The Devils Lake world and inter-ocean., 1918-06-05
Head Of Nonpartisan League Makes Many
Unexpected and Bold Admissions
to Senators.
say anything about shooting.
Mr.. Townley: - Iinterning then

Mr.. Townley: - interning them
then.
I want to discuss the activity of this
organization and these conventions.
want to show the direction in which
the minds of the membership was
pointed by the resolution, the framing
Of which was largely in the hands of
the men at the head of the organiza-
ton.
The acting Chairman:-Would it
not be better to state that resolution
and say that it was adopted by the
proper. authorities?
Mr.. Townley:-I will do that, then.
The Acting Chairman:-I think that
will be sufficient.
Mr.. Townley:-I am going to read
a paragraph or two from each reso-
luton, with the committees permis-
sion.
The Acting Chairman: What is the
date of these?
Mr.. Townley:-September 18, 19
and 20.
Our war is to extend the political
democracy which we, in the United
States, enjoy in order that political de.
mocracy may be safe in our own land
and that it may be used to accomplish
| it's historic purpose-industrial demo-
c'racy
You-do not want me to read them
all?
Senator Reed:-You may file them
all.
Mr.. Townley:-Yes. Here is an
other paragraph I will read:
Therefore, realizing the tremendous
problems which our government faces
and that it is. the duty of every citl-
zen to come to the aid of the Govern
ment in this crisis and protect it both
from the enemy within and the enemy
abroad
We, farmers and workers., in con.
vention assembled, do pledge our sup
port of the Government in the solu.
ton of these problems, and do respect
fully submit the following as the con-
clusion of the deliberations of this con-
vention, to the end that our Nation
may be enabled to exert it's full
strength in the war, and by so doing
save millions Of lives by bringing il
to a more speedy and successful ter
mination, and insure to our people al
the close of the largest measure Of op.
portunity for.life, liberty, and the pur-
suit Of happiness.
Those are the resolutions Of last
September. Here (indicating) is an.
other set of resolutions.
Senator Weeks:- What was the oc-
casion of that convention?
Mr.. Townley:-The farmers and
workers conference in st. Paul in last
September.
Here is another set of resolutions
adopted last June, a year ago the
coming June. They were earlier thar
those which I have read.
Whatever ideas we have as individ-
uals may have had as to the wisdom
of our Nation engaging in this war
we realize that crisis now confronts
us in which it becomes necessary that
we all stand unreservedly pledged to
safeguard, defend, and preserve ou1
country.
In making this declaration of ou1
position, we declare unequivocally that
we stand for our country, right OF
wrong, as against foreign govern
, ments with whom We are actually en-
gagged in war. Still we hold that when
We believe our country wrong we
should endeavor to set her right.
I will file these.
At this convention in March, on
March 10, 20 and 21, two sets Of reso-
lutions were passed.
The Acting Chairman:-This was
still earlier?
Mr.. Townley:-This was the recent
March. One set of resolutions was
passed by the mass convention, and
another set by the delegates sent to
this convention to indorse candidates
for political office. I read from the
resolutions adopted March 10 and 20
at the mass convention.
Senator Reed:-Don't you think that
you should have read, in connection
with the resolution which you just
read, the following language?
Mr.. Fownley:-I would be willing to
read it all. did not want to take the
time of the committee to read it.
Senator Reed:-I will read from the
point where you stopped. The last
clause you read was:
Still We hold that when we believe
our country wrong, we should endea-
vor to set her right.
It continues as follows:
The only justification for war is to
establish and maintain human rights
and interests the world over. For this
reason we are opposed to waging war
for annexation, either on our part or
that of our allies, or demanding in
demnity as terms of peace. Bitter ex-
perience has proved that any exac-
tions, whether of land or revenue,
serve only to deepen resentments and
hatreds which inevitably incite to fu-
ture wars.
We therefore urge that our Govern
ment, before proceeding further in
support of our European allies, insist
that they, in common with it, make
immediate declaration Of terms Of
|