The daily star-mirror. (Moscow, Idaho) 1911-1939, 1919-12-02
MEMBER OF ASSOCIATED PRESS
TO BE NO PERSECUTION

III BIZ NO lON
The Star-Mirror wants to commend
the attitude of Latah county officers,
including Judge Steele, of the district
court; Adrian Nelson, of the probate
court; Prosecuting Attorney Nisbet;
Sheriff Woody and his able deputies,
In dealing with the /. w. w. menace
When the alarm was sounded that La
tah county was to be invaded by /. W.
w. Sheriff Woody acted promptly.
He sent his deputies and a lot of vol
unteer American Legion men to the
timber to make an investigation. 1t
was a difficult task, but the officers
and the volunteers performed it well.
A number of arrests were made and
the men brought to Moscow for fur
Their examination.
A preliminary hearing disclosed
that two of the men had renowned
the /. w. W., had torn up their cards,
refused to pay dues and were really
good American citizens, although
they had not applied for citizenship.
One had $500 invested in war savings
stamps and Liberty bonds, and $500
deposited in the Bovill post office.
The other had never applied for titi-
xenship because he had never been
told that he ought to do so. Judge
Adrian Nelson told him his duty The
Judge delivered a strong, ringing
American address. "This is the best
government in the world and you
should be proud to be a citizen Of it,"
said Judge Nelson. He said further: |
''The |. w. w. is disloyal, criminal |
organization and it will be crushed. |
Keep away from it." One of the men
was in tears as he left the court room.
He returned later to thank Judge Mel
son for what he had said and to an
that he would at once become
an American citizen. The men were
released, but they were given assur-
anc that the citizens of Latah county
will help them to become good citi-
l.. |
". w. or any other organization that
would harm them.
Another man was given an exami-
nation. 1t developed that he had been
told he had to join the l. w. w. to
secure work. He Joined, paid two
months dues, left that camp and found
elsewhere. He had torn
,p his card, refused to pay further
lues, refused to attend meeting of
he |. w. W. and told them he was
lone with the organization. That
nan had a family and he had $11OO
n the bank. 1t took courage for this
nan, foreigner, to take and main
ain the stand he took. He deserved
assistance and praise. He was dis
harged and when he said he had
damned to bring his wife to Moscow
re was given assurance that the Off
ers of Latah county and the citizens
f Moscow would help him in every
vay to become good citizen, to find
WI n anu " SHJoy IiS pIlVlcScS VI
citizenship.
That is the kind of encouragement
hese men need There will be no
ersecution of men in Latah county.
rhine will be prosecuted and Judge
teele has shown that he has no pat
,nce with man convicted of criminal
yndicalism or disloyalty. Those CON
icted in his court have been given
Tiff sentences. Sheriff Woody has
nnounced that l. w. w. will not be
ermitted to get a footing in Latah
,unty. Prosecuting Attorney Nisbet
i'll vigorously prosecute every one
larged with criminal syndicalism.
ut the man who has been forced to
in that organization and has had
anhood enought to renounce it, will
; helped by the officers and the
tizens. Latah county will help the
orthy but not the unworthy who will
nd hard shedding here.
"a "a "a
NORTH DAKOTA'S DISGRACE
North Dakota, the only state in the
ion which is absolutely controlled