The Wallace miner. [volume] (Wallace, Idaho) 1907-current, 1919-11-20

brought by Ray McKaig. manager OF
tthe nonpartisan league in Idaho,
against x-Governor Cooling n the
Boise Statesman. The witness who
gave the startling insight to the true
character of the men engaged in Or
ganizing the nonpartisan league in
Idaho was George III. Stoll, of Poca-
tello. The testimony might be term
ed a confession of a nonpartisan lea
que organizer. In giving his testi-
mony Stoll in effect admits that he
knowingly aided in foisting this treas
enable organization upon the state,
and for that reason league leaders
viii endeavor TO discredit his testi-
mony. But he never flinched under
the fierce fire of cross examination.
Stoll is an accountant by occupation,
and when asked by the attorney for
McKaig If he had not come to Boise
to take the state accountancy exam
ination and if he had not been forced
to give his testimony through threat
of denying him a passing grade. he
answered:
Yes, l did say l was forced to
do it. l was forced by my con-
science. l owe it as d duty to the
public to tell Idaho what has been
duty"
The witness made frequent refer
ence to a diary which he kept while
employed as an organizer for the
league. Recalling a conversation he
had with another organizer, A. A.
Dimmitt, at Rigby, Stoll said:
"Dinmitt said he was a rank
socialist and an 1. w. wv. He said
he had written a full page article
for his home paper in which he
had touched UP the war and
praised the bolsheviks.
He said he was called before
his home town council of defense,
that the people were aroused, and
that he had to get out because
there were threats of lynching."
Stoll said this conversation took
place in McKaig's room in the hotel
and that McKaig was present. Con-
tinuing, he said:
"McKaig told us of his trip to
the east, of the great time he had
had, of what he had learned.
Then he said: We're more or less
all socialists and l. w. WIS. Most
of the organizers are socialists or
I. w. WIS. They make the best
arguments and sign up more
members than others
'McKaig told us that he
thought the Russian b~olsheviks
had the solution for industrial and
political problems. He said he
thought they would sweep the
world, and that some of them were
here already"
Stoll gave the names of fifteen or
'ganizers with whom he was acquaint-
ed and stated that all of them were
socialists and five of them, giving the
names, were avowed members of the
u. w. w.
Referring to the attitude OF the nom
partisan league during the war, Stoll
said that in the course of a converse
ton with Ray McKaig, manager Of
the league in Idaho, McKaig said:
1t is the finest thing in the
world for the nonpartisan league
to get behind the government and
boost the drives. 1t gives us a
chance to get at the people. But
the league doesn't mean it. 1t is
just camouflage."
OF course no defense can be made
for Stoll in continuing to work for the
nonpartisan league after he knew
the real character of the organiza-
ton, a fact which he evidently real
ICES and which has impNled him now
to tell the truth in order to relieve his
conscience. He told a straightforward
story, supported by definite places,
dates and names of individuals, and
his whole story bears the imprint of
truth. His testimony forms an ample
basis to start action against leaders
of the league, placing them in the
same class with the |. w. W., bolshe-
visits and all other elements who are
active in fomenting revolt against the
government.