The Fargo forum and daily republican. [volume] (Fargo, N.D.) 1894-1957, 1918-01-30
Q. The national committees

4 Mr.. Lemke: Same objection.
i Mr. Manahan: Incompetent, ir-
relevant and immaterial
Mr., O'Hare: / will overrule the
objection but I will also state here,
gentlemen, that regardless of any
ruling that make the witness would
have to answer anyway.
Mr.. Manahan: just want to
make the record; that is all.
Mr. Lemke: I don't understand
that he would have to answer all
questions put to him. He could re-
fuse.
Mr.. Murphy: If he wants to take
chances. Please answer the ques-
ton.
A. l would like to ask my attorneys
| a question. Am to divulge informa-
j ton here that concerns the opera
tons Of this political organization In
the interest of the membership Of the
organization or not?
| Mr.. Manahan: 1 would say not.
! would be willing to advise you that
a court would not, in my Judgment,
| compel you to answer questions that
| have no relation to your property
rights and your assets but are pure
i ly political questions regarding the
| form of organization or the method
| of its carrying on political cam
| paigns, and that so far as the
| scope, finances, jurisdiction, and
power of the executive, committee or
the Nonpartisan league are concern
| ed / would say that you would not
be compelled by the court to answer
those questions.
Mr.. Lemke: Especially would you
not be compelled by the court in my
opinion to give a list Of its mem
| bership.
Mr.. Murphy: I wish to disclaim
any intention to inquire into the
| political purposes, If any, of the
| organization referred to, but my in
quiry as to the names of the other
| members of the committee which has
charge, as testified to by Mr.. Town
lev. of the disbursements of the
funds of this organization, is for the
purpose of ascertaining their names
in order that they may be subpoenaed
If the creditors desire. The only
question put to Mr.. Townley is what |
are the names of the committee.
A. Mr.. Lemke and +. B. Wood.
@. Mr.. Lemke the attorney?
A. Yes sir.
Q. That is of the national organi-
zation, l understand now, Mr.. Town
ley?
@. Where dies Mr.. Wood reside? |
A. Deering, North Dakota
O. Is he still up at Deering?
A. His business is there.
@. Did they likewise have charge |
Of the funds and the books or dis
bursements of the funds Of the North
Dakota state organization?
A. Yes sir.
O.. And these men have had, for
some time, that position?
A. Yes sir.
Q. Practically since the original
organization?
A. Yes sir.
Q. The league books, as under
stand it, are in charge Of Mr.. Reyes,
and also of this committee?
A. Yes sir.
Q. And are in their possession?
A. Yes sir.
organization and this state organi-
zation?
A. Yes sir.
O. Mr.. Townley, is It not fact
that OF the money contributed by the
various members Of this league as
dues or fees a certain percentage Is /
paid to The Nonpartisan Leader, a |
newaraper organization Of this
state? ..
Mr.. Manahan: Objected to as in
competent, irrelevant and immaterial |
The relations between the league and |
their official organ are purely matters |
concerned with the league.
Mr., Murphy: Just strike that out. /
A. I have no objection to ans
wering that question, 1t is a we'll /
known fact that The Nonpartisan
Leader gets the subscription price
Of the paper.
@. DO you know what that is?
A. $3.50 a year.
Paper Gets Percentage.
@. And that is from each member
of the organization, a portion Of the
fee, or this $3.50, goes to The Leader,
does It?
A. That is the agreement we
sign.
q. Could you tell me approx
mately how much money the league
takes in annually?
Mr. Lemke: Immaterial improper
examination. He has not shown that
this witness is in any way interested
in the funds of the league excepting
$500 a month.
further reason it is very obviously
a political question for the purpose
of seeing how much money this
league has collected and spent. II
Mr.. Murphy: 1t is for the purpose
of finding out how much money has
gone through Mr.. Townley's hands.
Mr.. Manahan: That is immaterial.
Mr.. Murphy: Well, how much he
has had in his possession. |!
Mr.. Manahan: That is immaterial
too. The amount of money has
to do with the matter. The
amount that has gone through his
hands as trustee or officer has moth
ing to do with the matter and the
question as to how much money the
league has collected from its mem
bers and disbursed politically is pure
ly a political question, and unless
the witness sees Mt on his own per-
sonal responsibility to disclose II l
would advise him that his duty to
the farmers whom he represents and
his duty as trustee, would be decline
to answer any queries as to its politi-
cal activities or resources.
Mr. Murphy: 1t may be that some
designing persons might distrust 1t
but can't help that. / am simply
trying to do my duty to the credi-
tors and ascertain what money has
gone through this gentleman's hands
while he has been in charge of this
Mr.. Mammalian: would say that 1t
Is immaterial how much money Mr..
Townley collected in North Dakota
from these members Of Mr.. Town
ey's organization in the last cam
Daign. 1T might go through his
hands, some Of IT, but 1t Is not ma
serial to the issues OF this case.
Mr.. Murphy: The materlallty Of Ii
IS this: that when we ascertain the
amount Of money and when we come
10 find out how 1t is disburssd. /
think the materiality will be clearly
apparent, because If he has TO make
In accounting Ii is material.