The Devils Lake world and inter-ocean., 1918-06-05
Continually Tripped by Members Of
Committee---League Failed to Buy
Liberty Bonds Of the First and
Second sue--Repudates Linbergh
doesn't Know LeSeuer is a
Socialist.

Mr.. Townley:-I will explain the
nature of the Indictment. If I might
be permitted, Mr.. Chairman, I could
make this much clearer to the COM
mittee if could follow it in regular
sequence.
The Acting Chairman:- State what
the total amount of liberty bonds
bought by the farmers of your State
has been, and what proportions have
been taken by the members of the
league.
Mr.. Townley:-ln the first Liberty
loan the members of the Nonpartisan
League, the farmers, did not subscribe
in as large measure as they have in
the succeeding loans, because the
farmers Of North Dakota were not
canvassed. The banks of the State
subscribed to the first loan.
In the second liberty loan, I can not
say what percentage Of the farmers
Of North Dakota were purchasers Of
bonds who belonged to the league, but
the State of North Dakota oversub-
subscribed their loan allotment 73 per
cent, and so per cent Of the people of
North Dakota are farmers, and 80 per
cent Of the farmers belong to the
league.
The Acting Chairman Then, it
would be safe to say that 80 per cent
of the subscribers were members of
your league.
Mr.z-Townley:-I have no doubt
about it. -.
Senator Weeks:-Has the league a
fund of any kind?
Mr.. Townley:-Most assuredly.
Senator Weeks:-How much it it?
Mr.. T6wnley:-It ranges in cash
from Sc, 900 to $25,000, and sometimes
$4,000.
Mr.. Townley:-Very seldom.
Senator Weeks:-What are the dues
Of the members?
Mr.. Townley:-Eight dollars year.
Senator Weeks:-1s that the maxi
mum .,,.--. ..-..,.4.s-
Mr.. Townley:-Yes.
Senator Weeks:-How many men,
bers are there in North Dakota?
Mr.. ,Townley:-About $4,000.
Senator Weeks:-How many in Min
nesota?
Mr.. Townley:-About the same num-
ber.
Senator Weeks:-That would be
about 100000 year. Has the league
as an organization, subscribed to any
liberty bonds?
Mr.. Townley:-Yes, sir.
Senator Weeks How many in the
first loan?
Mr.. Townley:--In the forst loan, none
the league.
Senator Weeks:-And the second
loan?
Nh. Townley:-None.
Senator Weeks:-None in the Sec
ond loan?
Mr.. Townley:-No.
Senator Weeks:-How about the
third loan?
Mr.. Townley:-The organization it.
self subscribed for $4,000 in this last
Liberty loan drive.
Senator Nevis there an initia-
tion fee?-
Mr.. Townley:-No, sir; there is a
membership fee.
Senator Reed:-To get this question
down to the question of specific charg-
es, who made those charges here
against you which you complain of be-
sides Judge McGee?
Mr.. Townley:-I am complaining OF
>,,,or Nod. n CT onuhoSx1 hf1t
by Judge McGee.
Senator Reed:-You are entering in
to a general defense of the organiza-
ton and of it's members and by the
loyalty of it's members.
Let me call the committee's atten-
Etion to the specific language of Judge
MCGEE:
Nonpartisan League leaders and or
ganizers are seditionists, and ! think
lperhaps the general membership of
the organization, consisting of farm
ers, are mislead, but they will see the
daylight soon, and when they do they
will dispose of the men who have fool
ed them. The general masses OF the
farming community are loyal.
Then he comments upon the Red
Socialists and upon the I. w. W., and
then he says, "The whole outfit, Red
Socialists, I. w WIS and Nonpartisan
League leaders ought to be in intern
ment camps"
! l do not see any charge here in the
statement against the league at all.
Mr.Townley:-Then comes the ques-
ton as to the loyalty or disloyalty OF
the leaders of the organization, whom
I think the Judge still says should be
shot or interned some place.
| The Acting Chairman:-He did not