing position. II he is made a
dupe unknowingly. he is to be pitied.
II ne is a hired emissary, he should