The Fargo forum and daily republican. [volume] (Fargo, N.D.) 1894-1957, 1918-02-25
BRTNTON FAIES
TO MEET MINOT
MAN In DEBATE
Milloy Discusses Store and
Other Townley Issues
at Big Meeting

Mlnot, N. D., Feb. 25. - Sew
eral hundred Ward county farm
ers returned to their homes
from Minot Saturday evening, prob
ably convinced that the Consumers
United Stores company is not in the
interests Of the farmer. They had
come to this city for the purpose Of
hearing the much advertised debate
between Jas. S. Milloy, of The Minot
Messenger, and ]. w. Brinton, general
manager Of the Consumers United
Stores company on the subject: Re
solved, That the Townley store
scheme is not in the interests of the
farmers" and were distinctly disap-
pointed when Brinton failed to put
in an appearance. The meeting was
the result Of the meeting of store
members held in Minot a week and a.
half ago. At that time Brinton in
YlUed l.. ID. McGahan, publisher of
The Messenger, to be present and
learn Brinton's side Of the store story.
The local publisher had Just returned
from California and was not familiar
with the facts concerning the stores
as brought out by the state press.
Mr.. Milloy had been caring for the
editorial and news work on The Mes
senger and Mr.. McGahan turned the
invitation over to him. The editor
went to the meeting, presented twenty
questions concerning the stores for
Br1nton to answer. The general
manager Of Townleys store, however,
had Mtlloy put out Of the hall. Farm
ers Of this vicinity were decidedly
anxious to learn both sides of the
story and hear matters threshed out.
several wanted Milloy in the meeting.
The farmers held a short meeting az
terwards and decided to interview
Milloy and learn If he would meet
Brinton in a public debate This the
local newspaperman agreed to do and
the meeting was arranged by the
farmers for Saturday, Feb. %. A
registered letter was sent to Mr..
Brinton acquainting him of the meet
ing, advising him that the hall had
been rented by interested farmers
who sought the true facts about the
stores. A copy of the letter was also
sent to the Minot store operated by
the Consumers United Stores COM
pany and the meeting was well ad-
vestised.
Farmers came to Minot from all
points in this vicinity. The hall Sc
cured by the farmers had a seating
capacity Of about 500, but long be-
fore the meeting was called to order
some TOO people crowded the hall. Up
wards Of 400 were denied admission.
Jacob Frost, a prominent farmer Iiv-.
ing near the city, called the meeting
10 order and explained the purpose Of
the meeting. He said the farmers
wanted to know all about the store
proposition and the only way for tho
farmers to learn the truth was to
bring the champions of both sides Of
the agreement together. He then
called for Mr.. Brinton, but received
no response. He asked if Mr.. Brin-
ton had representative present.
Again there was no response. Mr..
Frost then asked if MiIloy was on
hand. He was. The chairman then
invited anyone in the audience to act
on behalf Of the stores, and although
there Were two or three hundred
store members present, despite The
fact that Townley supporters tried to
keep them from attending when they
learned Brinton would not be on
hand, no one cared to take the floor
and defend Townley's latest scheme. |
On the demand Of the meeting Mr..
Milloy spoke on Mr.. Townleys store
scheme, and held his audience inter |
ested for almost two hours He went
into the plan from all angles. One
strong point he raised was that the
store scheme was being used as a
bait to draw labOring men and union
men to the league. The laboring men
and union men are permitted to buy
at the store by Joining the league and |
paying the 800 on the installment
plan, he declared. and thus TownIey |
hopes to secure their votes and as |
sistance in placing socialists in con-
troll of the state. The speaker warned |
the laboring men from forming affilia- |
lions with the men who wanted to |
bring the /. w. WIS to the state and |
who passed resolutions censoring the |
railroad brotherhOOds, which organ |
ization passed resolutions shortly !
after war was declared asking Sena- |
tor Gronna to resign and asking Gov |
ernor Frazier to be at least American. |
All the charges made against the |
stores were backed UP with affidavits |
by the speaker. Several times dur |
ing his remarks he was interrupted by !
applause.
Store members present expressed |
themselves after the meeting as hav- |
ing learned many things which had |
been kept from them by league lead |
ers. They appeared to grasp the sig |
nificance of Townley's remarks when |
testifying in his bankruptcy hearing |
that they could make better progress
talking to farmers than to lawyers.
Mllloy's warning to the laboring
men and union men appeared to have
left an impression for late Saturday
night it was announced general
of all union men in Minot
would be held some time early in
March to discuss matters pertaining
to the coming elections.
Chairman Frost announced after
the meeting that he had secured the
assurance of Milloy that he would
meet Brinton or any other store man
In a debate at any time and at any
place in the state.
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