The producers news. [volume] (Plentywood, Mont.) 1918-1937, 1932-07-29

u OSAAAAdAs NAAs
WHEREAS it has been shown
to us workers and farmers of
Clearwater and Beltriami cOun-
ty that the law officers, of the
city of Bemidii and Beltrami
county have no respect for the
political rights of the workers
and farmers of this territory,
and
WHEREAS On the 10Th day of
July, six of our Comrades were
thrown into Jail for speaking for
the workers and farmers candi-
dates on the streets of Bemidji,
and
WHEREAS three of those COM
rades, namely. COmrade and
Mrs. Hannah and COmrade Tant-
tilla, are still in Jail for crime
but are held for their political
ideas and for their militant strug.
leage for us workers and farm
ers.
THEREFORE, We the farmers
and workers of Clearwater cOun-
ty and Beltrami county, demand
that you release these comrades
at once and that you throw the
streets open for the political
campaign for the workers and
farmers candidates, who are poor
and have no money for hall rent.
We pledge ourselves to carry on
the struggle until our three CON-
rades are released, and free
speech is reestabIished here In
Bemidji. We also hold you re-
suOnsihss fSe &c weleara ~ sAase
Comrades.
Signed:
United Farmers League Of
Beltrami and Clearwater Co.
Unemployed Council of
Bemidji and BagIey.
Many farmers and workers
pledged themselves to be at the
hearing the next day. An over
flowing crowd attended the hear.
ing. When the jailed comrades
were brought in, all over the room
one could hear the applause until
it was stopped by Judge Baily.
Street Meetings a Crime
The charge was then read to the
defendants, E. w. Hannah, Mrs.
E. W. Hanna and RENO Tanttila
who were accused with divers
other persons of cOngregating in a
body upon the streets of the City
of Benidji, to-wit: at the corner
corner of Fourth street and Mime
sofa ave. in a manner to annoy
and disturb the citizens of the CITY
of Bemidji and the public general
Ily."
In the morning farmers and
workers committee called on the
Judge and presented the petition
that was drawn up at the Solway
picnic and he Immediately started
to bulldose Comrade Baumann who
acted as spokesman for the com
mittee and threatened 10 lift the
suspended sentences of Comradt
Mrs. Baumann, who was founC
guilty by Judge Baily and sen
fenced to ten days for the Relief
fight of May a. The Judge ther
got copy of the Producers New
that carried the story of that figh
and said do you think that Il
true" and asked if Comrade Bau
mann had anything to do with tn,
writing of that article. Conrad,
Baumann said yes, and asked tn
Judge Baily if he thought rnere
was anything wrong with it in an,
way. The Judge then called in tn
Chief of Police and asked Conrad
Baumann if he was a member o
the Communist party.
Inquisition Judge
Baumann said: "That Is my bus
ness"
Judge: "Are you member Q
the Communist party?"
| Bauman: 81 said that was my
. business"
Judge: "Are you ashamed of th
Communist party?
Bauman: 81 am OF ashamed q
the party but I do not have to te
l. you here whether I'm a membt
or not"
With that the committee left q
judges office. At the hearing Il
Chief of Police, Gray and Captai
: Daley and the other defense wi
! mess testified that only the worI
ers meetings were the only one
: broken up and that organization
that had the sympathy Of the ca
italist class had never been inte
: ferred with. Business men ais
r testified for the state and said The
were annoyed because they thOt
was a Communist meeting an
knew it was a workers meeting
: Witnesses Prove Innocence
The defense proved that the d
PENDANTS were not guilty fro