The Bismarck tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, N.D.) 1916-current, 1920-01-26
HUNDREDS JOIN
IN PROTESTING
0'HAREPARD0N
Petitions Circulated Saturday
Signed By All But Loyal
Townleyites
FRAZIER PUT ON RECORD
Governor Shown to Have Fav-
Ored Cause of SeditiOnist
From the First.
FRAZIER PUT ON RECORD


women. even including capitol employ
es who admitted that by doing so
they probably jeopardized their Jobs,
signed petitions, circulated Saturday
by the American War Mothers, pro-
testing to President Wilson against
the release of Kate Richards O'Hare,
serving a Ave years sentence at JET
ferson City, Mo-, and in whose behalf
Governor Frazier has written the
President, declaring that politics and
spite work played the major part in
her conviction"
Petitions in charge of members of
Fort Lincoln chapter, American War
Mothers, were presented for sigma
lures at all Of the capital city hotels,
at the federal building and in the
principal business houses. Less than
ten percent of those approached re-
fused to sign Those so refusing
consisted principally, it was said, of
members or employees of the state ad-
ministratiOn who are in sympathy
with Governor Frazier's views on the
subject of Mrs. OHare's conviction.
The petitions which will be mailed
at once to President Wilson read as
follows:
ITO THE PRESIDENT
ut has come to our notice that
well-defned efforts are being made
with the aid and cooperation of the
governor of this state to secure the
pardon or release of Kate Richards
O'Hare, who was convicted of sedi-
tion in the United States district court
of North Dakota and sentenced to a
term of Imprisonment for five years
in the federal prison at Jefferson City,
Mo- Her offense was most glaring
violation Of law and Of the spirit OF
our institutions The words she spoke
were brutal insult to our boys in
arms and vile slander upon Ameri-
can womanhood. She was given a
fair trial and had the benefit OF an
appeal. Believing that her release
before the expiration of her term
would .stimp,at0e selitiQn and nAjnsi
criticism OF our institutions and con-
tinue un-Americanism and treason
we, the American War Mothers. Fort
Lincoln chapter, bismarck, n. D.. ear.
nestly protest against favorable con-
sideration of the petition for such par
don forwarded to you by the COVER
nor of this state. and all other like
efforts, and pray that in furtherance
of a more obedient and patriotic citi-
zenship, she be required to pay the
penalty required by law
The American War Mothers became
active in opposition to the campaign
for the release of Mrs. O'Hare last
December. when Rep o. P. Burtness
announced in the house of representa-
tives that Madame Signe Lund, whom
the league imported with Charles r
Stangeland, late educational expert
with the board of administration, was
circulating petitions praying liberty
for Mrs. O'Hare among the faculty
at Mayyille normal, where position
had been provided Mrs. Lund. The
department of justice in reply to que.
ries from the War Mothers advised
that Madame Lund had presented
such petitions to the Mayyille normal
faculty, but that she had not yet
= filed them in Washington, and thai
the only petition of this nature re-
ceived at the national capital had
come from Governor Frazier. The Wal
Mothers enlisted the cooperation o1
Lloyd Spetz post, American legion, anC
of the auxiliary to the legion; copy
of Governor Frazier's letter to the
President asking favorable application
on the O'Hare petition, was received
The American legion paid the COVER
nor a personal visit and asked a let
ter of explanation. After some delay
letter was received from Frazier
but it. did not satisfy the Women:
Auxiliary to the American legion ant
the War Mothers, both of whom pro
ceeded to adopt resolutions condemn
ing the governor for his action. The
War Mothers drew up petitions oppos
ing the release of Mrs. O'Hare, baset
upon resolutions adopted by these two
bodies, and these were circulated il
Bismarck on Saturday, with marked
success. Other chapters are expect
ed to take up the matter all ove1
the state, with view to making thu
protest general.
Frazier Prompt Supporter.
Mrs. O'Hare had barely been ar
rested and arraigned by federal au
thorities, following her indictment By
a federal grand jury at Fargo fol
seditious utterances at Bowman, Car
rison and other points in the state
when Governor Frazier gave a col
umn interview to the Fargo Courier
News, declaring Mrs. O'Hare innocen
and her prosecution due to polite:
and spite work. Judge Edward T
Totten, brother of Rev. George A. Tot
ten, active in the Nonpartisan leagu
since it's inception. and now Chairman
of the state board of administration
which controls the educational sys
tenn in North Dakota, also rushed t
Mrs. O'Hare's defense. Judge Tottel
and his wife, Lillian Totten, thel
postmistress at Bowman, had enter
tanned Mrs. O'Hare following he
Bowman address, and they testiie
during her trial that they hearth
approved Of all she said
The trial here was. hard-fought bu
the jury consumed very brief tim
in a~-;-iro al verdict of guilty
Continued on Page Two.)