Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1916-1918, 1918-03-05

tisan league, have been arrested on
charges of conspiracy to defeat the
army CONSUMPTION and discourage men
from complying with the draft law.
Townley has issued a statement IN
his defense, declaring his arrest Is
part of an effort to discredit the Non
partisan league.
This same man Townley is quite
msy lust now. He is endeavoring to
obtain discharge from all his debts.
amounting to some $4,000, through
bankruptcy proceedings. In the near
ing before the referee in bankruptcy
he admitted that he has control OF all
the millions the Nonpartisan league
collects from farmers in several
states, and that he writes checks on
his own bank account, sometimes LOT
thousands of dollars, which are cover
ed by checks issued on the leagues ac-
count. He says he receives salary
of $500 a month as president OF the
league and as an employe of the pub
fishing company which issues the
leagues organ, the Nonpartisan Lead
err He says this is his only income
and it is on this basis that he asks
that his debts be declared null and
void.
AT the same time he is establishing
some more concerns, including trust
company, a chain OF cooperative
stores, all financed by the farmers
who are members of the Nonpartlsan
league, and all possessing treasures
which are open to Townleys checK,
apparently, whenever he chooses to
draw money.
At the bankruptcy hearing he re-
yealed that the affairs OF the Nonpar-
tjsan league and it's subsidiary con-
Germs are handled in manner whlch
would not be permitted in any orderly
business establishment. He and men
he selects have charge OF all the
funds, and in the case of the company
which is organized to conduct cooper
alive stores Townley is not bound to
account for any of the money which
maid for stock in the concern in excess
of $4,000. The remainder, according
tn agreement under which the stock Is
purchased, may be used as he sees mt,
"for propaganda work and otherwise
in the interest of the Nonpartisan
league
All these facts. of course, are aside
from the charge which was made
against Townley as the basis for his
arrest yesterday. 1t has to do with
loyalty.
The Courier is in receipt OF q long
letter from the Nonpartisan leagues
official publicity committee, denying
that the organization is disloyal and
he ip pv1 l..
ness" Nowhere does there appear a
denial of the leagues socialistic prin-
ciples, however. and it's utterances on
the subject of the war are very vague.
The leagues declaration on the war,
which accompanies this letter, is re-
markable chiefly for what it does not
say and for the manner in which 1t
qualities it's endorsement of the gov
ernment's war policies. 1t is remark
able. also. for its endorsement of the
new Russian government" whatever
that may be. 1t is remarkable for its
cleyerly disguised appeals to prejudice
and ignorance. but 1t is in no sense a
war document.
Just what particular passage in the
address has caused Townley's arrest
! is a matter for speculation. Several
are open to criticism, as was pointed
out recently when the Nebraska coun-
Gil of defense issued letter regarding
the war circular in connection with
its demand that the NonpartiSan
| league organizers remain outside OF
! that state.
I, The Nebraska council quotes from
the leagues declaration the statement
that this war lis largely a convulsiye
effort on the part Of the adroit rulers
of warning nations for control OF a
lconstantly diminishing market. Rival
groups Of monopolies are playing q