The Bismarck tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, N.D.) 1916-current, 1918-11-25
C0AFESL0ANED
. LEAGUE MONEY
Manager of New National Party
Helped Finance Townley
in 1916

Fargo, N. D., Nov. GA. C. Town.
ley, president of the National Non
partisan league, in the witness stand
today, in his bankruptcy case explain
ed various items entered on Non
partisan league accounts. He indicat-
ed that during the period from the
spring of 1915 to the fall of 1877, he
was credited with approximately twen-
ty-four thousand dollars, including his
salary and expenses. Mr. TOWnley
said there were no vouchers covering
expense items that were expended by
him in conformity with authorization
granted by the leagues executive COM
mittee members of which are Frank
b. Wood, William Lemke and Town
ley, himself Thomas Reyes, book.
keeper for the Nonpartisan league,
preceded Townley on the stand, in
explanation of various items.
One transaction explained by Town
ley had to do with seven thousand dol.
lars in notes in favor of A. c. Town
ley. signed by Mr.. Townley himself, as
president Of the league.
Townley, under questioning by At
tOrney Francis Murphy representing
Trustee E. B. McCutcheon, pleaded
with the court that he be not required
to divulge the name Of the friend OF
the Nonpartisan league whom he
explained, had loaned seven thousand
dollars to the league 9Th the under
standing that the lOaner's name would
not in any manner be identified with
the transaction. Townley, after stat
ing that the mans business standing
would be damaged by reason Of his
connection with the loan, said that It
was David G. Coates, head Of the new
national party, who had advanced the
money. Coates was at the time man.
ager of Nonpartisan league publica-
lions and closely Identified with
league work. the seven thousand dol
lar transaction taking place in 1916.
Mr.. Townley said that the matter had
been entered in the books in the form
indicated as matter or protecting
Coates against publicity. Before
Townley gave the name of Coates as
his benefactor during what Townley
declared was the leagues lean days
in financial matters, Judge Amldon
required the witness TO write the name
on a slip of paper and pass it to him.
After Judge Amidon examined the
name he engaged in conference with
the witness for several moments when
the Mysterious slip Of paper was pass
ed to Attorney Murphy for the trus'
tee. 1t subsequently was made mat
ter of record. and the trustees council
said he probably would require that
Coates testify. .,,,rrf>rrt
Townley denied that he had ANY
funds Of any nature whatever }oH de
posit anywhere or that any were de-
posted in his wife's name, or other
wise. He charged. too, that he never
had any conversation with Fred
Tlegan of Mcleod county, Minnesota,
to the effect that he, Townley, owned
the league, and that no matter What
happened he was fixed for the balance
Of his days.
Townley testified that in. 1915 the
league had about fifty organizers; IN
1916 it had about one hundred and
fifty. and in 1917, between two hun
dred and three hundred organizers.
@SssTownley's connection with several
CORPORATIONS controlled by him out
side of the Nonpartisan league, are
HOtRbeing Investigated under an order
hv Judge Amidon. That only Town
ley's personal account with the non
partisan league is subject I foE m
yestigation. TOwnley has previously
testified that he controlled the Con
sumers United Stores company, the
league exchange, the Nonpartisan PUP