The Fargo forum and daily republican. [volume] (Fargo, N.D.) 1894-1957, 1914-02-07

Ing out to the chamber OF commerce
was Infamous and he knew it, en-
Worst OF the North Dakota Agricul-
tural college and president of the Tri-
State Grain Growers convention this
morning when he was on the stand as
a witness at the investigation of Chief
of Police Bingham before, the city
commission.
Mr.. Anderson sat right by and calm
ly listened to the statement of the ex-
ecutive Of the big farm school and
made no comment whatever. "Mr. An
derson and have always gotten along
very well ever since I have known
him." continued DR.. Worst, "and he
has usually been very courteous, but
in this case Mr. Anderson hasn't been
square. have no interest In the
chamber Of commerce whatever.
have made at least 100 speeches in this
state If have made one in favor Of
the American Society of Equity, and
| recent the charges and statements
made that I sold out the Grain Grow
ers' convention to the chamber Of
commerce and so insulted the $4,000
farmers Of North Dakota. did no
such thing" -.tr ,..~., . ...
Judge Witherow Called. ".
When the investigation of Chief of
Police Bingham was resumed this
morning, Judge J. M. Witherow. of
Moorhead was the first witness called
by the accused, evidence for whom be-
, gan at a late hour yesterday after
noon when the complainant rested. 8
Judge Witherow stated he was pres
ent at the auditorium both during the
afternoon and evening of Friday, Jan
23, and that the fight that night was
expected by everyone present. After
the evening dinner hour he returned to
the auditorium between and SO
O'clock. finding the hall about two
thirds occupied. .- .
He stated that Mr.. Anderson spoke
that evening to the audience telling OF
his telephone conversation with Mr.
Hardy, who he stated the Equity
speaker announced had said that at
o'clock Mr.. Smith with Mr.. Grover and
the police would be there to take pos
session. Mr.. Witherow said that Mr.
Anderson said in his remarks that
when these men came, they would re-
pair to Assembly halls as he believed
in the enforcement of the law.
About 8:15 o'clock the witness stat
ed Mr.. Smith, MIR. Grover and some
other people, ipclu ding the chief Of Pc
lice and the Captain and Senator
y Works OF Minnesota. apr rcd. ssst "a issi6
Smith, he said, walked toward the
platform when Mr.. Anderson had fin
ished speaking and said as he walk
ed forward, "Tve something to say to
YOU yeungI man. Your time is up and
we want the hall. Let me make a
statement .'.. ,...
Threw Smith of Bodily.
whereupon Judge Witherow raid
there was a rush on the stage and Nir.
Smith was thrown off the platform
bodily. Everything was in cofnmotion
instantly and Mr. LOTUS was calling
Mr.. Grover vile names, the Equity ex-
change leader making a rush at the
Minneapolis attorney and the chief
stepped in between them, interfering
before any blows were struck.
''Mr. Anderson then called to the
people to throw them out" said Judge
Witherow. "Mr. Anderson asked Mr.
Smith for ten minutes to speak, which
he was denied. He then appealed tc
Chief Bingham, who granted him the
time. Mr. Anderson then thanked the
chief by saying he was a gentleman
but that Smith wasn't. - ..-... =.
'The fuss was practically arranged
for in the afternoon. I think the po-
lice, present exercised most excellent
diplomacy. Chief Bingham especially
Said Smith Had Right.
On cross examination, Judge With
crow said Mr.. Smith, as the represen
tative of the owners Of the auditorium
had a perfect right to demand his
property. /,
"Mr. Smith had right to demand
the hall as he represented the own
ers. He has that right at any time ant
to use a reasonable degree of force tc
recapture it. Mr.. Smith did not start
the riot, but 1t was the others, .togeth-
en- with Mr.. Anderson, who struck Mr.
Smith. In reclaiming his property ht
committed no offense.
President Worst Called.
ness called by Chief Bingham. Th'
president of the Tri-State GraiI
Growers association told Of the clos
ing of the programme Of the recen
Grain Growers convention and th'
place of the American Society @
Equity on that programme.
IA year ago." said President Worst
"a resolution was adopted at TIT
Grain Growers convention to allow
the American Society OF Equity hal
q, day on the regular programme o
the convention this year, which wai
done by the programme committe'
when it prepared the programme las
fall for the recent convention. Amons
the many interests and other subordi
nate societies which have nad q piac'
on the programme, suCh as the Star'
Conservation association, ETC., It wa
found that the last afternoon or m
convention would he the only plac,
available for the Society OF Equity.
"VVhen I notified Mr.. Andersen
about this arrangement he wrote me
letter complaining Of the time, as h
said the last afternoon would be
poor time for the Society of Equ1t,
speakers as many of the FARMER
would have gone home by that time
He submitted the names OF thre
speakers. himself, George s. Loftus
and DIR. Mccarthy of Madison, for tn
last afternoons programme, and Will
complaining OF the time, said the,
would accept 1t and make the most
It,,
President Worst then read Mr.. An
dersons letter and his reply to him
showing his own desire to assist tn
Society Of Equity all he could and Of
fering to exchange places with othe
speakers on other days of the pro
gramme il opportunity offered. Thes
letters were introduced as evidence
and filed with the commission, an
Will be published later,
Uniform Closing Hour.
.'E'or the last fifteen years contin
lled DIR. Worst, ssthe rTri State Graf
Growers convention has uniforml
closed between 4.30 and S o'clock. lii
asnuch as we were to have the ne,
auditorium for a meeting place thi
year I arranged with the auditorium
officers for four days and three night
The programme shows it.
u