The Mankato free press., 1917-11-02

SchwaIen, the bank president who was
arrested charged with interfering with
the Liberty bond sale, subscribed for
$500 worth, after attending a big
rally last night. The charges against
him were not removed, however.
F. S. Schwalen was brought to Fair
mont at noon yesterday and arraigned
at 1870 p. M, before Justice j. A.
Everett. He announced his intention
of pleading not guilty, but was told
by the justice that the offense charged
was too grave for justice court to
handle. A formal examination then
was set for Saturday morning. Ben
Ballou appeared for the banker, but
announced that Dunn & Carlson of
Albert Lea would be asked to handle
the case.
Schwalen was released on $1,000
bonds.
Schwalen is the Triumph banker
who is charged with opposing the sale
o the Liberty bonds. The story of his
arrest was told in last evenings Free
Press.
Believes There Are Two Sides.
In an interview Schwalen said he
did not deny making the statement
that "there are two sides to this
question" 81 said that and l believe
it," he declared There are two
sides to any question"
Asked if he had tried to hinder the
sale of Liberty bonds, the banker as
serted he had not and even had ad-
vised people to buy bonds. He ac-
knowledged, however, that neither he
nor the bank had yet purchased any
of the second issue
"In the first loan sold $4,650 worth
of bonds,'' said Schwalen. II bought
$500 for myself and $1,000 for the
bank l have been away and expected
to help with the second loan later"
Schwalen said he did not believe
the sale of bonds has fallen down in
his neighborhood. 81 guess it's pretty
fair there he declared.
Asked point blank if he wants the
United States to win the war, Schwal-
en- answered that he did.
The banker stuck to his assertions
that the county attorney had said that
the German race must be extermi-
mated.
Although other residents of Tri-
umph said that he was not at the Red
Cross meeting, the banker declared
that both he and Mrs. Schwalen at
tended and that both heard the state
ment made.
SchwaIen Stand by Statement.
"I'll stand by my statement that
Allen said this if they cut my head
off," said Schwalen, drawing his fin
ger across his throat
81 have not said anything detri-
mental to the sale of Liberty bonds
l will not stand for such statements
as Allen made. I am member of the
German race, although am an
American citizen"
Schwalen is about fifty-five years
old and in appearance is a prosper
Gus looking keen business man. He
fatty denied the charge that he had
said his bank would not help with the
loan
Men Who Interviewed SchwaIen.
The arrest was the outcome of a
visit to Triumph Tuesday of a dele
cation of prominent Fairmont citi-
zens, headed by Chairman Wade
and included Valentine Wohlhuter,
E. w. Bird and j. II. Swearingen,
who were seeking to assist that
part of the county to raise it's Liberty
loan quota
The visitors interviewed Banker.
Schwalen and asked his support It
is alleged that when asked what the
bank was going to do for the loan,
Schwalen among other things said:
81 can tell you awful quick what my
bank is going to do. 1t isn't going
to do anything. My father and
mother were born in Germany and I
tell you there are two sides to this
question" the statement being en-
phasized by blows from his clenched
fist on table in the bank.
Verbal Assault on Allen.
Mayor Wade then said that
Schwalne attackd Attorney Allen, say
ing Mr. Allen had expressed the be-
lief that the German race must be
exterminated. They tried to talk him
out of the idea, Mr.. Wade said, but
he declined to listen.
Other citizens of Triumph assert
that Schwalen was not at the Red
Cross meeting, and that they heard no
such statement by Mr. Allen.
Chairman Wade says there has been
some influence at work in the
Triumph district that has resulted
in serious deficit in the bond sales
in Elm Greek, Fox Lake and Galena
township and in the west side of
Fraser township. These regions are
away below their quotas. That is
believed to have resulted in the
changes in the warrant that Schwal-
en- has been teaching and advocating
that citizens should not purchase
bonds.
AS was stated County Attorney
Allen has begun civil suit against
SchWalen for 50 600 damages