The Fargo forum and daily republican. [volume] (Fargo, N.D.) 1894-1957, 1918-06-19
LEAGUE HEADS
REFUSED TO LET
SPEAKERS TELL
THE OTHER SIDE.

Garrison, N. D., June 19.-An in
teresting statement of how league
speakers Thomas Hall, secretary Of
state: J. N. Hagan, comnnissio
of agriculture and a. local candidate
handled a recent meeting In CARR
son, in connection with which an at
tempt has been made to make polit-
ical capital, is related by L. F. Ma
howa1d, Of Garrison, as follows in a
statement published In the local
newspaper: > 49,. s
In Justice to myself want to
make statement in regard to the
disturbance that was created in this
city yesterday by the paid bunch Of
Townleyttes. AS precinct commit
teeman OF this city for the Indepen-
dent Voters association, took it up
on myself to ask the state head
quarters to send M. P. johnson to
Garrison on the afternoon Of June IL
as the home guard had decided to
have dance on the evening Of that
date, and as I knew that Mr. John
son was one Of the best speakers in
the state FOR the cause, asked for
him because I thought he would be
O good drawing card and would
bring lot Of people and conse-
quently would leave a. good crowd
in town for the dance. After had
made arrangements for the hall,
along comes a letter to the hall
manager from headquarters at Far
go asking for the hall for the same
afternoon. Mr.. Calktns the hall
manager came to me and asked me
what he should tell them, and Z
told him to tell them that the
hall was rented for that afternoon
but that the party that had 1t leased
would be willing to let them have it
from o'clock till and as far as
I know they accepted that PROPOSE
ton. However they did not seem
to be in any hurry to start their
meeting, and 1t was $3.50 when office
seeking Bob Fraser called the meet
ing to order. At noon heard 1t
rumored that they were making ar
rangements to go out in the coun-
try at o'clock to finish their meet
ing. spoke to a prominent member
Of the Nonpartisan league to go and
see Mr.. Fraser and tell him that
we would be willing to let them have
the first round end at 4 o'clock, we
take the platform till o'clock, and
If the people wanted any more Of it
that we would be glad to divide time
with the N-P-L speakers. But the
leaders OF this organization, and
mind you, mean the leaders that |
were in charge Of this Mp meeting |
did not want you to hear the other
side OF, the story. They knew very
well that Mr.. johnson knows too
much Of the political history Of the |
inside workings of the league and |
they don't want you to get wise.
Mrs. Harriet Chalmers Adams who |
is out in the interests Of the bureau |
Of public information, asked Mr..
fraser (w8thout my knowledge) If |
she could have few minutes time
as she had a message to deliver to |
the people, and when I heard Of this |
/ went to Fraser and told him that |
on account Of the lateness Of the |
hour we would be- glad to have |
her talk on our time in place Of
taking up their tiIne. She spone |
about twenty minutes.
Then again at $3.50 went to Mr.. !
Fraser and told him that we did not |
want them TO go out in the coun- |
try to finish their meeting and that
we would wait until they got |
through. But nothing could hold |
them, they wanted to get In the |
country where they could tell you
some more about these wild dreams. |
''I hereby challenge r. L. Fraser, |
Tom Hall, J. N. Hagan, or any other
league candidates to appear on the
platform at Garrison sometime be-
fore the primaries and debate the |
league questions with M. p. Johnson |
and let the people decide who Is
ssyours for a square deal,
Ell. b. EfAHOWlAID."