Shoshone journal. [volume] (Shoshone, Idaho) 1884-1931, 1919-11-21
THE McKAIc VERDICT

The verdict az the Jury in the Nc
Kai libel suit. ne Boise which ended
last Tuesday 10 favor Of the defendant
was no SURPRISE TO those who had fol-
lowed the daily reports Of the trial..
The Nonpartisan league was not on
trial II was clear cut case OF the
loyalty OF the leaders OF the league
who had ben charged with misleading
Idaho citizens into paths OF seditlon
when the country was al war. by con-
ceallng The disloyal motives OF the
leaders by making themselves appear
- the champions OF the farmers on
econmmic questions
As early as Dec. 1917 the Journal. in
an open letter 20 Townley the head
81 tho ieauc. charged that his organ
izers left "siimy trail OF treason" all
over the state. From that time on the
Journal presented column after COZ
umn OF evidence 10 prove its state
meni. II you viii read the evidence
IN the Mckaig case how witness af-
ter witness testified as to the char
acter Of the various "organizers" of
tho league and as 10 the instructions
eiven these organizers as 10 what they
were 20 do and say. how they were to
carefully conceal their sedition and
treason until after they had their vic
Tins hooked. how they were to do
this by talking economic questions
and mcka demonstrations Of their sup
port OF the Rod Cross and Liberty loan
campaigns how Mckaig told these
organizers" that all this patriotic tan
was mere camouflac used to get the
organlzer" closer TO his victim before
inccnlating him with his virus Of trea-
son and sedition. II you read that
testimony daily ~ II was sworn to in
court and VIII then read the files OF
the Journal covering the same period
Of time Ia which the Journal was tell
ing what these organizers" were doing
and YOU will have two versions of the
same series OF activities just as nearly
alike a any two persons can tell the
same story OF the same things.
The verdict OF the McKaig jury con-
firms By sworn testimony before a |
court and jury every word ever pub |
lished in the Journal concerning the |
disIoyalty OF the leaders OF the league |
in Idaho. The Journal at all times |
maintained that the farmers Of Idaho
were loyal and patriotic but were be-
ing misled by these lying leaders and
organizers" OF the league. The same
organizers" who were lying 10 the
farmers Of Idaho about their govern
ment were also lying about what the
Journal was saying. They started a
campaign OF lying about the Journal
after having tried threats aud intim-
idation ana sabotage ana every other
unfair method known to the criminal
world. They intended 10 poison the
minds OF the farmers OF Lincoln
county by repeating the charge the
Journal was against the farmer" II
was told as lie and intended to in
lure the Journal business. At the
time the league leaders started that lie
the Journal offered to give q hundred
dollars TO any one who could show in
the files of the Journal a single word
or expression which could be con-
strued as reelection on tho honor. or
integrity or patriotism OF any farmer.
- such That proposition has never
been accepted. II still stands and is
n peated here because that lie Is still
icing circulated by the same people
who started Il. and their friends. II
3 circulated TO injure the Journal in
aeatod here for the purpose OF public
) challenging those who circulate IL
. either put up or shut up"
The verdict OF the jury In the Me-
<aig case justifies and eorroborates I
very word ever printed IN the Journal
ogardinR the motives and activities
4 the league leaders.
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