The daily worker. [volume] (Chicago, Ill.) 1924-1958, 1934-04-28
attempt to HIegoJiSe
United Farmers League
and JObJess Councils
But South Dakota Workers and Farmers in Mass
Action Defeat Injunction; Struggles Grow
BY X. PURO


Walstead. state organizer of the
United Farmers League; Hans
Grimrud. secretary Of the Unem-
ployed Councils, and 90 others,
members of these organizations
and all other persons whose names
are unknown, who are members of
said associations" as this infamous
document declares. A hearing on
March 81 will determine whether or
not the injunction will become per
manent.
Injunction Against Farmers
The injunction is issued by Circuit
Court Judge Howard Babock on the
basis of sfldavits of two sheriffs,
a representative Of the International
Harvester Company, and one mer-
chant mortgsge-owner whose at
empt to evict his debtor was I'M
successful due to the protection of
The United Farmers League. The
injunction was applied for by State
Attorney General Walter Conway,
Assistant Attorney General Minte-
ner and States Attorney Dana Bah
cock. evidently a brother of Judge
Babcock. Prior to serving the in
junction, II leading farmers were
arrested and thrown in jail, among
them nine of the oldest settlers of
South Dakota.
The key point on which these
worthy tools of the bankers and
The Harvester Trust base their APP
plication for an injunction is that
If the said defendants are per-
mitted to pursue their illegal and
unlawful activities, irreparable in
Jury will result to the people of
this state"
But the document itself very
clearly discloses that it is not the
question Of the rights of the people
of South Dakota which these worthy
gentlemen are protecting" by their
Injunction. The complaints made
in the afidavits referred to above
are: THAT about January men,
bers and sympsthizers of the United
Farmers League and Unemployed
Councils attempted to obstruct and
interfere" with a mortgage fore
closure sale, which was conducted |
bv the Grant County sheriff for
the collection Of q mortgage held |
by the Nassau state Bank Of Mime
sofa; 2-That the defendants and |
members of their organizations on
Oct. 30, 1888, prevented the fore
closure sale on the Henry Nieland
farm. which was to be sold to col
'ect the mortgage held by the
Northwestern Mutual Life Insur-
ance Co. Milwaukee. Wis. and
that later, February I, when the
sheriff had forcibly evicted Henry
Nieland, the farmers moved him
back and carried away the furniture
If Erwin Oletzke, the rich farmers
son whom the insurance company
had put on the farm as a renter;
3.-That the defendants had caused
the International Harvester Com
pany' $500 truck to be sold for 7
cents at the sheriff's auction and
had donated the truck back to the
poor farmer.
These and other similar points are
mentioned in the Injunction which
is served on behalf and for the
protection" of the rights of the
people of South Dakota" 1t is
peculiar that none of these cases
concern the people in South Dakota
but have to do with banks, insur-
ance companies and harvester COM
panies from other states. Only one
person, besides the sheriffs and the
- oF c4fay-i
Company. who has sworn an Aft
dayit against tn farmers, is South
Dakota resident. This is the mer-
chant mortgage holder who has
been unable to collect rent or evict
MS tenant because the strong farm
srs and workers organizations have
protected this farmer.
Therefore the injunction document
tself tears the mask of the pro
lection of the rights of the people
in South Dakota away from the
ugly faces of these injunction max
ers and bares them as the direct
agents of the big bankers, insur-
snce and harvester companies II
Is clear that Governor Berry and
Attorney General Conway must have
got direct orders from these out
side exploiters of the South Dakota
farmers. to take steps to crush and
make illegal the powerful organiza-
tions of the militant farmers and
the workers unemployed councils.
Seeks to Destroy q. F. L.
The injunction does not limit it
a 81 10 Re to foy |
from preventing sheriff sales and
evictions. Its aim is to take away
every right of the United Farmers
League and the Unemployed Coun-
ellis of their sympathizers to func-
ticn in any way at all Let us take
point three of this infamous in
junction. It restraints the defend
: ants, or on behalf of them, any
body from Soliciting and procur-
ing members. donations of money
Or other property or support, en-
enlargement or sympathy for the
aims, mot even sympathy!-H. P.]
purposes and objects Of the de-
PENDANTS organizations or them
selves either individually or c0llec-
lively by whatever name designat ted,
by boycotting, threats of boycotting,
violence or threats of violence or
other acts tending to coerce or in
timidate any person so solicited"
The document is so framed that
It does not say openly that these
organizations are to be made Illegal
outright On the other hand it is
7lo framed SO, that any mass ac-
ion and actiuitu Of The nroariza !