The Idaho recorder. [volume] (Salmon City, Idaho) 1886-1927, 1918-08-30
POLITICAL RIOT
OVER MR.. TOWNLEY

ieague, spoke in
Boise Friday night
a near-riot. started on the state
capitol steps from which he aa,,var
ea MS address to several thousand
members OF the league end citizens
was queiied by Sheriff Pfost, Individ !.
uais sought to prevent the sneaking
MARI Paine was seized by Sheriff
rlost and his deputies and nlacad
under arrest. pave"
io~niey held his big audience sor
nearly an hour and half and sea,h-
lhsis afraigned members of the Ada
oounty Defense league for attemnt.
ing TO interfere, selecting Jess Haw.
icy particularly as his mark for rid
icuie. Defense league members wara
feierred to as l. w. W., fools and
skunks. ''A
Sheriff Pfost called upon all cit;.
zens within his voice to preserve
ana enforce peace and with 400 spe.
olai deputies held the crowd in con-
troi. Excitement ran hioh during
tne episode and many spectators in
terested watched the maneuyers ON
the capitol steps.
Crowd Escorts Townley.
rist nghting and wrestling devel.
oped into popular diversion at this
time and serious consequences were
promised but the excitement soon
subsidized
Townley had been prevented from
speaking in the Pinney theater be-
cause OF an agreement with the man.
agement at the time that PLAYHOUSE
was rented. The theater was packed
TO the doors with 1900 people, princi-
paily members of the partisan
league. Under the protection of this
crowd he was escorted to the capitol
steps with excitement at fever heat.
w. q. Scholtz. manager for the
Non-partisans, finally secured quiet
and denounced Mayor Hays for pre-
venting H. F. Samuels, the leagues
candidate for governor, from speak
ing at the Columbia park, asserting
that irrespective of the failure of the
city authorities to give police protec-
tion to the league its speakers,
Townley would address the audience
from the capitol steps.
"Townley will not speak here to-
night" cried Karl Paine.
Immediately there were several
hundred farmers on their feet shout.
ing at Paine to keep still. After con-,
siderable difficulty Scholtz managed
to quiet the audience and ignoring
Paine introduced Townley. The aud
ience on the steps sat down and
Townley was left standing In the
center.
Trouble Starts.
Scholtz called upon Sheriff Pfost
to preserve order. Sheriff Pfost then
asked every citizen within the hear
ing of his voice to act as deputy
and to see that peace was kept.
"Is that Townley?" cried Karl
Paine, .'Townley cannot speak here
tonight"
Immediately a half dozen deputy
sheriffs seized Paine and free-for-
all melee started Pain was taken
struggling down the steps of the cap
itol and to the court house, where he
was detained in custody, crowd of
men striking and kicking at him,
While this was going on men in the
crowd exchanged blows. Small
groups became segregated and
wrestled and punched at one an
other.
Serious and Humorous
If the situation was not so serious
it would have become humorous.
Struggling men surged back and
forth on the top of the steps. All
Queensbury rules seemed u have
been forgotten. Deputies and neut'
rails tried to prevent serious harm
and were given "haymaker' for
their pains.
II would have gotten into action
all right said one antileagurer,
but lust about the time | was ready
a strong arm stepped from behind
and locked his arm around my
throat. cutting off my wind"
''The going was good while 1t last
ed" said Non-partisan Il thought
Townley ought to be given chance
To speak and when there was inter
ference | just naturally wanted to
mix in, but somebody landed on me
too quick and before knew 1t the
fun was over
Defense League Not In "
Mr.. Paine was released in 4 short
time. Asked for statement he said:
1.-The Ada County Defense league
took no part in this scrimmage for
the mayor had given assurance
would rot be allowed to
sneak. For myself ! viii say that }
will be there next time and every
time Townley attempts to speak II
Boise acted individually and VIII
do so again"
An exciting scene was enacted
within the theater prior TO the dis
1.-,5= -, .he cauf4ai stems Town