The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1919-07-04
MEN / OF SALTWATER ARE
CALLED TO JACKSON
lEsCH TELLS his STORY
New Ulm Newspaper Man Tes-
titled For the State +
Yesterday s ,s

testified al tne trial Of Townleys and
Gilbert that Townley defended the
red flag in a speech at Saltwater Feb
ruary. 10 this year and he said that
Townley called it the emblem of the
oppressed. James w. Foley, also OF
saltwater, testified along the same
lines.
Liesch On the Stand.
Effect of the Nonpartisan league
propaganda in New Ulm and Brown
counties, was to hamper the Liberty
Loan and other patriotic activities.
according to Philip Liesch, editor of
The, Brown County Journal, and a
witness for the state.
Mr.. Liesch was on the witness
stand for about two hours yesterday
afternoon.
George Hoke, attorney for the de-
Tense, attempt. to show that the New
Ulm editor was hostile to the
league. Mr.. Liesch said he had been
friendly to it, but that after the
war began league members boycotted
his paper, which is known as one of
the most patriotic publications in
Minnesota.
did, you have any other reason
than the boycott for your. change of
sentiment?" asked Attorney J. E.
Markham, for the state.
This question was strenuously OBJ :
jected to by Hoke, but Judge Dean
ruled that the witness might ans
wer, inasmuch as Mr.. Hoke had first
asked him regarding his attitude to-
ward the league.
liesch Was Emphatic.
I'VE came to the, conclusion" said
Mr.. Liesch, "that the Nonpartisan
league was managed and controlled
by men who were all or mainly So
cialists, a great number of them at
least We had known of the hostil-
ity Of Socialists to the war game"
Mr.. Hoke asked that this answer
be stricked out, but his request was
denied
What consideration did you give
to the leagues effect on the com
munity?" asked Mr.. Markham.
I'VE found that we were hampered
in Liberty Loan campaigns in certain
towns around New Ulm We found
that the league members objected to
our attitude in supporting the gov
eminent during the. war"
Another motion to strike out was
denied
4 7 think we ought to reach re the end
OF this TRADE by this witness against
the Nonpartisan league" said Mr..
Hoke. ~ ~
"Wait. now" broke in Judge Dean.
THAT is not trying a lawsuit"
WAS there anything further that
actuated your change of sentiment?"
asked Mr.. Markham of Liesch.
81 have briefly outlined that we
thought the attitude of the league
that we could not approve of great
many things they did during the
war;" answered the witness.
A motion to strike this out was
denied ~
Lieseh Denies Great Hostility.
=, Now, Mr.. Liesnr, 'cnt it clear
that you are very hostile to the
league?" asked Mr.. Hoke. @
mo"
"You claim that they are mostly a
bunch of Socialists. don't your"
81 know that most of their leaders
are .eEs n
DO you claim to know that the
entire league is made up of Social
ists?" $3.50.
81 said that the leaders and men
in Office are Socialists, and a great
many of the organizers are Social
ists.''
You said you had trouble with the
members of the Nonpartisan league
during the war;"
Correct.
"You had a lot of trouble with men
who were not members of the league,
too?"
Yes, with sympathizers of the
league"
Were there any Others giving
trouble there?" ..8 a.a.
Eyes" $780,
do You say that all the men CIV
war were membesr of the Lacquer
mo, Il / didn't intend any such
statement"
t5y s Inquired About Pfaender.
did Albert Pfaender belong to the
Nonpartisan Lacquer
81 don't know" ....,.e
'Does Mayor FritscheT
Maybe, / don't know"
"Then how is it that you attribute
the trouble you had during the war
to the teachings Of the Nonpartisan
Lacquer"
1--WE feel that the league did not
guide the people right during the war
We feel that it made them antagan-
istic to the government"
"Do you claim that the speeches OF
Townley at New Ulm were disloyal ??
81 would not consider that great
deal of the speech in June, 1917, would
help win the war want to convey
to you that the effect of a great many
of these speeches, were that they left
the people in dou',t as TO what their
duties were and led to. kick on those
who were in war work"
"In prcatical way what do you
intend to say were the disloyal acts
of the Nonpartisan league in New
Ulm during the WARP" Ff.,r ~
"FaiIed Support to .LoyaIists."
"They failed to give whole hearted
support to those who tried to follow
the instructions of the government in
various ways"
"you were one of the bosses there
in New Ulm during the war, weren't
you?"
mo" ~
'were. you on the safety board?"
mo-"