Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922, 1918-10-28
AFFIDAVIT BY
N0N-PARTIS|AN
LEAGUE WORKER
State Organizer Makes Signed
Statement of Facts in
Regard to Work
of League.

managers Of the Morehcad and Ne
vile campaign have taken consid-
cradle pains to deny the reports
that the democratic party is doing
all in its power to line up the mem
bers of the nonpartisan league with
their machine. An affidavit made
by Jake Thull, an organizer of the
nonpartisan league of Nebraska,
which speaks strongly for itself is
printed herewith.
In speaking about the matter, c.
A. Sorenson of Lincoln, attorney
for the national nonpartisan league.
said:
Zone cannot but laugh at the hy-
pocrisy of the Morehead and Ne
willie campaign managers who for
weeks have been screaming through
the World Herald and the Lincoln
Daily Star that they did not want
the support of the farmers of the
nonpartisan league. By proclaim
ing as disloyal and undesirable citi-
zens the farmers who believe in
public ownership these willy politi-
clans have succeeded undoubtedly
in lining up for their candidates the
solid support of every special in
terest from stock yards to electric
light, But they needed other votes
and the affidavit indicates that they
were not without plans as to how
to get them.
Demands Investigation.
Jake Thulrs statement gives the
public but a glimpse of the sinister
influence at work in Nebraska poll
tics. This exposure demands an i'm
mediate and full investigation by
the Department Of Justice at Wash
ington. The new federal corrupt
practices act has teeth. 1t provides
in part as follows:
THAT whoever shall promise, Of
fer or give, or cause to be promised,
offered or given, any money or other
thing of value, or shall make or ten
der any contract. undertaking. obi
cation. gratuitv or security for the
payment of money or for the de-
livery or conveyance of anything
of value to any person either to
vote or withhold his vote or to vote
for or against any candidate, or
whoever solicits, accepts, or re-
ceives any money or other thing OF
value in consideration of his vote
for or against any candidate for
senator or representative or dele
gate in congress at any primary
or general or special election, shall
he fined not more than $1,000 or
imprisoned not more than one year,
or both
Attorney General Should Act.
THE various county attorneys
and the attorney general of the
state ought also Immediately to de-
termine BY careful investigation
whether or not there is any truth
in the statement that huge sums of
money are being used in the state
for the purpose of influencing the
election"
Following is the affidavit of Jake
Thull, organizer of the Nonpartisan
league;
Jake Thul. being first duly sworn. on
cath deposes and says that he Is an or
ganizer for the National Nonpartisan
League Of Nebraska that he has been
resident Of Nebraska for 80 years and re-
haf ha has haa
organizing for the Nonpartisan league In
Valley county for the past ~ months and
has secured large number OF members
in said county.
Affiant further states that during the
latter part of the month Of September.
1918. ]. E. Evans of College View, Neb.,
came to Ord, Neb, and interviewed the
affiant with reference to the political con-
dition In Nebraska: that said J. E. Evans
stated that he representated the Demo-
cratic State Central Committee of Ne
braska, and that he was working for
Morehead for senator and Neville for gov
ernor: that he was in Valley county for
the purpose of securing the votes Of the
members OF the Nonpartisan league in
Valley county for the democratic ticket,
that he was sent to see affiant by Demo-
cratic Headquarters at Lincoln" that he
was in Ord for the purpose Of securing
the influence Of the affiant for Neville
and Morehead and the democratic ticket.
Affiant further states that said Evans
stated that I'VE don't expect you to do
1t for nothing" and said Evans suggested
that there was $500 available for the at
fiant II he would use his influence among
the eague members for the democratic
ticket and that there might be more Y
we could carry the county by a great big
majority" that said Evans further stated
that Neville had hell of a lot OF money
and was going TO spend 1t to be elected"
The affiant further states that on or
about October !, 1918. said Evans again
visited the affiant at Ord, Neb,, and again
stated that he was sent to see the affiant
by Sprague and Democratic State Central
committee and used the following lang
uags In attempting to secure the influ-
ence Of the aftant for the democratic
ticket:
IF we get you $500, will you use your
Influence for the democratic ticket"
The affiaut further states that he was
invited to confer with Mr.. Sprague at his
office in the Lindell hotel, Lincoln; that
in conversng with the affiant Mr.
Sprague, chairman OF the Democratic
State Central committee. used in SUBJ
stance the following language:
MIR Thull will tell you how we had
better do It, We have got to make re-
port OF our expenditures and l can't put
Put 1t down that l paid you $500 for
list Of the members OF the league In your
district"
The affiant further states that the said
Sprague told OF the offer made to affiant
by said Evans and approved It The affi-
ant states that he refused to be bribed.
Two BaVard Bows Are