Grand Forks herald. [volume] (Grand Forks, N.D.) 1916-1955, 1921-05-09

And I am going out. I have got to
30 out I am compelled to, and make
patriotic speeches. and I have ordered
all OF h other men to do the same
thins, because II we don't they are
going to get l.
Orders to Teigcn Denied.
Gilbert admitted that ne had talked
with Teigen about the war, expressing
his personal opinion, but denied that
ne told him what to teach. He admit
led that Teigen had shown him his
proposed speech, but denied that he
had approved Of OF discussed it with
Townley. He also admitted that he
had signed Teigen's contract In be-
half Of the league.
Townley did not testify.
The sum and substance Of Teigen's
testimony was that the defendants
were in accord in their purpose to dis
courage the prosecution Of the war:
that they planned to oppose it and to
use their organisation to accomplish
that end. Defendants characterize his
testimony as q tissue Of falsehoods
Granting that he is a man Of dough-
full veracity and the defendants enc
my, 1t nevertheless appears that de-
stanttally what he asserts they told
him in private they were going to
do and say. Their conduct and ut
terances square with his testimony
and lend it credit which otherwise
1t might not be entitled to receive.
The jury who heard him testify and
saw him undergo a searching cross
examination were evidently Convinced
that he was not unworthy Of belief.
War Interferes With Program.
The relations Of tho defendants to
each other and to the organization
they were promoting, the printed
matter they distributed, and their
public speeches, comprise the cir
cumstantial evidence of the existence
Of the alleged conspiracy. This was
declared war, defendants were, and
for some time had been, engaged in
charging the membership and fleld
of activity Of the N~onpartisan League.
1t vas a political organization seek
ing to gain control of the government
Of a number Of states in order to put
through an economic program advo-
Gated by its leaders.
Defendants were conspicuous and
influential members Of q small group
of men who controlled the organiza-
ton. The entry Of the United States
in the val interfered with their pro-
gram and naturally diverted public
attention in greater and more mo-
mentous Issues than the class of citi-
zens which the organizers Of the
league proposed to redress. It was
inevitable that during the continuance
of the war q consideration Of These
grievances would be postponed.
Pamphlet Given LeagueFa
The war was unpopular In many 10.
calities. It would be easter to sell
memberships in such localities If the
impression prevailed that the officers
OF the league proposed to use the In.
buence of a powerful organization to
keep young men from being sent over.
seas. Soon after war was declared
a pamphlet raj printed and placed
in the hands of the leagues field
workers. It was composed Of three
distinct parts.
The first sets forth the leagues orr.
gin and methods Of operation: the
second contains resolutions on the
| third states the principles of the
league. It was prepared at Gilbert's
suggestion, to be used in getting mem
bers, and he admitted hat he wa,
absolutely in accord with he ideas
expressed in it. There can be nc
reasonable dobbt hat Townley, a
president Of the league, was cog
infant OF the pamphlet and its circu.
lation, and the inference ID that he
approved Of it. The war resolutions
contained in it are set out in State
versus Townley, 140 MINI. 413, where
it was held that they did not violate
Chap. 1853, G.. l.. 1917. They were
however, a criticism OF the policy OF
conscripting men and not wealth. and
of the alleged unwarranted inter
ference of military authority with the
rights of individuals. We are OF the