The Fargo forum and daily republican. [volume] (Fargo, N.D.) 1894-1957, 1917-10-08
Indictment of Teigen And
Bentall Reveals Rela-
tiOnship in Minnesota
SAYS TOWNLEY MADE
ADMISSION OF UNITY
Didn't Want Farmers To
Know Of Community In
terest Between Them
minneapolis Tribune.)

Done-ueep Klnshtp or the Nonpar-
tisan league and the Socialist party
in Minnesota has been disclosed in
Minneapolis just at the moment
when federal grand jury action di-
rected at men who are now or who
have been connected prominently
with both organizations, brings into
strong relief the similar kinship of
| members of these groups with pro-
kaiserism in Minnesota.
Out of a strip of country marked
in one end by propaganda put forth
by Socialists, represented by J. o.
Rentall, and in the other end by
propaganda spread by the Nonpar-
tisan league-hrst by A. c. Townley.
its president, and later by Ferdinand
A. Teigen, an organizer-came Sat
urday a disclosure of the tie that
binds Socialists and Nonpartisan-
lists.
1t came after BentalPs indictment
on charge Of seditious utterances
and obstruction of the draft. and the
examination Of witnesses by the fed
eral grand jury who are said to have
told of the activities of Ferdinand
A. Teigen.
Farmer Shows Binding Tie.
A. H. Oberg, farmer living in
| Cedar Mills township, Meeker coun-
ty. between Litchfield and Hutchin-
son, a neighbor of J. o. Bentall, the
| Socialist candidate for governor of
| Minnesota at the last election, is the
man responsible for the disclosure
showing the tie that binds the Non
partisan league and the Socialists.
Oberg has known Bentall for about
rs years.
Oberg, as a neighbor Of Bentalrs,
| inf 80
league officials, according to his own
statements, statements corroborated
by subsequent events when Bsntalps
farm was designated as a meeting
place for an organizer of the league
and Oberg.
Oberg comes from the very heart
Of the territory where the Socialists
| headed by Bentall, have been exert
ing their influence, and where the
Nonpartisan league has been making
a drive for membership. 1t is a ter
ritory where many former subjects
of the kaiser now live.
Met With BentaII and TownIsy.
Meeker, Mcleod and Sibley coun-
ties have been the scene OF many
disloyalty meetings, some of them
| addressed by Bentall and others by
+. A. Teigen and others. These
counties have been the center of
activities for an organization of
patriots who have done their utmost
| to stamp out sedition wherever 1t
| showed it's head.
In his own statement Oberg tells
| of meetings with Bentall and, at the
latteTs suggestion, with league Of
ficials, including Townley.
1t has been known for a long time
that A. c. Townley, president of the
Nonpartisan league. was member
| of the Socialist party in North Da-
| kota. Arthur LIE Sueur, general
| counsel, credited with being the
brains of the Nonpartisan league,
one of the organizing committee Of
the Peoples Council, the peace-at-
any price organization driven from
Minnesota, has also been identified
with the Socialist party.
Incidentally, Seymour Stedman,
who presided at the Peoples Coun-
Gil meeting in Chicago, counsel for
the Socialist party, will be one of
| the attorneys to represent J. o.
Bentall when the latter is placed on
trial in the United States district
court on Oct. Is.
In his statement, Oberg quotes
Townley as saying that the Social
lists are right in with u.s." He quotes
Bentall as saying that the league
thought best not to have him speak
for them just now"
The story of Oberg. given with all
of the details, throws an interesting
sidelight on methods the Nonpartisan
league uses in getting organizers, be-
sides setting forth in sharp relief
'the tie that binds"
BentaII Made Overturea.
| "In April, 1917" says Mr.. Oberg,
"Bentall told my wife he wanted to
see me, that he knew where could
get a good job. So met Bentall at
his farm. assumed he meant work
as an organizer, and asked him
what there was in it. Bentall re-
piled that there was from 5000 to
$500 a month. told him would see
the league at st. Paul when l went
down.
II saw him few days later and
/ he asked me If had been down to
see the Nonpartisan league, and he
said they were in the Gilfillan build
ing. He told me whom to see. but
don't recall the name. I told him
was going in a few days, and he
said, BE sure and go up, you'll get a
| pretty good thing out Of it."
Later / went down. think in
| April, and called at the league head
quarters and met a man there who
apparently was in charge, and he
| took me alone into one of the inner
offices. told him that had come
down to get the job Bentall had told
me about He said, Yes. we were
looking for you. and are glad you
came down
Lacquer Discusses Terms.
81 asked him what kind of q job
they had to offer and he said they
wanted me to go out as an organizer
for the league. asked what they
would pay, and he said they would
pay % per cent for all memberships
secured by me. He told me he would
guarantee / could make $500 per
month and that ought to make $500
| to $500 a month. He asked me f ]
had an auto and ! told him I had.
He said that would save their fur
nishing me with one. but IL they did
have to furnish one would have 20
pay for It. for they had bought 100
autos and they were practically al
spoken for. / asked him what coun-
/ ty could get. He asked what county
wanted and / asked for Meeker.
He replied that that county was al
ready spoken for. I told him didn't
want to go far from home. ana he
offered to try and get Meel<er Tor
me. He then showed ms the contract
and a bond form for solicitors
asFVhf1a EWn Egara talking one Free