Plentywood herald. [volume] (Plentywood, Mont.) 1908-current, 1935-02-07
Can A Leopard Change His Spotsa'

The puny effort made by Simon Swanson to write
his own "clean ticket" for the Associated Press may
serve as a withdrawing process for the statewide
rews-gathering agency. but to those of Sheridan coun-
ty who have followed the radical activities Of this
Communist agitator his Simon pure" efforts will only
serve to paint him in his own true hypocriticaI light
Swanson, self-styed merchant" of Plentywood,
but who has for some time past looked to the federal
government for sustenance through relief agencies and
complained OF their benefits, wrote the Great Fails
Tribune attempting to brand as a lie an AP account OF
his activities at the socalled "Westby SALE" He would
have the casual reader believe he had not ~participa-
ton whatever in the sale, for activities in which he,
with six others, is now held on charges OF conspiracy
against the federal government. He boldly asserts
that he never attended a sale Of REAL STATE
He might have told the Tribune however that he DID
attend the sale of chattels at the Victor Nelson farm
near Westby and was implicated as one OF the prin-
cipal instigators in having the property bid in and sold
for a paltry sum to satisfy" the creditor (who In this
case happened to be the United States g~overnment)
and then have the chattels resold at a legitimate price
and the money turned over to the owner who was
leaving the country.
Swanson would also attempt to have people be-
lieve he had never been apprehended by Federal offic-
ers by stating that he was never arrested for illegal
entry" as the APP story had reported. Technically,
this statement is true. But Mr.. Swanson did not take
Lne uOuDie 10 explain Lndl, 9lLnOuBn ne ndu TeSlueU
in this country since 1914, he HAD BEEN and
is NOT NOW a citizen of the United States. Neither
did he state that the fact that he is not a citizen
might have arisen from his activities as a radical ag-
itator, and be due to the fact that he was arrested In
1881 for his Comnmunistic activities, and spent two
weeks in the Daniels county jail before being able to
obtain bonds.
The Herald would not have any man denied the
right of citizenship who Justly earns that right
through loyal allegiance to the United States as the
land Of his chosen adoption, but for one who, on the
one hand would accept the protection and bene-
licences of the American government, and at the same
time hold it up to b~lasphemous ridicule by Communist
ic activities-by open disregard for its laws and in
situations, any examining board might we'll seriously
question that individuals u~ndisputed right to citizen
ship.
AS to the merits of the sale" In question, we do
not argue. There have obviously been times during
the past three years OF depression when creditors have
been unreasonable in their demands upon distracted
and debt-burdened farmers. On the other hand there
have been cases where debtors, seeking to take ad-
vantage OF abnormal conditions, have resorted to dis
honest means to defraud their creditors. A lack OF
sincere effort towards human
to meet on common ground-has been largely respons-
ible for organizations such as the Holiday associations.
1t would be unjust to contend that the rank and file OF
membership in these organizations were insincere In
their efforts or disloyal to the government. The real
damage comes from a small coterie of radical agitators
who find their way into such recognized groups and
attempt to dominate their control.
However, defendants In this action, are likely 20
find that when sefconstituted leaders overstep the
prerogatives OF justice as prescribed by federal law,
designed to protect the rights Of all alike, and with
which they should be familiar, considerable difficulty
may be experienced in satisfying any jury Of their
innocence.