The Devils Lake world and inter-ocean. (Devils Lake, N.D.) 1915-1920, 1917-12-13
Defense SOCIETY
URGES ! / new ! YORK
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New York, Dec. 1.-THE activities
insNew York City and state Of A. C.
Townley, head Of the Nonpartisan
league Of North Dakota, have been in.
teFesting the American Defense 90.
cisty, for the society is continually on
the alert for anything which may
threaten straight Ameracanlsm o,
which savors German backing" the
New York Heraldssays today.
Not Wanted In New York.
"The record Of Mr.. Townley is no
better than that of Senator LasFollette
Of Wisconsin, and certainly there is no
place for either Of them in the Empire
State" the Herald quotes q report Of
the society.
""Since Mr.. Townley called a secret
conference in the McAlpin hotel a
week or so ago to organize the same
kind Of a farmers alliance, or non
partisan league, as he did in North
Dakota, the society has been at pains
to enquire into what he succeeded in
doing out there.
Trustee Makes Report.
Clarence S. Thompson, trustee of
the society and chairman of it's press
committee, said today.
"Reports received at the national
headquarters of the American De-
Tense society all tend to show that
American patriotism in North Dakota
is in a rather chaotic condition and
this is true, according to our reports,
to the activity Of the Nonpartisan
league, the executive committee OF
which is headed by A. c. Townley.
Germanism Not Opposed.
Cup to the present time that state
administration has not been distin-
guished by any aggressive stand
against Germany and German activity
in this country.
"Our reports show that sedition and
disloyalty are not being punished by
the state administration and, further
more, are being ignored to a large de-
gree by Federal officials, with possibly
one %expection.
"The two officials one state and
one Federal, who are the exception,
are John Steen, state treasurer, and S,
j. Doyle, United States Marshal.
Opposed First Loan.
"The attitude Of the state officials
against the floating of the first Lib
erty Loan is a matter of record. It
was a Nonpartisan league committee,
I believe, that, having in charge the
state fund, refused to invest a penny
Of it in the Liberty Loan.
"It was not until the loyal newspa-
pers Of North Dakota had prodded the
state into action that 100000 was in
vested in the Second Liberty Loan,
and this action was taken only after
100000 of the teachers pension fund
had been invested in the Liberty Loan
at the suggestion of State Treasurer
Steen.
Scores Townley's Attitude.
II understand that the state teach
ers' fund has only $4,000 at it's dis
posal, while the other funds run into
the millions in value of holdings.
"It was this same A.. c. Townley, if
I am not mistaken, who, when sitting
on the stage with Governor Lynn ].
Frazier at Williston, N. D., made the
remark that this was a war of the
rotten rich.
"Mr. Townley also made attacks of
a similar nature until his attitude was
reported to the Federal authorities at
Washington.
La Toilette Referred To.
ut is nj secret in North Dakota
that Mr.. Townley and his associates
vel investigated by the Minnesota
Public Safety Commission. Mr.. Town
ley, it is to be remembered, is a close
associate Of Governor Frazier, and il
was Governor Frazier who presided al
the disloyalty conference at st. Paul
when Senator La Toilette made his
speech defending the sinking Of the
Lusitania.
Because of Insi speech by Senate,
La Toilette, the American Defense so.
ciety is now asking the Senate to ex.
pei him."