The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1920-10-01
DECLINED TO Be MUZzLED
WICKER WRITES w. p. N. P.
L. SHARP LETTER
Legislative Candidate In Dodge
County Will Not Sell His
Birthrioht

Kasson, Mimi. September So
George Wicker, candidate for state
representative from Dodge County
declines to be muZzled by the Nom
partisan Political league, an organi-
zation headed by Thomas Van Lear,
socialist.
To the Working Peoples Nonparti-
san Political League, Mr.. Thomas Van
Lear, Secretary, Minneapolis, Mime
sofa. Dear Sir: / received a circular
letter from you recently in which
certain Legislative program OF your
organization is set forth in twelve ar
ticles or paragraphs and to which l
ture and in the accomplishment OF
which / am asked to pledge my vote
and support without reservation,
for which ] am TO be rewarded by
having my candidacy for the legisla-
ture submitted to your league for en-
dorsement.
II only my interests were concern
ed, should ignore your letter, but 1t
contains an approach SO absolutely
un-Aperican and concealed threat
Of the opposition OF your So called
''nonpartisan political league" in event
of my tailure TO sign away my birth
right that / am induced to make a
reply.
been addressed TO every candidate for
the legislature and for that reason i
am addressing my reply to you as the
secretary of the league and for the
further purpose OF preventing any
misinterpretation, am also publishing
my reply In an oren letter through
tho press.
In the twelve articles set forth, l
recognize several matters properly
subject to legislation which have al.
ready received the consideration OF
Legislatures in Minnesota in which a
large majority of the members have
ord of the republican party on these
measures will be found In the vote
OF those meUbers. Several OF these
matters are no longer issues between
political parties because of the fact
that they have been recognized and
admitted by the several parties In
the declaration of principles or the
platform adopted by, representative
conventions Of such party organlza
tions, both state and national. This
applies particularly to articles /, 2
and 8, in which matters the republi
can party has taken a definite posi-
ton favorable to the interests OIL
those who toll, not only in the ranks
of organized labor, but in that great
number who are not organized.
In the matters covered by Articles
6, 7, and 9. the republican party has
a we'll established record Of perform
ances as written in the statutes OF the
state and nation. AS republican VINO
has contributed not only life long
support to some Of these measures,
but who has cast his vote in their &C
comrlishment, do not feel that 1t LIZ
incumbent upon me to pledge my fur-
Their support for the f1attering offer
OF an endorsement by your organiza-
ton. am willing to stand upon my
peraonal record and upon the record
of the party with which / affiliate for
the endorsement Of the entire peorle
Article twelve covers provisions al
ready we'll defined and set forth In
the constitution Of the United States
ito which have pledge my allegiance
and needs no further amplifcation OF
different construction, except by those
who misinterpert its provisions or who
or who wish to pervert such cons1-
tutional guarantees OF freedom foI
the radical demands Of unrestrained
license.
I am one of those who lives under
the scriItural injunction that "in the
sweat Of thy face shalt thou eat
bread" and my sympathies are with
! those who toll. believe in a progra; IN
progress to meet the constantly
changing conditions, but I cannot ac-
cept fully and without reservation, the
doctrines Of state socialism set forth
in your Article 8, not in the complete
realization of the matters contain
ing In article 10 which embody the
principles of Soviet Government.
To state my own position fully, my
poiiticN creed is EXPRESSED in the fol-
lowing terms: I am sincere in my con.
victions and i am not partisan to the
extent that l would deny TO others the
seine constitutional guarantee OF per-
sonal freedom and liberty OF thought
and action which myself enjoy. ]
am committed to any legislation which
win deprive others OF any undue Of
unlawful special privilege and which
will conserve the natural resources
of the country for the benefit of the
common good and for the welfare o.
generations Of Americans yet unborn
I am opposed to any effort or any
legislation which will establish one
class Of our PEOPLE at the expense
of another and I am utterly and un.
alterably opposed to the radical anc
destructive plan OF action which II
being promoted by certain agencies
and organizations and spread by the
propaganda Of international socialism
Will Not Sell Birthrieht.
Finally, and with every respect II
those who may believe to the con
trary. believe that as a candidate
for q representative legislative Of
Zee, Il is improper for me to- pledgt
away that right of mental reservation
which should obtain in the delibera'
lions and considerations Of repre-.
sentative assembly IF ] am elected
20 the position to which l aspire,
shall consider it my duty to rSpresen
- The hoat af NV EnOwledp0 AM