The Fargo forum and daily republican. [volume] (Fargo, N.D.) 1894-1957, 1918-06-18
insult TO MY
NEVILLE
TO n. ?.
REMOVAL DEMAND
Governor Of Nebraska
Places Brand On Non
partisan Activities

Omaha, Nebr, June 1s.-Governor
Keith Neville Of Nebraska. on Mon
day took a. hot shot" at the Non
partisan league and it's organizers
when he made public q reply to a
request Of the league that R.sL
Metcalfe, former governor Of the
Panama canal zone and "a member
OF the Nebraska State Council Of
Defense, be forced to resign from
the latter organization because OF
his stand against the league. The
petition to the governor came from
Pierce county, and contained $40
man names and 223 were foreign
names. The governor says; -~. }:
Hampers Wars Prosecution. -
ITO the organizers OF the Non
partisan league: = -. -.
"E7ad your meetings been tcon-
fined to the furtherance Of e. plan
to promote a. legislative program in
the interests OF the farmers and
workingmen of Nebraska, no in
reference with such meetings could
be justified, nor would it have been
encountered. As is now well known
to the people OF Nebraska, your or
ganizatton has been used to pro-
literature, calculated to arouse anti
American sentiment, class hatred
and in general to interfere with the
successful prosecution OF the war.
This literature was only withdrawn
from circulation after it's seditious
character had been exposed by the
State Council Of Defense, and then
with the statement that it had
served its purpose It has never
BEEN repudiated by your organiza-
ton.
Organizers Of the league have
not hesitated to preach sedttion
whenever they encountered a
listener whose syrnpatl1ies they
felt were not with our country
in it's fight for existence. The
national leaders Of your Or
ganization have been indicted
and some OF them convicted
of sedition, interference with the
draft, circulation Of seditious
literature, utterances tending to
discourage enitstments, OBJ
STRUGGLING the military and naval
policies of the United States,
holding j., unlawful assenblages
and for other similar crimes.
Resolutions Discounted.
"a. G. Town1ey, head Of the
league, testified before the senate
committee in Washington, on May
1, 1913, that the yearly income OF
the league was 100000; that no
part of that vast sum had been in
vested in the First and Second Lib
erty Loan issues and but $4,000 had
been invested in tine Third Liberty
Loan issue. Patriotic resolutions
have only been adopted by your or
ganizatton after the happenings
above referred to and 1t is not un-
natural that the people should re-
fuse to accept them at their face
value.
1T is not surprising that your
league has been denied the privilege
of holding meetings in several com
munities Of the state. Such action
was undoubtedly necessary in the
interests OF the peace and quiet Of
the community and to protect your
from violence at the
hands OF the outraged and indig- |
nant citizens. It is not mob viol- |
ence for the constituted authorities |
of a community in time of war to !
prevent the assemblages OF an or |
whose leaders have been
indicted and convicted Of seddtion, |
and whose literature and teachings |
are stepped with treason. To fail to |
take such action would be to pro-,
woke mob violence. ~ -.
Told to Leave Nebraska.
"The State Council of Defense
has requested the withdrawal of
your organization from Nebras.
la for the period Of the war.
Undoubtedly many loyal citizens
Joined the league before the
Character of the leaders and
organizers had been exposed,
and TO this loyal class of your
membership | appeal and ask
that the league comply with the
request of the State COUNCIL OF
Defense.
your statement that a political |
fight is being made against the
league behind the. |
SKIRTS of the State Council OF De-
fense is a malicious misrepresenta-
tion OF facts, and your request that |
I remove Mr.. Metcalfe, a member Of |
the organization, because of his |
denunciatdon of the leagues disloyal |
literature and teachings, is an insult |