The trial before Federal Judge Kenesaw M. Landis lasted for more than a month and resulted in a verdict of guilty against all of the defendants. On February 20, 1918, Judge Landis sentenced the convicted men to twenty years' imprisonment in the federal penitentiary at Fort Leavenworth, Kansas. In sentencing the men, Judge Landis said:
Their writings and utterances fairly represent the consistent,
personal campaigns they conducted to discredit the cause of
the United States and obstruct its efforts. By no single word
or act did they offer help to the country to win the war. It
was a conscious, continuous plan to obstruct the country's
military efforts. What has been said in this courtroom by
the defendants is but an apology by them for obstructing the
country's effort.
The convicted men were granted an appeal to the United
States Circuit Court of Appeals by Judge Samuel Alschuler.
In the upper court the defendants were compelled
to give their personal pledge to Judge Alschuler that
neither by word or act would they do any of the things
for which they have been convicted, pending the final disposition
of the case. It should be understood and remembered
that these men were convicted not for their personal
or political beliefs, but for violation of a law of the United
States.
A. P. L. reports show that Lake Mills, Iowa, had a state senator who advised young men that they could not be forced to cross the water to fight, nor forced to buy Liberty bonds. He also was alleged to have obstructed the United War Work campaign by telling a client that he did not need to assist. He was connected with the Non-Partisan League and promised the farmers that they would secure control of the Legislature. Affidavits to this effect were handed to "D. J." The Non-Partisan League was well investigated in that neighborhood. The organizer of the local chapter was forced to buy bonds and stamps and to remain inactive until Peace was declared. "He moved away and never came back," says the local chief.
In another Lake Mills office, there was found by American Protective League operatives a picture drawn by a rather good amateur artist depicting a single German blowing to
