The Ward County independent. [volume] (Minot, Ward County, N.D.) 1902-1965, 1917-09-27
ASKS EXPULSION OF
SENATOR LAF0LLETTE
Minnesota Public Safety Commission
Accuses Senator Of Making
Speech Of DisIoyaI and
Seditious Nature

ST. Paul, Sept. 25-EXpulsion OF SEN
ator Robert M. LaFollette of Wiscon-
sin from the United States senate ia
demanded in a petition addressed to
that body late today by the Minnesota
public safety commission. Senator La
Toilette is accused in the commission
resolution of making an address of dis
loyal and SeditiOns nature at a public
meeting before large audience at
the NOnpartisan league convention
last Thursday night in this city.
The commission also referred to the
United States district attorney the
matter of the conduct of Senator La
Toilette and others at the same meet
ing with a request that the parties II
found to have violated any federal
statutes, be vigorously prosecuted.
The action of the commission came
at the close of an executive session of
six hours duration, given almost ex-
clusvely to consideration of the La
Toilette speech and a searching exam
ination of A. C. Townley, president of
the National Nonpartisan league. The
latter expressed his disappointment at
the statements in which the senator
INDUCED and disclaimed responsibility
for permitting the utterances.
No State Law Violated
Governor Burnquist said later that
the attorneys having advised that
there was no infractfOn of state laws,
the commission was compelled to be
content with referring the matter to
federal authorities for action.
president TOwnley and others con-
nected with the meeting had given re-
peated assurances that the meeting
would be confined to discussions of
economic questions and the war issues
would be left untouched" said the
governor.
"Mr. TownIey said today that
when a rumor was heard that Sen-
ator LaFoIIette would change his
subject and talk on war, a deIega-
ton was sent to wait upon him,
and was told that he would talk on
the assigned topics, and on that
representation, he was permitted
to speak. He added that he once
interrupted the senator to remind
him of his pledge to refrain from
talking about the war, but to no
avail"
Another officer of the commission
repeated that only after positive as
surance was given that nothing of
disloyal or seditious nature would be
permitted, was the meeting allowed to
be conducted, and added that the
commission never felt justified in
halting the proceedings"
President Townley stoutly denied
making any improper remarks and Of
fered to supply copies of his speech to
support his statements in reply to
questions fired at him by all members
of the commission during his eXamin-
alton
Ask League Strength
Appearing at the request Of the
commission and accompanied by his
attorney, James Manahan, President
TOWnley was cross-QuestiOned as to
the purpose and strength Of the Non
partisan league. His answers were tax
en- almost verbatim. Whether an in
vestigation of the league will be car
ried further, Governor Burnquist said
tonight, probably will depend on fu-
ture developments.
President Townley told the commits
sion that the league, organized in
North Dakota last year. now has more
than 100000 members, of whom ap-
proximately 10000 are in Minnesota,
20 900 are in North Dakota, and a like
number in South Dakota, while the re-
naming 10000 members are scattered
over four or five other states extend
ing south to Oklahoma. The first pur-
pose of the league, he continued, is to
protect the interests and welfare of
the farmers. It is especially active at
this time. he said on alleged discrim-
| ination against the farmer who cannot
afford to sell his wheat at $2.20 a
bushel when flour prices remain on a
high level and other demands on his
resources.
Members of the commission indi-
Gated their position to the effect that
the league should have appealed to the
commission for the relief desired in.
stead Of resorting to the spread OF
such propaganda as might reflect on
federal policies designed to the sue.
cessful conduct Of the war. President
Townley said the league officers be-
leived it necessary to arouse the
farmers to the conditions and then
through their influence, to go direct to
the national government for relief.