Jamestown weekly alert. [volume] (Jamestown, Stutsman County, D.T. [N.D.]) 1882-1925, 1917-09-27
| LEOLLET |, /; ! III Il T'E's /.
EXPUI.s ] ] ] ! i 81 SION | \
IS ASKED ! ! FOR
A Mime i esota /. Commission 50 s j, Re r
iion. U. 5. Senate.

8103VA8O N&o 0So s00,SA1&AS60 s-9-f
--.---..s..-..S !aa;5 81
St. Paul, Sept. 25.4Expulsion Of
Senator Robert M. LaFollette of Wis
consin from the United States sem
ate is demanded IN s petition ad-
dressed to that body late today by the
Minnesota public safety commission.
Senator LaFollette IS accused in the
commission resolution Of making an
address of disloyal and seditious ma
ture at a public meeting before a
large audience at the sNon-Partisan
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
LaFollette and otherslat the same
meeting with a request that the par
ties If found to have violated any
federal statute, be vigorously prose-
cuted. IS
The action OF the commission. came
at the close Of an executive session
of six hours duration, given almost
exclusively to consideration Of the
LaFollette speech and searching
examination Of "a: G. Townley, presi-
dent of the National Non-P Partisan
league. The latter expressed his dis
appointment at the statements in
which the senator INDUCED and dis
claimed responsibility for permitting
the utterance.
No State law Violated.
Governor Burnquist said later that
the attorneys having advised that
there was no infraction Of state laws,
the commission was compelled to be
content with referring the matter to
federal authorities for action.
President Townley and others
connected with the meeting had CIV
en- repeated assurances that the
meeting would b he confined to dis
cussions OF economic questions and
the war issues would be left un-
Ftouched,' = said the goyslo lor. +.
-H . ys.:Mr. sTownley said today chat
when a rumor was heard that
Senator LaFollette would change
his subject and talk on war, a
delegation was sent to wait upon, 1
him, and was told that he. would
talk ON the assigned topics, and Z!
ssbn that; representation, he. was
permitted to speak. He added
sthatshe once interrupted the sem 1,
ator 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 a
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. I"
President Townley stoutly denied
making any improper remarks and
offered to supply copies Of his speech
to support his statements In reply to
questions fired at him by all mem
bers Of the commission during his
examination. ~
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 purposes and strengthen the Nom
Partisan league. His answers were
taken almost verbatim. Whether an
sof the league will be
carried further, Governor Burnquist
said tonight, probably Will depend on
future Developments.
President Townley told the cons
mission that the leagues organized In
North Dakota last year, now, has
more than 100000 members. Of
whom approximately 10000 are In
MinnesOta,2O,OOO are in North Da-
kota and q like number In South Da-
kota, while the remaining 900
are scattered over four or
i've other states extending south to
Oklahoma. The first purpose Of the
league, he continued, = to protect
the interests and welfare OF the
farmers. It 10 especially active at
this time, he said, onaalleged dis
|crimination against tho farmer who
cannot afford to sell his wheat at
500 q bushel when -four prices re-