Grand Forks herald. [volume] (Grand Forks, N.D.) 1916-1955, 1918-01-29
F0LL0WERSD0
NOT TAKE TO
NEWEST SCHEME
Declines to tell Where Mon
ey Spent on Education
and Propaganda Went.
FARMERS SAY PLAN
is NOT BENEFICIAL
Beats Around Bush When
Questioned Regarding his
Former Failures.
(By George Benson.)

Bismarck, N. D.. Jan. ga. c.
Townley. president of the National
Nonpartisan league. last night failed
to convince directors of the Farmers
Union that his Consumers United
Stores company, which was held in a
local hotel. broke up, directors decid-
ed to warn members against the store
movement and branded it as fraudu-
lent.
Supported by Governor.
Supported by Governor Lynn J.
Frazier and other ultra
Townley did his best to convince the
directors of his integrity and worth
mess Of his store scheme, but failed
absolutely. The meeting was packed
with dyed in the wool leaguers, q IA
vorite scheme Of Townleys. but, at
midnight. when the president called
for personal endorsement" Union
vote Of the Nonpartisans
Directors Of the Union insisted that
the original purposes of the confer
ence be adhered to, the gatherings
having been called to give Townley an
opportunity to explain his plan of op-
Grafton Of the Consumers United
Stores company.
partfsens left the conference at mid
night, and for four hours Townley
faced tn, ldirectors a]ssasss7 ~, ~,
~ IDWn4Ea &was ss'luestioheds Ss-s to his
gigantic fax farm Operations, his re-
fusal to pay honest debts, his bank
ruptcy proceedings, his refusal to
make any statement covering ex-
Nonpartisan league. and finally, his
absolute refusal to make any state
ment concerning the disposition of
money already collected in the stores
campaign.
t..+,@,- Dodged Question.
Townley lodged every question that
went into the heart of the stores
scheme. He refused to explain the
meaning of the clause Education and
propaganda" purposes, to which sums
collected in the store proposition are
devoted.
The directors wanted to know
where the new scheme would benefit
the farmers. They declared it meant
the destruction of community life,
whereupon Townley declared that
farmers were the only class that de-
served league consideration.
Should Not Question Him.
He said that he had done enough
for the farmers and that his honesty
should not be questioned. He said 600
farmers already had Joined the Ken
mare SSOiS,' HldNHiS oil aggregate COi-
lection of 100000. Fifty thousand OF
this need not be accounted for in any
manner.
The directors. then, cited many in
stances in which non-leaguerS had re.
ceived buyers certificates. and Town
ley had declared that only league
men were privileged to buy in these
stores and when this was called to
his attention, he said the organizers
had disobeyed his Instructions,
Early in the evening, rTownley, sup
ported by Governor Frazier and
leaguers, resorted to his gag rufe and
sought to quell the opposition and in
vestigation by shouting at theSUnion
men.
Union Stands Firm.
But the union men stood firm, and
at q, o'clock they served notice or
Townley that all their efforts would be
directed to prevent the members from
joining in the stores movement, de.
claring it fraudulent. and aimed Al
tearing down the business interest.
and community life. The directors
today are formulating plans for &
campaign.