The producers news. [volume] (Plentywood, Mont.) 1918-1937, 1935-10-11
'LOUP CITY FARMERS.
SERVING OUT TERMS

The Loup City, Nebraska, farm
ers, convicted in the latter part
of June, 1884, in the county court
Of Sherman county, Nebraska, on
the charge of unlawful assemb-
lage" and "inciting to riot" is one
of the foulist framed up cases IN
the court records. The case was
appealed to the district court,
where the jury was hand picked
and even interviewed before the
trial by the corporation agents
who were out to Jail the militant
leaders of the farmers, members
of the Holiday Association Of Neb-
raska. Again after being out for
hours, in spite of evidence intro
duced By the state which proved
the farmers innocent, and testi-
mony on which no possible verdict
of guilty could be predicted, the
jury again found the farmers gull
ty. The case was appealed to the
supreme court of the state Of Ne
braska, where the corporation DOM
mated court cynically upheld the
conviction. A petition for rehear-
ing was filed, setting forth new
evidence, which was denied, and
the farmers were ordered to Jail.
The farmers had been sentenced
to serve 80 days in the Sherman
county Jail and pay a fine of 800
each. The costs were not includ-
ed at the time, but later the judge
for good measure and to increased
the punishment Of the farmers,
added S271.00 costs, which must be
paid or served out. The Farmers
Holiday Association of Nebraska
and other states and other farm
organizations are trying to raise
the money to pay the fines and
thus shorten the Jail terms.
The defendants, namely, the mil
liant Swede farmer, Carl Wiklund
formerly vice president of the
Farmers Holiday Association Of
Nebraska, of Sherman county
whom the delegates to the Wash
ington Relief Conference in De.
cember, 1892, will remember fol
his colorful speeches; John Squires
another honest and respected far.
mer in his community; Portius Sell
son Of Burt Sell of Arcadia, o.
Valley county, Nebraska; anC
Floyd Booth, young Negro higl
school graduate Of Grand Island
Nebraska, who was an officer Of
the Grand Island Unemployment
Council at the time, were commit
ted to the Sherman county Jail a
Loup City early in September
Harry Mcdonald, vice president o,
the Nebraska Holiday Association
and president of the Sherman
County Holiday Association, wa
also a defendant, sentenced tn,
same as the other loyal farmers
but avoided the Jail term by rea
son of death in July, when he wa
killed in an automobile crash whel
. on his way home from Omahi
where he had been to help Assem-
BILE for the Omaha street ca
strikers, a martyr to working elias
unity. Mother" Ella Reeves Bloc
Omholt was also among those con
victed and sentenced for the sam
term as the farmers, but she wa
committed to the Douglas count
Jail at Omaha. where she is no
. even allowed visitors or readin
matter.
All the jail terms are either nov
!, up or will be in a couple of day
and if the money was available
pay the fines and costs, they coul
all be released. but the money
= not yet available.
: The Farmers Holiday Associs
: ton of Montana is solidly wit
their Nebraska neighbors, and I'll
|. Producers News, its official orgal
is calling on farmers everywhel
> to raise the money to help pa
these fines and release these fran
ed up brothers. If the fines al
: not paid they must lay in Jail VI
: til December 5, which is a Ion
: time. All those raising money wi
send the same to Leo Sell. seer
tary of the Farmers and Worke,
Defense Committee, who will s.
Z that the money is properly a
piled.