Grand Forks herald. [volume] (Grand Forks, N.D.) 1916-1955, 1918-05-20
COL. .M'VEY'S I.
PASSPORTS
ARE HELD UP
Spiteful Charges Supposed to
Have Been Filed by
A. G. Towrley.

Colonel Charles n. Mcvey. who re-
signed a. military Instructor at the
state university to do Army Y. N. c,
A. work in France. has had his pass
ports held up BY tho state department
because charges Of dialoyalty have
been made against him. according to
2 letter received here yesterday from
the colonel.
The state department Informed
Colonel Mcvey that the charges had
been made by North Dakota people.
His letter did not say who had made
the charges, but from other sources
The Herald learned that the charges
are supposed to have been died by A.
G. Townley. president Of the Nonpar-
tisan league. whom he was in Wash
inEton.
Colonel Mcvey is the crisis Of his re-
Governor Frazier and one Of his Non
partisan league appointees. Governor
Frazier complained to Colonel Mcvey
about statements he was alleged to
have made in an address at Surrey,
N. D., whereupon Mr.. McVey resign
ed a. q member Of the governors
staff.
The governors charges followed
those Of George Totten, N%onpartisan
1Sd6ue 4aeI1lOoE OIL Lu0 QOAI0 OIL re.
gents, who tried to have Colonel Nc
Vey dismissed from. the university
and prohibited from making speeches
in the state under the direction Of the
extension division.
Made to Dfscredit Colonel. 4.
The filing Of charges Of disloyalty
against Colonel McVey il manifestly
a political move to discredit the coll
onel. There is absolutely no founda-
ton for such charges. for Colonel
McVey has seen very active service in
the American army and since this
country entered the wal has been one
of the most active workers for the
cause Of democracy and liberty. I'm
der the direction Of the extension d.
vision Of the university. he gave a
number Of addresses in the city and
state. and from every place came re-
ports Of the splendid patriotic eenti-
ments expressed in his talks and Of
the great work he had done in aiding
tho governments prosecution Of the
war.
The address which precipitated
Totten's charges was delivered at Sur
rey. In the urse of his remarks.
Colonel McVey said that any man or
group of men who tried at this time
to stir up class antagonism were not
why OAoiOydA, UuL "CI0 udASOES "
country. A Mr.. Smith rose to his feet
and shouted. 'How aboutYTownley."
IF the shoe fits him. let him put it
on" Colonel McVey replied.
Totem Apologized to Movey.
Smith wanted to know whether
McYey. was addressing q; political or q
This Is 4 Yatriotic meeting" said
Colonel Gcvey, .-'but II we can't mix
politics and patriotism, then all the
worse for politics." T.
mr.. Totten. it is said. went to Sur
reg and tried to gather evidence
against Colonel McVey, but did not
succeed. He took the matter up with
Governor Frazier, and the latter
wrote Colonel Mcvey. In his reply.
Colonel McVey stool his ground firmly
and resigned as a member Of the
governors staff.
Mr.. Totten's charges were put be-
fore the board Of regents. which took
the position that 1t was entirely a
matter between Colonel Mcvey and
Totten. Mr.. Mcvey was called into
the meeting, and. according to re-
ports given out, some =: heated words
passed between him, and Totten, but
the affair ended when the latter apol-
ogized for what he had said and done.