Omaha daily bee., 1920-11-02
Nonpartisan
League Scored
ByLegion Men
Former Soldiers Condemn
Alleged Accusations of Party
Candidates That They
Disturbed Meetings.

Norfolk, Neb, Nov. l.-(Special)
That a deliberate, malicious aud
organized movement has been on
foot throughout the rural districts
of Nebrask to mold public opinion
against the American Legion with
the result that a hatred is being
fomented between country and
town people, was charged by MEM
bcrs OF a specially-appointed COM
mite OF the legion winch adjourned
its meeting in Norfolk Saturday
morning after investigating charges
made by Nonpartisan league candi-
dates against the Legion and find
ing them entirely untrue ana un-
warranted
1t was announced at the meeting
that Nonpartisan candidates have
deliberately planned to enrage the
American Legion post officials in
various parts OF the state to force
Legion men to resent the attacks,
making the public believe the league
candidates ma~tyrs. The committee
unanimously banded as false all
charges that Nonpartisan league
meetings have been intefferred
with by the American Legion.
Martyrship Assumed.
1--WE have withheld any action in
the face of continual attacks because
we knew the Nonpartisan league can
didates wanted to be held as martyrs
through publicity which any resent
ment on our part would give them"
Frank A. Warner, commander OF the
Norfolk Legion post, announced at
the meeting.
The post commander read an affi-
davit, which alleged that Mrs. Marie
Weekes, nonpartisan candidate for
congress in the Third district, had
stated that "the time might come
when the United States may apollo
gize to Germany for the part she
took in the war. Mrs, Weekes is
said to have since denied the charge.
1t was announced that this candi-
date had failed to retract or furnish
proof of other alleged charges. The
investigation centered on charges
that Nonpartisan league meetings at
Tekamah, Wayne and Fullerton,
Neb., had been interfered with by
the American Legion. 1t was said
that the state commander was un-
able to secure any response from the
candidate regarding alleged charges
that american Legion men in the
uniforms of soldiers and sailors, and
with loaded guns, had interfered with
a meeting at Fullerton"
Disturbances Denied.
DR.. R. E. Hall of Fullerton, con-
Cured in the state commanders evil
dence which showed that there was
no disturbance at Fullerton and that
an Americanization parade was ,
staged in that city on the day the
nonpartisans held their meeting
there. DR.. Hall stated that the
soldiers and sailors followed the
flag to the court house square where
an address written by Father John
Palubiski on characterization" was
read. A few unloaded Civil war
rifles were carried in the burlesque
section of the Americanization
parade !
Members of the committee stated
their fear that the publicity might
crystalize into just the kind OF
ammunition the nonpartisan league
candidates have been seeking
throughout the campaign. One MEN,
Der of the committee stated:
Nonpartisans Scored.
II know that Nebraska people |
don't want anything like this to be
happening to us. | am opposed to
being made out an enemy Of my own
folks. l want Nebraska people to
know that there is an organization
in this state which has the sinister
purpose of making enemies between
he country and town people" |
A copy of the resolutions adopted
by the committee is being sent to
the commander of every post in the
state The resolutions state that
the organization was founded for the
purpose of promoting 100 per cent
Americanism and that after careful!
investigation it has been found that |
charges against the legion that it !
had something to do with the sup
preston of free speech and free as