Grand Forks herald. [volume] (Grand Forks, N.D.) 1916-1955, 1918-05-08
DEFlLEMENT INEVITABLE

lands on the admission of certain testimony in the trials
Of the I. W. W. leaders on charges Of sediuous conspira-
cy. There were offered in evidence certain pamphlets
and other documents published by !. W. W. members,
which documents contained statements and comments
antagonistic to the participation Of the United States in
the war. OF these. a particularly striking example, gave
on one side Of the leaflet the text of a resolution adopt
ed by a labor organization pledging the support of the
organization and its members to the American govern
nent in its prosecution of the war, and on the other sar-
castle comment on this action, which was described as
indicating the folly Of the labor men and their lack Of
understanding of their own interest.
Counsel for the defendants objected to the admission
of this evidence on the ground that the documents had
been prepared and issued by individuals without the
sanction of the officials, and that therefore the officials
could not be held responsible for the acts performed.
Judge Lands overruled the objection that such acts.
even though performed by individual members, contrib
uted to the building Of the mental structure whichswas
used for the guidance of members,a and officers ahks The
evidence submitted. therefore, goes into the record and
will be considered by the jury.
As a matter of fact. where men are banded together
for the contamination of a common purpose, there is a
common responsibility for acts related to that purpose,
whether those acts are officially performed by the gov
erning body in pursuance Of Instructions formally given
by the body itself. or by individual members without the
sanction Of the entire organization, or by officers who
have assumed the right to act without instructions.
Where the acts performed are wrong, responsibility FOR
them can be avoided only by prompt and complete repu-
diation.
1t is a matter Of common knowledge that the whole
literature of the 1. w. W. is permeated with anarchy and
sednion. This has always been true Of it. And no man
who knows the character of this literature and retains
his membership in the organization and does not protest
vigorously and unequivocaly against the Objectionable
matter, can avoid the odium which attaches to the COM
mission Of wrongful acts. If he permits hts partnership
relation to continue without effective protest he is NOR
ally responsible for the acts Of his partners, and in the
opinion of Judge Lands. he is legally responsible as we'll.
The statement was made a few days ago that the
Socialist organization was preparing the raise funds for
the defense Of the accused I. w. w. men. Officials at
the headquarters of the party deny this, but admit that
while the organization as such is not collecting funds for
this purpose. individual members are doing 20. The or
ganization cannot escape responsibility on such a plea,
for the trial now in progress is closely enough related to
the spirit Of the Socialist party in the United States to
make this carry conviction that the two organizations are
proceeding along a common line and for a common pur-
pose.
Ajfew days ago A. C.. Townley. president by grace Of
his own appointment of the national Nonpartisan league.
said to a congressional committee that he did not approve
of certain disloyal statements attributed to Mr.. Lind
bersh. the leagues candidate for governor of Minnesota,
u edNS ~ Atdk VI ~ 0SS AHS VI Ills SuPpOiL u IHo
man who made them. twill not do. II Lindbergh talk
ed disloyalty. and Townley continues to support him,
Townley is just as disloyal as Lindbergh.
Then there was the case Of Mr.. Townley himself and
his own followers, here and elsewhere. For three years
Mr.. Townley has been q prominent public character. He
had delivered addresses by the hundred. But in all that
ltime. and in all that talk, IL he has said a word of COM
mendation for American institutions and the American
government if he has ever referred in this war period
to the cause In which the United. States is fighting in
terms which would bring a grain OF comfort to the moth,
or whose son has gone to the front, a word which would
resign her to the parting because the boy had gone to
fight in q worthy cause. IL Townley has uttered a word
LOT this character. We never heard of IT And he has
talked. conastently and persistently in such a manner as
1 calculated TO bring the United states government and
IaMsthat IT stands for into contempt.
In doing this Toynley has not spoken the sentiments
Iof4 the crest majority of those who have become members
Iof his orsanixatlon. But theas members, thousands Of
them. have listened and kept silent. And that very
silence. and tho continuation ~ arnicable relations Ne
ttxssn thswgand the leader whose mouth has fairly froth-
XXI ssdition. Inevitably involves them ii his offense. one
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