American Falls press. [volume] (American Falls, Idaho) 1907-1937, 1918-07-05
WOULD NOT LET TOWNLEY
SPEAK IN ADA COUNTY.

Idaho Defense League for Ada COun-
~ Appeals to Mayor Hays Who Is
sues Orders Police to Prevent
Delivery OF Address.
President A. c. Townley Of the Ma
tional Non-partisan League, was pre-
vented from speaking in Boise at the
state convention July and A. by the
action of the Idaho Defense League
Ter Ada county. Townley is charged
with dislOyalty, and about two weeks
ago the state council of defense ap
pointed a committee to investigate
his record. The report was unfavor-
able, but no action was taken other
than to refer the matter to the Ada
county council of defense. The latter
body reported June 30, reproducing
extracts from a number of speeches
reputed to have been delivered by
Townley and adopted the following
resolutions
"Be it resolved, that the Ada coun-
ty council OF defense can not forbid
or prevent, on the evidence before
it, the public appearance in Ada county
of Mr.. Townley, but it seriously de-
plores the action of the body respon-
sible for inviting him to speak in Ida
no on the Fourth of July and believes
that under the conditions and char
ges against him he should not speak
in this state until the action OF the
state council of defense against him
has been rescinded and all question
as to his utterances finally decided"
Tuesday evening the Idaho Defense
League for Ada county, with an at
tendance of seventy-five, held a meet
ing and by a vote of 73 to ? decided
to take action to prevent TOwnley's
public appearance. They issued a call
for a meeting to be held in park ad
joining the theater in which TOwnley
was advertized to speak, at 10 o'clock
Wednesday morning, which was at
tended by 500 men, who marched in
a body to the office of the mayor and
demanded that steps be taken to pre-
vent the delivery of the scheduled ad-
dress. Karl Paine was selected as
spokesman for the Defense League
and said:
Our message to the mayor is that
A. c. Townley shall not speak in
Boise Mayor Hays is every inch a
patriot and we feel certain of the an
swer he will make to us in these tragic
times. The Ada County Defense League
says Townley shall not speak in
Boise or Ada county"
well, that's all there is to it, then" !"
said the mayor He continued to the
effect that the state council of defense
had looked somewhat askance at the
proposed Townley speech, that the
county council of defense had disap-
proved. and that since the defense
league had taken such a firm stand
he had no choice but to concur. The
mayor then issued orders to the police
that Townley should not be allowed
to speak in Boise nor even to enter
the theater during the convention.
Leaders of the Defense League and
the Non-partisan League met by ac-
cident in the sheriffs office. where
after much discussion the following
the following resolution was drafted:
Whereas, the Idaho Defense
league for Ada county has resolved
that A. c. Townley shall not speak in
Ada county as scheduled and
Whereas, the members of the
Nonpartisan league are convinced
that said resolution has been promp-
ted by patriotic motives and therefore
wish to meet an unfortunate situation
in a sane and sensible manner
Now, therefore, the members ol
the Nonpartisan league propose, in
the interest of harmony and good
feeling. that Mr.. Townley will not at
tempt to make a public address. but
will attend the meeting Of the league
and participate in its meetings as a
member and official thereof"
This resolution was ratified by the
convention. The chapter was ther
closed by the adoption of the follow
ing resolution by the Idaho Defense
league:
Whereas. the members of the Idaho
Defense League for Ada County have
not now and never have had any ques
ton or suspicion of the loyalty an'
patriotism of the farmers of Idaho. ol
any plan or purpose to abridge or at
tempt 10 abridge their rights, socia
or political, they hereby accept th'
proposal of the NOnpartisan league
and thank the members of that or
ganization for their consideration an'
fairness