The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1919-05-02
NOnpartiSan Leaguers Appeal
to State for Protection.
Ellis County Organizer Reports
Threats From Sheriff.
CLAIM NO LAW VIOLATIONS
Organization Being Formed for
Political Purposes Only.
Large Membership in the State
Claimed for League.

| Nonpartisan leaguers today ap-
! pealed to the attorney generals office
| for protection against interference
with membership campaigns and or
ganization plans. J. o. Stevic, an or
ganizer of Topeka, went to the state
| house today with August Lutteken, an
| organizer in Ellis county, who sought
protection. This is the first appeal to
| Kansas state officials by league Off
! GERS and members.
SteVic and Lutteken took a bunch
| of their literature to the office of r. j.
| Hopkins, attorney general, and told
| Judge S. NJ. Hawkes. that they desired
/ protection in Kansas. Lutteken then
| told Judge Hawkes. that Alex Weltz,
| sheriff of Ellis county, had called him
! to his office and had made threats
against organizers of the league He
| threatened to break up the organiza-
| ton in that county, was Lutteken's s
| complaint to the assistant attorney
| general.
! No Laws Violated, They Say.
eve haven't violated any law and
| have only organized for the future
work of the league" Lutteken stated.
/ Il think if you would give me letter
| to the sheriff explaining the matter
everything would be all right and we
! could proceed without any trouble" )"
Judge Hawkes. told Lutteken that
so long as he had violated no law he
! should not be interfered with. He
I -
| county attorney of Ellis county, ask
ing for any information which might
be given.
Until a law is violated" Stevic
urged, I'VE should have the protection
| of the law"
| Lutteken produced his card showing
| he was an organizer for the National
| Nonpartisan league. He said he had
been sent here from St. Paul. When
! he arrived in Topeka he was sent to
| Ellis county.
Ellis county has large foreign pop
ulation. 1t is one of the Democrat
strongholds in the state. Several times
| during the war federal officials en-
| countered trouble in the county. Many
| Germans and Russians live in the
| county. Some of them are extensive
| wheat growers.
Getting Many Members.
That the gospel of the league is be-
| ing carried into the western counties
with success was indicated by Lutte
ken.
| How many members have you Sc
| cured in Ellis county?" he was asked
I'VE have AGA members enrolled in
! that county," he replied.
/ Lutteken denied he had handled or
ganization work in other Kansas coun-
ties. He said he was sent to that
! county when h reported for service
! at state headquarters, All Kansas ave-
nue., Topeka. He said he could not
state positively the result of work of
organizers in other counties in the
state.
How many members have you in
the state?" Stevic was asked.
! Stevic is a bit shy and tinid when
it comes to the distribution of infor-
nation.
Large State Membership.
| THAT fact is contained in our secret
records" he replied. TT has been
claimed that we have $4,000 members
in Kansas We have not tried to deny
i that claim and so far as the public is
concerned it can continue to place the
| figure at 10000"
Many complaints have been received
during the last two years by state de-
partments concerning the work of the
Nonpartisan league and the l. w. w
Until today, however, none of the offl-
GERS and organizer have sought pro-
lection under the state law.
In their statement to Judge Hawkes.
today, Lutteken and Stevic stated that
their organization in Kansas was be
ing formed for political purposes" and
not to create disturbances or to occa-
sion violation of established law