The Caldwell tribune. [volume] (Caldwell, Idaho Territory [Idaho]) 1883-1928, 1919-11-21
SAYS
THAT LEADERS
LACK LOYALTY
Nonpartisan Heads and Organ
izers Have Damning Test
mony Presented Against
Them In Sensational Case

BOISE-There were two outstand-
ing features associated with the final
evidence in the case of Ray McKaig,
Nonpartisan league leader, against
Ex-Governor Frank R. Gooding and
the Statesman, in which McKaig
sought $4,000 damages for alleged
libelous publication during the 1918
campaign. One was the lack of loyal
ty on the part of Nonpartisan league
leaders during the war. The other was
the overpowering evidence showing
that all Mr.. Gooding had printed con-
corning the relations of McKaig and
the notorious Kate O'Hare, sent up
for sedition, was true
The evidence as to the disloyalty
of Nonpartisan league leaders was
particularly distasteful to McKaig, and
it is stated an emissary from North.
Dakota sought compromise recent
ly, under the terms of which the suit
would be dropped of Mr.. Gooding
would admit McKaig's loyalty. The
offer was rejected. AS McKaig on
the stand had stoutly asserted his
continued loyalty to Townley, who
had been convicted for seditious
utterances and writings, the attorneys
for the defense went thoroughly into
Townley's record and into that of
other league leaders.
League and !. w. w.
The defense introduced a mass of
.evidence revealing the iattitude of
Nonpartisan league leaders during the
war. Arthur LeSeur was shown to be
leading spirit of the league. He was
also Townleys legal adviser, so adj
mitted. A letter written by LeSeur
on stationery of the Nonpartisan
league to Bill Haywood, leading
!. W. w, was introduced In this
letter LeSeur referred to "this
damned war" and advised that every
effort be concentrated to prevent en-
actment of bills then pending in con-
gress to thwart the activities of Hun
spies. Leseur signed this letter as
national executive secretary"
Evidence was also presented as to
a speech made by LeSeur to l. w. W.
members in which he explained the
grounds on which they and the Nom
partisan league could unite He said !:
IF we come to an understanding it
will mean that the balance of power
will be shifted from state government
to the |. w. w. and the Nonpartisan
league"
Other evidence along the same line
included the anti-war and seditious
paragraphs from a book written by
Townley.
Ray and Kate.
Especial interest centered in the
evidence from North Dakota sources
presented to disprove the claim that
Ray McKaig had no special interest
in Kate O,Hare He had testified
that he only met her at the time she
was on trial and merely went up to
her to express a wish that she might
disprove the charges.
Evidence was introduced that Nc
Kaig was seen frequently with the
O'Hare woman. The young woman
who ran the news and cigar stand at
the hotel where Kate O'Hare stopped
swore that Kate and Ray were in the
lobby together on more than one oc-
casion. At least twice she saw the
O'Hare woman get the KEY to her
room and she and McKaig took the
elevator together, McKaig waiting till
the OHare woman got her key
Asked where they went, the witness
said: up"
The effusiveness of McKaig's greet
ings to the O'Hare woman in the
court room was described by wit
nesses, also as to his apparent deep
interest in her and her case.
Townley's Record.
Apparently because of McKaig's
open avowal of loyalty to Townley,
in his own testimony, the defense
went into Townley's record in detail
in addition to his sedition.
Evidence was introduced to show
he was visionary in the exploitation
of schemes wherin others put up the
money Townley's record as a Social
list and his sympathy at least with the
purposes of the !. w. Wwere brought
out. His close associates in the
league were shown to be dreamers,
Socialists, radicals and irresponsibles
in some cases, SO far as any abiding
interest in any state or community
was concerned. They appeared to be
Filters" jumping from one place to
another, stirring up trouble as they
went. The popular pastime seemed
to be, according to documentary and
other evidence, to farm the farmers. "
NAMPA FIRM TO BUILD
FINE RIG NATATnDrITNE