Morris tribune., 1918-03-01
NEBRASKA STATE COUNCIL OF
DEFENSE EXPOSES DISLOYAL-
TY OF LEAGUE "WAR AIMS

The following is letter sent to o.
S. Evans, state manager for the Ne
braska branch of the Non-Partisan
League, by the Nebraska State Coun-
Gil of Defense. This letter should be
read carefully by every citizen-and
then it should be read again. The
disloyalty spread by the League is
particularly devilish because it is sly
and subtle. Notice how clearly the
Nebraska State Council of Defense
points this out. This letter is signed,
as will be noted, by Richard L. Met
calfe. Who is he? He is the man
who was associate editor, the man
actively in charge for many years of
Bryan's Commoner, and who resigned
his position only to become demo-
cratic governor of Nebraska. A let
ter from such a man ought certainly
to carry weight with those who up
missed and rejected every other
opinion and authority. However, let
the letter speak for itself:
Dear Sir: The Neraska state council
of defense has received your letter of
IeCeul udle OIoflnS the services OF the
National NonpartlSan league in the work
which the state council is CARRYING on
in Nebraska. In reply we beg leave to
say that the state council would be glad
to accept the aid and cooperation of
all organizations and individuals who
are working in harmony with the gov
ernments purpose and understand that
the winning of the war is. the paramount
duty of the day.
In this connection we desire to call
your attention to the fact that some of
the literature your organization is cir
culat1ng in Nebraska is not in harmony
with the concerted effort now being
made by Americans of all political par
ties and of all classes of OCCUPATION
in support of the great enterprise in
Which our country is now enga ged.
We respectfully call your attention to
the booklet now being generally cir
culated by your organization through
out Nebraska, and entitled War Pro-
gram and Statement of Principles"
In the first and second paragraphs of
the Resolutions on the war by the Ma
tlonal Nonpartisan league" you declare
the leagues loyalty and say that it
stands unreservedly pledged to safe
guard and defend and perserve Our
country" You Immediately follow this
by the declaration: I'VE stand for our
country, right or wrong, as against
foreign governments with whom we are
actually engaged in war Still we hold
that when we believe our country wrong,
we should endeaVor to set her right"
Here is the question mark that has
no place at this time in American liter
allure, and which does, in the light of
the pure purpose of our country, great
injustice to its cause.
In the fourth paragraph you declare
that you are opposed to "waging war
Tor annexation" and you have permit
ted this paragraph to stand in the face
OF the fact that over and over again it
has been made clear that this is not a
war of annexation.
You have permitted to stand, the fifth
paragraph, wherein you plead for a
policy that will be "in harmony with
and supporting the new democracy of
amental principles" 1t must be clear
to every thinking man that organiza-
lions which tend to divide the people
of America upon class lines will sooner
or later bring America to the very I'M
happy condition in which the new dem
ocracy of Russia" finds itself today
In the sixth paragraph you say: THE
secret agreements of kings, presidents
and other rulers, made, broken or kept
without the knowledge of the people
constitute continual menace to peace
full relations"
You have no authority for intimating
as you plainly do here, that the prest-
dent Of our country Is party to any
secret agreements.
the United States government, infer