The Fargo forum and daily republican. [volume] (Fargo, N.D.) 1894-1957, 1918-03-09
LEAGUE LEADERS
HAD FREE REIN
until SEDITION
Was PREACHED
Meetings Not Interfered
With Without Ample
Evidence Says Official
IMMUNITY FROM
DRAFT PROMISED
Farmers Told of Erich
Mans War" and Advis-
ed Not To Buy Bonds
fRv Associated Press. J

st. Paul. March .-Nonpartisan
league activities met no interference
in Jackson county until a great
abundance of evidence of disloyalty
was collected and they could not be
tolerated longer, County Attorney E.
Nicholas Of that county testified on
oath late yesterday before Governor
Burnuuist. The preliminary hearing
to determine whether a formal in
vestigation win be ordered on
charges Of nonfeasancs and malfeas-
ance filed against Sherif o. @. Lee
Of jackson county by Nonparttsan
league representatives, was continued
until March 2S, when evidence In re-
buttai will be offered by the COM
plainants, according to James A.
Manahan, league attorney.
Mr.. Manahan was auctioning a
parrot and cage at the Red Cross
benefit on his red letter day at Lake
field, the county attorney testified.
when a heclzler interrupted his ef-
forts to entertain the crowd and in
quired:
Why don't you let the parrot out
and get into the cage yOurself2"
The impromptu auctioneer ignor-
ed the question and turning to
Nicholas challenged him to show his
patriotism and raise the bid. the
witness stated.
Twelfth Hour Patriotism.
Nicholas said he informed Man
ahan that, he would not be tricked
by Nonpartisan- trickery, and that
only when In the clutches Of the law
did the Nonpartisan agitators show
any patriotism and then only the
twelfth hour, wet paint kind.
The county attorney took the
stand after his client, Sheriff Lee.
denied separately the charges on
which the league members demanded
his removal from ONCE. The sheriff
testified that he heard no threats Of
lynching or other violence mads
against Manahan, but added that
there was lots of excitemen over the
sale Of the parrot. Also, he testified
that ]. Gilbert as league official
requested that he.aif anybody, be ar
rested, and not os OF the organizers.
An afidavit was presented quoting
Manahan as saying "the game is UP"
in a telephonic conversation with an
other league attorney just before his
hasty exit from Lakefield, in which
he urged the other attorney 60 do the
best he could, Notwithstanding
Evidence Of Dialoyalty.
Answering the conspiracy charges,
the county attorney said that ample
evidence Of the disloyalty Of the
league Representatives was obtained
by r. G. Muir. county safety director.
before the league was ordered to
cease activities in Jackson county
where a large percentage Of the pop
ulatiOn is Of German descent.
Farmers were told. said the
county attorney. that II they Joined
the league their sons could be kept
out or the army, also that IL was a
rich mans war in which the farmers
were forced to bear the burden. and
that there was no lack Of food and
the wheatless, meatless and heatless
lays were for the benefit OF specula-
tors and gamblers. The farmers were
adYised not to buy Liberty. bonds end
told that France and Great Britain
already were bankrupt and that the
United States soon would be-"
Investigation showed the truth Of
This evidence Of dislOvalty. the coun-
ty attorney stated. and it is con-
Lalned In the record Of the Gilbert
case.