The Montana nonpartisan. [volume], March 01, 1919, Image 1

About The Montana nonpartisan. [volume] (Great Falls, Mont.) 1918-192?

Image provided by: Montana Historical Society; Helena, MT

                
Official Publication of the National Nonpartisan League in the State of Montana
THE MONTANA NONPARTISAN
VOLUME 8 GREAT FALLS, MONTANA, SATURDAY, MARCH 1, 1919 NUMBER 8
Cow-Town Chamber of Commerce
Attacks Another League OrganL
LEAGUE READY TO DEFEND ITSELF NOW.
NOTIFIES ATTORNEY GENERAL TO THAT EFFECT.
MOBSTERS TOLERATED NO MORE.
Dorman Issues Statement. Labor Also Takes Hand. House and Senate Asked to Co-oDerate.
- ------------ --------- --- ý ~--- ý + ýrr ý .. ýw rl vv VIVaW)Y·
TO MEMBERS AND FRIENDS:
OUR ATTENTION HAS JUST BEEN CALLED TO THE DISGRACEFUL OUTRAGE AT MILES CITY. WE HAVE REFERENCE TO THE MOB ACTIVITIES DIRECTED AGAINST ONE OF OUR
ORGANIZERS BY THE NAME OF KROGMAN. ON LEARNING OF THIS INCIDENT WE IMMEDIATELY CALLED ON ATTORNEY GENERAL FORD. IN OUR INTERVIEW WE SAID TO HIM
THE FOLLOWING: WE HAVE SUBMITTED TO MANY RANK INJUSTICES IN THE PAST DURING THE PERIOD OUR COUNTRY WAS AT WAR, WE DID THIS AS TRUE AMERICANS RATH
ER THAN IN ANY WAY INTERFERE WITH ANY MAN, WOMAN OR CHILD, BEING READY TO SACRIFICE ANYTHING IN THOSE ANXIOUS HOURS. BUT THAT WAR IS OVER."
OUR SUBMISSION TO. MOB RULE IS AT AN END, THROUGH YOUR OFFICE WE SERVE NOTICE ON THE PEACE OFFICERS OF THE STATE AND CUSTER COUNTY THAT WE SHALL
CONTINUE TO ORGANIZE EVERY FARMER IN THE STATE AND CUSTER COUNTY THAT CAN BE INDUCED TO JOIN OUR PEACEFUL AND LEGITIMATE ORGANIZATION. WE ASSUME WE
SHALL BE AMPLY PROTECTED, BUT IN VIEW OF PAST EXPERIENCES IN CUSTER COUNTY, WHERE WE APPEALED TO THE SO-CALLED LAW IN THE McGLYNN CASE WITHOUT
AVAIL AND KNOWING THE LAW OF SELF-DEFENCE, WE ARE GOING TO PROTECT OURSELVES, UNTIL THE LAW IS AGAIN ESTABLISHED IN CUSTER COUNTY. TO DO LESS THAN
THIS WOULD BE UNAMERICAN, UNPATRIOTIC AND DISLOYAL TO OURSELVES AND THE THOUSANDS OF MEN AND WOMEN WHO COMPOSE OUR ORGANIZATION. ATTORNEY GEN
RAL FORD'S REPLY WAS "THAT IS JUST THE COURSE I EXPECT AND SANCTION YOUR TAKING." IN OUR OPINION THERE ARE FEW PLACES IN AMERICA SO DEPRAVED
THAT THE POLICE FORCE REFUSED TO ARREST MOBS AND COMPEL LAW-ABIDING AMERICAN CITIZENS TO SLEEP IN FILTHY JAILS, THAT THEY MIGHT PROTECT THEMSELVES
FROM MURDER BY PARTIES WHO ARE OF OPPOSITE POLITICAL OPINION, AND WE BELIEVE .THERE ARE STILL FEWER PLACES SO FAR DOWN IN THE SCALE OF CIVILIZATION
THAT THEY WOULD USE THE STARS AND STRIPES AND A POSE OF SUPERPATRIOTISM TO COVER MURDEROUS DESIGNS.
MILES CITY IS SUCH A PLACE AND HAS BECOME SINCE THE McGLYNN KIDNAPING CASE AND THE KROGMAN ATTEMPTED KIDNAPING, A SYNONYM FOR LAWLESS DISORD
ER, SO THAT THE THOUSANDS OF GOOD PEOPLE WHO HAVE THE MISFORTUNE TO LIVE IN THAT VICINITY, HAVE TO BLUSH FOR SHAME WHEN THE NAME OF THE PLACE IS
MENTIONED. THEY ARE NOT GOING TO ALLOW THIS TO CONTINUE VERY MUCH LONGER AND WE SHALL PRESENTLY SEE MILES CITY AND CUSTER COUNTY RESTORED TO THE
STATE OF MONTANA AND THE BLOT REMOVED FROM ITS NAME. THE CHARACTER OF THE MOB LEADERS IS WHAT WE SHOULD EXPECT TO FIND ALWAYS ASSOCIATED WITH
VIOLENT REACTION, ONE BEING ACCUSED OF STEALING RED CROSS FUNDS, ONE JUST OUT OF THE PENITENTIARY FOR CATTLE RUSTLING, ONE CONVICTED AND FINED $500.00
FOR BEATING UP HIS FATHER-IN-LAW, AN OLD MAN; ONE NOTORIOUS FOR HIS SKILL IN EVADING THE DRAFT. THESE ARE THE TYPE OF MEN MILES CITY ALLOWS TO DIS
GRACE ITS FAIR NAME AND MAKE IT A STENCH IN THE NOSTRILS OF DECENT PEOPLE. WE ARE NOT LOOKING FOR TROUBLE. WE ARE NOT SEEKING REVENGE, BUT WE
WILL HAVE JUSTICE AND WE ARE ORGANIZING TO GET IT. D. C. DORMAN, STATE SUPT.
The Mob Leaders.
Amongst the leaders of the at
tack upon Organiser Krogman
are one who has just come out of
jail after serving a two years'
sentence for cattle stealing. One
who recently paid $500 fine for
beating ,up an old man, his fath
er-in-law. One for whom a war
rant was issued for purloining
Red Cross funds and the usual
number of draft evaders.
Miles City and Custer County are
again qualifying with Butte as the
home of gun-man rule. A few months
ago the case of J. A. McGlynn made
such a furore throughout the state that
the name of Miles City was a stench
and a byeword wherever freedom lov
ing men and women met to talk. The
outrage is not ended yet as the case
is still in the hands of the High Court,
but people have not forgotten, and now
as if the mobbist of Custer County
wished to keep their noisesome activi
ties forever in the public eye-and
nose, they have undertaken to start an
other version of the former crime.
A few days ago this office was noti
fied that an organizer of the League
was in jail at Miles City as a method
of protection against a mob-admitted
ly a mob-who would kill him if they
laid hands on him again. It seems
that the guardians of the -peace in
Miles City are either cowardly and ne
glectful of their duties or are frankly
in the favor of mob rule. Any respon
sible city government would never tol
erate such activities and would imme
diately offer the utmost resistance to
the lawbreakers and failing that a suf
ficient force of citizens as special depu
ties to insure the constitutional rights
of American Citizens to peacefully as
semble and discuss their business. But
not so with the Cow-Town of Custer
County. A few members of the Cham
ber of Commerce and a half a hundred
Cow-Punchers apparently run that
Burg to their hearts content.
Mis-Handle and Arrest Krogman.
Organizer Krogman has been mis
handled and they have attempted to
terrorize him into leaving the city, ap
parently not venturing again to the ex
tremes of deportation. Krogman is
not easily moved, it would seem, for
he is still there and going strong, but
let him tell the story. He says:
"I will explain my experience with
the cow-punchers of Powder River and
their guardian angels, the Chamber of
Commerce of Miles City in detail. I
was booked to hold a small meeting at
Coalwood postoffice on Feb. 15th. The
farmers around Coalwood are very
favorable to the League hence I did
not anticipate any trouble. My meet
ing was scheduled at 1:30 and I arriv
ed at the school house at 1 o'clock.
Miles City Workingmens' Resolutions.
WHEREAS, It has been reported that certain irresponsible persons of Custer County, State of
Montana, have been attempting to prevent Mr. H. Krogman, a citizen of the State of Montana, from
exercising his rights, liberties, and duties as a citizen of the United States of America;
AND, WHEREAS, A large number of working men and farmers of Custer County, State of Mon
tana, held a meeting in Wibaux Hall, in the City of Miles City, State of Montana, on the evening of
February 17th, 1919, duly called for the purpose of protest f against the unlawful mob-like and un
American actions of these certain irresponsible persons toward Mr. Krogman, or any other law-abid
ing citizen of the State of Montana;
THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, by this organization in meeting duly assembled, as true and
law-abiding American Citizens request and demand of the law enforcing bodies of the State of Mon
tana, and the County of Custer, Montana, to use their authority and powers as such bodies in prevent
ing mob-rule and mob-violence, and to furnish proper protection to Mr. Krogman, or any other law
abiding citizen of the United States of America, while in the exercise of his lawful duties;
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, That a copy of these resolutions be sent to Hon. Sam V. Stewart,
Governor of Montana; Mr. J. R. McKey, Chairman of Board of County Commissioners, Custer County,
Montana; and to Mr. C. H. Mott, Mayor of the City of Miles City, Montana.
J. R. RAYMOND,
CHAR.LES WILLMAN,
F. A. DAVIS,
F. W. LONGMORE,
H. L. JIULL,
The Committee of the Temporary Organization of Workingmen and Farmers, of Custer County, Montana,
Box 588.
Mobbists on the Job.
My anticipations of a peaceful gath
ering were rudely shattered however,
when I behld waiting for me some 30
cow-boys led by a deputy sheriff, and
by their appearance I judged they
were not enthusiastic Leaguers, they
had a coppery look. Said the sheriff
in a gruff voice, "Are you the fella's
goin' to speak at this meetin'?" and I
hastened to make his mind easy on that
point-I was that man. No sooner
had I spoken than he grabbed me by
the arm and whispered in a stagey
manner, "You'd better get out'a this
place as quick as God'll let ye."
Krogman Says No Hurry.
I was not in any, hurry to go how
ever, because the meeting was billed
and it is the unpardonable sin on the
part of a speaker to disappoint his au
dience. I stayed. Presently there ar
rived our only member in that locality,
who inquired in a mild tone, just what
the trouble was. I enlightened him and
since the deputy sheriff was insistent
that I move, requested our member to
stay ant inform any who should arrive
after I had left that the meeting
would be held in his house, he gener
ously volunteering to have it so.
I then started away with the deputy
sheriff, leaving Mr. Virtel to direct
the late arrivals to his home. The of
ficer of the Law whose name is Leihy,
told me to drive toward Coalwood and
thence to Miles City, but wilfull like,
and still laboring under the impression
that I was in the U.,S. I went in the
opposite direction, where I figured I
had business.
A Hot Chase.
Immediately three machines started
in pursuit and a merry chase such as old
Powder River has not beheld before,
took place. Henry Ford's contribu
tion to the world's speed record, out-"
did itself and since a stern chase is a
.long chase, we had the legs of them
and the three piratical craft were soon
hull-down on the sky-line.
I headed for reinforcements and no
tified some people as I passed that the
meeting was to be held at Mr. Virtel's
house and picking up two more farm
ers en route, finally arrived at the Vir
tel homestead with the cow-punchers
trailing along far behind, but steadily
getting nearer. Disappointment over
took us here, for there 'yas nobody at
home save three small children, but
Mr. and Mrs. Kimball arriving then,
we entered the house and awaited de
velopments.
A Real Woman.
The mob arriving on the scene at
tempted to follow us into the house,
but Mrs. Kimball barred their progress
with an old rifle which wae not work
ing, but which served excellently to
damped the patriotic ardlr of the cow
punchers. She looked like business,
and even a Powder River brave does
not care to face such mrnsic even at the
bidding of the "Kept Press."
Deputy to the Rescue.
The law then intervened in the per
son of the deputy sheriff, who gallant
ly wrested the rifle away from the
lady and entered the ho..e. I under
stood that he had come to protect me,
which I considered quite a kindness
on his part, but informed him that
if he would go home and attend to
business there would be cow-punch
ers going twenty different ways at
once. He then became very stern and
said in a'hollow voice, "You are un
der arrest, come with me.' But still
I remained unconvinced an gently in
quired what for. To this , answered
ncthing, but pulled his "g ' which as
far as I could judge was; t very dis
tantly related to Big Betr rf Krupp
fame. I examined the hardware with
some care and for some little time, and
then told the gent,.that if he wanted to
arrest me he would have to produce a
warrant.
Battled by Unknown Word.
This seemed to iunnan him a little,
and he did not seem to quite compre
hend, it sticks in tmy mind that he
thought I was conjuring with some for
eign magic word, which might put him
under a spell of some sort, or he prob
ably suspected that it was a BIolsheviki
password. tle looked at his gun and
then at Inme. whJ,!:'. I walked toward
him at which liw ,ixcented a masterly
retreat-lala ilntd therg-.-ald yelled
to the mob 1o corna' in and taken me.
Six or eight 'excu!lted a frontal attack
while some otlhers got in under my
harrage' awl uitfiitrateIt, my rear,
whet'reulnn I wa', ,o.'tntraine I to move
forw, n d at th,;r Ii" hli,..
Ford Even Disgasted.
They took r:' to miy lizzin, and put
mi in the li.-.l i s ";t i' d onre, "`W e told
you to g"i' . o i' f tli' co(0l1l4try a.t1d you
(didn't go. No4w wr'' 4r Ie arti-g to show
yoltu wOethi . I s.id "Let rte run
the car, nil,oe b1,!; mll lttunderstands
her mutools.' tli:, t1 ' tltongtht othcer
wise, not ltnowr: u ' .' riable nature
of Liz. tey r' nt!, '4 h. ,r utI . \i 'e start
odl, but i. p1,r'oi. 1 ,i tr 1,i proplhet, for we
Jhalt t i goi, v"'r 1''"t, littfore the long
Stff'erint fliV ,, tv-1pp14:<l for water,
all outt of ttt l l, t, ,,1'44 running at the ill
treutmtreut s'e b .,i t in , ivcd.
It was at thi I oiat that I noticed
on, of ' e, 4 tomi, ;i' l Il Iart's trailintg
a long strolug rol"', a44d tin g of an etn
qui'iri"l nlatir, politely asked if that
was to hai- mce w;ith, they replied with
great gritmnnes tlhat this was no time
for jokiing. I was mistaken again.
About this time my much abused
Ford develop:ed a pronounced string
halt and I demanded that we alight
andofix the spring, but they were ob
durate and insisted that I stay in the
ear and mind my own business. I
could not, however, stand the suffer
ing our flivver was evidently going
through, so alighted in spite of them
and proceeded to jack up the car pre
paratory to inserting a new spring.
One of the escorting heroes undertook
to take the jack away from me, but
some friends arrived at this time and
compelled the gallant fellow to desist.
Makes a Speech.
At this point the habit of a public
man overcame me, here were my audi
ence arriving and there was nothing
left for me to do but make a speech,
which I did with considerable gusto
and not a little uprintable descriptive
matter. A good portion of the audi
ence did not seem to enjoy my remarks
very much, and displayed considerable
annoyance, so I appealed to them to
be fair, "Gentlemen, I said, "Be fair;
let me talk fifteen minutes and you
can take the rope and hang me," but
I imagine that they must have thought
hanging too good for a fellow who
could tell them what I did, so they
finally concluded not to hang me and
not to let me speak, which was un
generous of them to say the least.
1 seized the opportunity while they
were under the daze inflicted by my
few remarks to insert the new spring
and vaulting into the saddle of my
gasoline charger, gracefully faded
from the scene, to arrive in Mils, City,
alone.
Miles City Again.
Saturday night iat eight o'clock I
hit the cow town and wa.s not molest
ed until 1:15 a. m. 1Monday. I was in
my room at the Oliv\e hotel when a
knock iaunto at the door na1d someone
said, "Kirogman open up, "f opened the
door and beheld my erstwhile protec
tor Mr. Leihy and someone elsh stand
ing in thle hall. "Con outl':ide," h
dlemanided in his best o'fficial tone. I
;Mrne to the conclusion c!tite raridly
howe.r', that I had more importuit
husiness inside, so politely close'd th ,
door' in tlheir faces and locket[ it.
Olive Hotel Hospitality.
i'Two or three others then t.,,iE',l i,:t
hb'tic" er.s and they held a very intc.i
estilg s ession, going into Imy ';'t aw'lS
exlpressing great hopes for nv. f.clutll
in a1. 'lin.ate warmer than 'anoX ,t i
a lioud acl incjurtid ton,,. i ,ri,e r )od
them: to infer that i was p ta pctci ( ',crc
and ll, ny other impolitr 1thl ngoetn
tons things:. Nevcrth.,less, tyv seent
ed fondl of n' em u omlpccny for, it was not
long befor i nn' sugg. ssted thati the
other gp, ovilr the trilnsoii u ttfr me.
With total disregard for the property
rights of the Olive hotel they smashed
the transom and thenft spent the rest
of an hour urging each other to go,
"over the top."
The hotel clerk was a humorist, too,
(Continued on Page Three)