American Falls press. [volume] (American Falls, Idaho) 1907-1937, 1918-10-22
FARM MARKETS MANAGER
EXPRESSES HIS OPINION
Harvey \. Alfred, OF the Idaho Farm
Markets Bureau, Writes Letter and
Authorizes It's Use.

Harvey y. Alfred, manager of the
Idaho Farm Markets Bureau, has
written the following letter touching
upon the present politica situation and
authorizes its publication or use in
any other manner:
Boise, Oct. IS, 1918.
Mr.. y. P. Hansen,
Dear Sir:-In response to your re-
quest for my reasons for opposing the
NOnpartisan League and it's propagan-
da, permit me to say first, that those
who know me and my record as
Speaker of the House of Representa-
tives and State Director of Farm Mar
kets, could not be honestly consistent
in an effort to construe my criticism
of the League and its leadership. as
indicating opposition to the thousands
Of honest farmers and laboring men
who constitute the great majority Of
the League membership, for they
know too we'll that l have been ever
consistently engaged in their inter
est; and l challenge them to name a
mar who has been more active or ac-
complished more in their behalf, than
l have done in the brief period of time
It has been my honor and pleasure to
serve them in official capacity.
believe that the foundation upon
which base my opposition to the
League is u%ndisputed fact. Briefly
stated those reasons are:
First: Its leaders. chief organizers
and prOpagandists are of
pro-Germans and the most radical So
cial element obtainable from other
States and our own State. selected to
further its interests Il has attracted
TO its following. almost without ex-
ception, all those OF pro-German ten
denotes or radical social
and those who are not in sympathy
with this war-the greatest and most
righteous struggle ever waged for hu-
manity. 1t does not represent the
best interest of the honest farmer. and
he has no voice or power BY which he
may guide its purposes or V IT'S
evil tendencies.
Second: Those who become randi
dates for political preferment bv
choice of this League, are pledged to
be guided by its dictates. rather than
the common good of the people whose
servants they should become: and its
means are applied and its policies
dictated by men who are not citizens.
OF our state. whose designs we have
right to question because their loval-
~ is a matter of controversy.
Ihlrd: II has created more strife.
unrest and dissatisfaction without
cause among the people. than n 9th
er factor now tolerated by law in the
United States.
Fourth: Because our
has done more within he nas+ dac.5a
70 advance the interest Of Agriculture
and aid the farmer. than has been
done IN all its years put together 10
roster any other vocation or aid those
devoted TO il: and because the State
OF Idaho has. both under Republican
and Democratic administration Of
past years. granted every reasonable
request made by the farmers for pro-
gressive legislation and administra-
ton; the Nonpartisan League has no
Justitiable reason for existence. and
IT'S continuance under the pretense
that il is for the betterment ~ ~
farmer. is an insult to our nrasent
S'Ste Il National Government. and
me oetter reason OF our citizenship.
Futh: II the League is supported by
a pald-up membership il claims. il
mas collected from the farmers of
Idaho more than half as much money
as was required to pay the
Of our State administration. including
legislative and judicial. for the wear
1917. and can give nothing to the
farmer in return that he does not al
ready possess. except the privilege
CT being dictated TO by a s~elf-consti-
tuted leader who made a failure OF his
" business affairs.
Your respectfully.