The Bismarck tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, N.D.) 1916-current, 1918-06-06

home and Spllled the DeaHS, WHICH hdu
already been partially exposed in tales
that leaked out about the capitol the
next morning. Then all the big guns
Of the league were loosed on 1ngle,
and he was ridiculed and derided and
abused, and President r. J. j. Mont
gomery of the North Dakota Farmers
union, a personal, as well as a polittiir
cal friend of Mr.. Townley, said Farm
er Ingle was simple, inartistic liar,
and that there happened in1that room
the night Of January % none Of the
things which Farmer lngle said did
happen. ~.
The Independent Voters associa-
ton, which has in the field a COM
plete state and legislative ticket OPP
posing the league, was not slow to
see political advantage in Farmer
Ingle's charges, if they could be
proven and the association is submit
T ting in proof affidavits from George
w. Sorber, W. J. Smith and ]. w.
Burch. #t&~! i#&g5f&s. -
IT consider that j. G.. Ingle, who
was present at that interview, gave
ass,accurate aversion Of ssaid inter-
view as is possible for, anyone to give
that was present" saysaMrf Sorbea
HIt is also fact that A. G.. TOwnley:
Fstruck me on the chest and that he
also threw his overcoat on the floor
These acts of violence on the part Of
A. C. Townley resulted from my in
sisting that he explain why it was
necessary to retire the certificate
holders at the end of ten years. in
view of the fact that they had fur
nished all the capital to start the
stores and furnished all the patronage
to build up these stores"
w. ]. Smith, under oath, says that
Mr., Townley did decline in answer 10
Ingle's request to divorce the store
plan from the league; that he did
decline to "place the stores on bust
ness basis, like the R0chdale plan,
so that man who put 500 into it
would have something t0Sshow
for his money" v9g 9.&
When Mr.. Ingle asked what became
of the $51, 900 balance in a 100000 store
company, in which Mr.. T0wnley had
admitted only $4,000 was actually in
vested in the store. Mr.. Smith, under
oath, states that Mr.. Townley did step
I'M to Mr.. Ingle, shook his fist under
his nose, and said That's none of
YOUR c. D. business"
AT said time and place" continues
the deponent. "Mr. Townley in the
course of his remarks, stated emphat-
ically: You farmers are like a set
of G D. hogs. We have to
drive you to the polls with an elm
club to make you vote "
]. w. Burch, under oath, sets forth
practically the same statements, add
ing that Mr.. Townley did strike George
w. Sorber.
All Of which creates rather inter-
esting situation for men who in the
Nonpartisan league prints strenuous
" denied that any of these things
took place. AS for Mr.. Townley, they
must furnish him anther source OF
regret that he ever parted company
with his friend, the oyster, which sits
tight and says nothing.
The plain truth is said to be that the
primary purpose of the Consumers
United Stores Co. was to furnish
sinews of war for the league. The
, leagues big war chest is more or less
of myth. When any organization
will hawk $4,000 worth of good COL
lateral for 100000, and will permit the
banker who makes the loan to skim
off the cream O fthis collateral, re-
| jecting what he will, dire need for
ready cash must be apparent. And
! when part of this collateral remains
unrealized after lapse Of more than
year, and when the makers of these
notes are substantial farmers, the
attitude Of the banks which are de-
clining to buy this paper on any terms
may be better understood. Farmers
are Directing to paying these notes
and post-dated checks. To enforce
their collection means trouble and
more enmity for the banks. Rapping
the bankers on the one hand the
league on the other must rely upon
them for market for their paper.
The league has plenty OF. paper, but
the banks don't want it, and the mort
gage and trust and loan companies
don't want it, and the leagues own
mortgage company cannot float it,
so there you are. The league is in
the position of diamond king with a
cellar full OF, sparklers which no one