Bismarck daily tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, Dakota [N.D.]) 1881-1916, 1911-08-28
LOCAL CONDITIONS SHOW
INTERNATIONAL REPORT
BY townsend IS WRONG

acts of grant have been violated, and
his success in some instances, notably
the Southern Pacific, has given him a
national prominence. But that the
source of Mr.. Townsend's inquiries
must be questioned and his findings
discredited by the inconsistencies
shown in them.
The so.called Townsend report con.
corning the International Harvester
company and the reply thereto by the
latter are rather interesting. Mr..
Townsend as Assistant U. S. District
Attorney, once resided in North Dako.
ia, and it is presumed he collected a
large part of his information in refer
ence to the Harvester company IN
this state. Because of this and for
various other reasons, the controversy
is of particular interest to this COM
munity. The fact that tie Harvester
company denies point blank many of
the charges made by Mr.. Townsend.
especially as on matters of common
knowledge to the implement trade,
makes interesting summary of the
two statements.
AO 11dl VOoLCl OOIApnAy 10 pONuA-
iarly close to the people of this state
because of their large business here
and their system of selling goods.
Their harvesting machinery is sold
through local dealers, the company
accepting the farmers notes in set
Element therefor, and this feature of
the business, particularly the fact that
they collect their own notes, brings
them in closer touch with the general
public, and their farmer customers in
particular, than otherwise.
houses in North Dakota, employing a
great many people throughout the
year, thus making the corporation
practically local one, and giving it
considerable local interest.
A perusal of the salient features of
Mr. Townsend's findings, and the In
ternationaPs reply thereto, after care
full inquiry, seem to justify the conclu-
sion that Mr.. Townsend cannot prove
some of his statements while others
are exaggerated and misleading.
For instance, one Of the important
charges in the report is as follows:
"Out of the five brands of harvest
ers originally obtained by the com.
pany, three types were totally aband-
oned-the Champion, Plano and Mil.
waukee machines have passed out of
existence"
The company's answer denies this
as "notoriously untrue" and that Mr..
Townsend is entirely mistaken is
proven by a visit through the local
warehouse of the company, where one
finds not only the Champion binders
in large quantities, but also Milwaukee
and Plano machines. all brand new
and apparently fresh from the factory.
These machines were shipped here
for distribution and sale through the
various machinery dealers in this
section who are handling these lines.
The Townsend report makes an
other important accusation against
the company when it states that:
"The International has abandoned
the manufacture of all binders except
the Deering, Mccormick and Osborne,
and repairs are not furnished for any
Others"
The question of being able to get
repair parts for old binders is one of
grave importance, and were this
charge true, it would be serious, as
1t would mean great loss to the far
mers of this state. The company's
answer brands the statement as mo
toriously and absolutely untrue" and
a visit to the company's local ware
house would seem to clear them Of
the charge. In their Bismarck repair