The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1919-10-17
ROCK PILE Their DOSE.
THAT PUNISHMENT is
DUE GRAFTERS
One Lester P.BarloW So Declared
In Speech Last Satur-
day Night

Lester p. Barlow, former aircraft
engineer for the United States gov
eminent. now state organizer for the
Void War Veterans in Minnesota,
delivered an address on Main street,
opposite Bridge Square last Satur-
day evening. While he spoke in be-
half of the World War Veterans, Mr..
Barlow devoted himself chiefly to a
discussion. of the so -called aircraft
scandal and the alleged grating
which took place in this country dur
ing the war. IN tf
Barlow declared repeatedly that
the World War Veterans were not
out TO oppose the American Legion.
He stated that any man in the Legion
was entitled to membership in the
veterans. That it was the purpose
of the World War Veterans to bring
to justice those who grated from the
government during the two years of
war was his declaration. The con-
stitution of the organization he ex-
planned was "the enforcement of the
constitution of the United States as
it is written" He did not name any
OF the alleged grafters.
The speaker claimed that the
World War veterans were organized
nine days after the armistice was
signed and that they were the Oldest
soldiers organization in the United
States. The organization he said was
perfected in Brest. AT present Bar
low claimed there were 100000 mem
bers in the organization.
Citizens Asked to Join Auxiliary.
Citizens were invited to join the
World War Veterans auxiliary" an
organization which is being formed in
conjunction with the service men.
Barlow said their slogan was Free
Speech and The Ballot" They are
both enjoyed by the people now.
: "We are going to have free
speech in this country as the consti-
tuition guarantees it," he declared.
During the coming winter we are
going to demand that every school
house in this commonwealth be
thrown open as open political forums
for open discussions. Don't think
that every man who gets up and tells
"a few facts about the government
is a bolshevik or an agitator.'
"We went to war to fight for demo-
cracy While we were at war there
were $4,000 new millionaires made in
the United States according to off
cial records. HE did not explain just
what records show up these. figures.
Your. own congressional record will
show that during that time the Unit
ed States government was grated
out of some $4,000, 100000
Claimed to Be- Inventor.
Barlow stated that he was an air.
craft engineer during the war and
claimed to have been the inventor of
several aerial bombs and high ex-
plOsives.-iH He said he could claim
100000 in royalties from the govern
ment for his inventions if he so de-
sired. Speaking, of the airplane probe
the speaker castigated Secretary of
War Baker, members of the senate
President Wilson asserting that all
had hand in the organized footing"
that went on or assisted in, covering
up the guilty parties.
Claims Made. BY Barlow.
Barlow claimed that, he was call.
ed before the military affairs COM
'mittee to testify but that as soon as
he began to tell his version of mat
tiers the room was cleared of specta-
tors and reporters and he refused to
make further statements behind
closed doors. -
That the American flyers We're OBJ
.liged TO fight the Germans in Ameri-
can made planes which were inferior
to their opponents and that they went
to their deaths lin flaming collins
because Of the Grim nal negligence
and inefficiency q the air craft pro-
duction board VIZ Tie claim of the
speaker
In closing hex deer ed that it was
the intention of the Void War Vet
Grams to bring to tie rock pile"
those who defrauded The government
while the war was going On. He in
vited all service men, members of
the American Legion. or not to join
the Veterans.
Barlow opened the door to nothing
new. The aircraft fall down" on the
part oi. the Baker administration of
the war department iss not new 10
the people who haze kept in touch
with events.