The producers news. [volume] (Plentywood, Mont.) 1918-1937, 1920-01-09
RESTORE FREE
SPEECH LEAGUE
FARMERS URGE
NATIONAL COMMITTEES OF
NONPART1SANS SEES PERIL
TO LIBERAL OPINION.

St. Paul, Minn.-Perhaps one of
the strongest of the resolutions passed
by the convention of the national
committee of the Nonparisan league,
which met here last week, was that
urging a return to a peace-time basis
in matters involving free speech.
The week previous Congressman
Davey of Ohio introduced bill, said
to have the backing of Attorney Gen.
eral Palmer, which would give the
prosecutors and Judges arbitrary
power to determine what is seditious.
Leaguers fear, with good reason,
that this bill, like it's forerunner, the
espionage act, is designed not so
much to "get" enemies of the country
as to put a gag on liberal opinion.
Not knowing what was seditious or
what might be construed in the heat
Of war feeling, liberal editors every
where had to compromise on their
fight against special privilege. On
the other hand, no proved enemy of
the country was ever brought to JUS
tice through the espionage act.
The farmer leaders ask that if
there must be an espionage, the law
should state plainly that neither the
government nor the courts can use
the act to interfere with advocacy of
changes in laws and constitutions by
orderly means" Such a proviso would
destroy the evident purpose of the
Davey bill.
TOWNLEY PRAISED
A resolution was moved from the
floor and passed congratulating Pres
pledging the loyalty Of the national
70 In Eoph% hi
waged in the interests of the farm
ers.
North Dakota was congratulated
on the carrying out Of the League
program and the program was re-
commended to all other states.
Among other noteworthy resolu-
tions We're the following:
Extending the hand of fellowship
to organized labor and affirming be-
lief in the right and necessity of Or
ganization and collective bargaining,
giving labor a voice in the control of
industry and approving cooperation
of farmers and labor in politics;
Condemning the use by the govern
ment of injunctions against labor
unions, especially in the coal strike,
and pointing out that the government
should have solved the coal shortage
by taking over the mines for govern
ment operation pending an adjust
mcrt of tho dispute between the labor
unions and mine operators, and con-
graduating Governor Frazier on his
statcsmanlikc policy in securing fuel
for North Dakota by this means:
BONUS FOR SOLDIERS
Congratulating the national exccu-
tive committee for it's work in handl-
ing League affairs during the past
year:
Approving federal bonus for ex-
soldiers to be paid for out of tax on
war profit or heavier taxes on large
incomes, or both;
Congratulating the farmers of On
tario, who have elected a farmers
government in that Canadian PROV
ince;
Favoring governmental owner
ship of railroads and demanding
that the present government con-
troll be continued two years, in
order that congress can work out
satisfactory plan of natiOnali-
cation. and approving the general
features of the Plumb plan;
Declaring against compulsory
military training in time of
peace;
Demanding, the war being over that
our soldiers be withdrawn from Rus
STA;
Demanding an investigation by an
impartial commission of conditions
on the Mexican border and propagan-
da for and against war with Mexico,
and declaring that any war with
Mexico for the benefit of corpora
tions exploiting Mexico's natural re-
sources would be unjustifiablc.
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bu. of Marquis wheat, good clean
wheat. For samples and price,