The Leavenworth echo. [volume] (Leavenworth, Wash.) 1904-current, 1919-12-12

the league that much friction arose
within the leagues ranks, some mem
bers of the legislature defying him,
and three of the state officials (audi
tor, attorney general and secretary of
state) also refused to follow Townley
further
Immediately after the close of the
session a fight was started to refer
many of the laws to the people and
| this was done; but so firmly had
Townley fastened his grip that ma
iority of the league members were
held in line and the laws were approx
ed at the referendum election, al
though the Independent Voters Asso-
citation, organized to oppose the
league, polled close to half the votes
against many of the league measures,
the league vote being cut very mater
tally.
Court proceedings with a view to
defeating some Of the measures were
also started and are still being fought,
WIFI TIE OuLCOIilt unCtlIdlll.
The state supreme court, a majority
of whose members were elected by the
league, has in many instances sus-
tanned the leagues contentious, and in
some cases seemingly gone contrary
to established .precedents and good
law Among these is a decision de-
claring post-dated checks to be legiti-
mate collateral security for bank
loans.
Some of the immediate results of
the turmoil in the state are as fol-
lows:
General taxes have been greatly in
creased, claim being made that land
taxes have more than doubled.
The state bonds authorized have
not been sold, it being understood that
tLey cannot be sold under the existing
conditions in the state as purchasers
will not invest in them.
When the governor took over the
mines few weeks ago, they had to
be returned, under an order of the SUI
preme court, to their owners.
At a recent election to fill va
cancy in the legislature, caused by the
death of member, the league candi-
date was defeated
The president of the Scandinavian
American bank at Fargo, who was
the chairman of the board having CON
troll of the depositors guarantee fund.
state board, has recently been con
Ticted of making false reports to the
state bank examiners office.
One of the laws enacted and APP
proved at Townley's urgent request.
has resulted in taking away from the
state superintendent of public instruc-
ton all her duties. ct should have
heen stated that this was the only of
fee not now under control of the
league. 1t is a non-political office
and the leagues candidate ives defeat
ed. This office is now under control
of board provided by legislative act
following the election for the evident
u pOoN Vi NAMING II DOSSlDle IOI Ifli'
league-control to furnish socialistic
textbooks and library books to the
school children of the state, and to in
still socialism into the minds of the
young. Evidence Of this was lately
discovered by committee of the
legislature which has been in special
session. such books as those of Ellen
Key on free love, books by Trotzky and
many others ,generallyregarded as OBJ
iectionable, being found in the states
travelling library.
And aside from all the turmoil in
the state, it may be stated that Mr.
Townley, the organizer of it all, was
some weeks ago convicted in a district
court of Minnesota for sedition and
has been serving a term of 90 days
in Jail.