Idaho County free press. [volume] (Grangeville, Idaho Territory) 1886-current, 1918-03-07
BOSS TOWNLEY
UNDER ARREST;
SAYS FRANEUP
OLD STORY OF DELIBERATE
PLOT BROUGHT TO BEAR BY
NoN-PARTIsAN MAN
SEEKS PUBLIC SYMPATHY
Leader of League in Effort to Explain
Arrest-Idaho Farmer Dis
gusted with Gang

A. q. Townley, president of the Non
partisan league, was arrested in st.
Paul, MINI, the other day, charged
with conspiracy to discourage enlist
ments and to obstruct the national army
draft. The charges were based on a
section of a pamphlet issued last June
in which the "war aims' of the league
were put forth among other features
included in its propaganda
Joseph Gilbert, secretary of the lea
| que, was arrested on a similar warrant.
Declares Arrest Frameup
Townley declared there is nothing
in the pamphlet upon which his arrest
is based, that is Objectionable to the
government. He said his arrest was
a deliberate plot to discredit the
league
''There is hardly declaration in
this pamphlet which has not been pub
hcly Endorsed by President Wilson,
with the overwrerming approval of
the American people" Townley said.
My arrest is simply to supply hos
tile newspapers with sensational head !
lines, in their effort to diseredit the
league. 1t is deliberate plot
Idaho Farmer Disguised
Idaho farmers who signed up with
the league at 1916 PERI are begin |
ming to become disguised with the out /
fit, if a statement made by George
Dillon, a well-known farmer of Canyon
county, may he taken as indicative of
the feeling among farmers throughout
the state.
Mr.. Dillon, who resides near Green
leaf postoffice, recently returned from
Minnesota and North Dakota, where
he had been visiting relatives for six
weeks. He is a member of the Nom
partisan league-at least his name is
on the books, and he has contributed
Sl6-but now he wishes his name were
erased from the books of the organiza-
ton, for he wants nothing more to do
with Townley and his outfit. Mr.. Dill ,
Ion Is quoted as follows by Cald- (
we'll paper: Z
II would not live in North Dakota 4
again under any consideration Why in
me square miles near my old home
saw seventy-fve dead animals, horses I
md cattle, that had persisted from cold /
md hunger. 1t was a severe winter
n those parts and l am mighty glad "
o get back to Idaho I
Mr.. Dillon removed to the Greeleaf n
ection eleven years ago. This was +
MS first visit to his old home since n
oming west. He states that he never
efore realized the severity of the win. N
ers of that section. W
Schoolmate of Townley. IL
Mr.. Dillon attended school with A. ~
|. Townley, president of the Non par m
san league but<did not connect the r
oy with whom he attended school with
he league president, until this visit q
asst. In speaking of the league, Mr. N
illon said: a.
BY virtue of the fact that / havei m,
nd in my SIG, l am a member of the
bipartisan league for the next two W.
ears. | am not now a member by 20
oiee. / investigated the league and No
'wnley while east and / am thor =
ghly disguised. The whole scheme is m
'wnley's own and he will be the sole Iii
~
1t IS currently reported and gener-
y believed in North Dakota and Min -.
sofa that Mr.. Townley has sailed 60,
wn for his own use $4,000 900 dur AZ,
: the past three years. The farmers -
these two states are awakening to +r-
Townley game. | have no respect w
Townley and his plans u
'Townley and his organizers frankly day
the farmers to their faces that sto,
y are easy marks After telling them the
t they are suckers he proceeds to as
nonstrate the faet by taking their leal
ley / have yet to see any bene.
to the farmers from Townley's ac- Fol
ties. n
iowniey ana associates point to 1t I
lact tnst irult IS high up IN North be
-ota and they say that the rail
Is and commission meE are response Fl