Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1916-1918, 1918-02-19

its own literature and considering
what it has done in Minnesota and
North Dakota where it is organized
and intrenched.
Last summer when Louis Lochner
and his socialist-pecifists were dodg-
ing about in the middle west in
search of a haven where they could
bold their meeting Of protest against
the government war policies, it was
Governor Lynn Frazier. the Nonpar-
tisan leagues spokesman in North Da-
kota, who invited them to come to his
state and promised them protection.
Nonpartisan league orators and
their newspaper opposed the Liberty
Bond legislation and have declared
repeatedly that this war is not being
fought for democracy, but to take
money away from the producers and
put it into the pockets of the rotten
rich"
The Nonpartisan league organized
and conducted the convention in st.
Paul at which, under the leagues
auspices. Senator LaFollette made his
notorious speech attacking the gov
eminent Of which he is an Official.
Manager Gilbert Of the Minnesota
Nonpartisan league Is on trial now at
Kenyon, Mimi, on charge OF at
tempting to influence men against en-
listing in the United States army. Nu-
merous organizers and representa-
tives of the Nonpartisan league have
been arrested for their disloyal
speeches and remarks.
A. G. Townley, father Of the Non
partisan league. voted in North Da-
kota as a socialist. and on April IL,
1914, signed an afhdavit at the pri-
mary election in that state identity
ing himself with the socialist party.
He has employed socialists and MEM
bers of the I. W. w. as organizers and
welcomes them in his league.
Printed on the membership blanks
of the Nonpartisan league In Mime
sofa, in connection with the statement
of aims and principles Of the organ
ization, is the following Significant
declaration:
We can take millions of dollars
away from the middlemen-and
the stronger We organize the
more we can keep.
This is q part Of the propaganda on
which the leagues boycott campaigns
are based.
The Nonpartisan league, regardless
of anything its organizers may say
for they have no voice in the manage
ment Of its affairs-is bending every
effort to build wall of prejudice and
hatred between the farmers and the
people of urban communities. This,
even il the league did not tend to so
cialism and disloyalty - would be
enough to discredit it in Iowa. where
the farmers and the people of the
towns and cities are cooperating IN
spirit of community loyalty and prog
ress and mutual understanding.
The urban resident does not dis
courage the organization OF proper
associations of farmers. The Iowa
farmers are organized better today
than are those of almost any other
state. They have the Iowa Draft
Horse Breeders association, the asso-
citation of dairy cattle breeders. the
Corn and Small Grain Growers asso-
citation, the Corn Belt Meat Producers,
association, the Farmers Grange and
numerous other organizations. besides
several county farm bureaus. The
iowa farmer, whose investments are
greater than those of any other class
Of business in the state. is a business
man.
It is true that he viii not be taken
in by the Nonpartisan league il he is
informed as to its true purpose. 1t is
equally true that he can be taken in
If he is not informed. That is the
danger The Courier points out and
the point on which the willy Nonpar-
tisan league organizer is silent.
The Iowa farmer will serve his own
interests best if he withholds his
money and support from the Nonpar-