The Ward County independent. [volume] (Minot, Ward County, N.D.) 1902-1965, 1918-05-30
TOWNLEY'S HEARING BEFORE /
SENATE COMMITTEE
Report Of Recent Hearing Taken From
Official Report of the Committee
On Military Affairs,
May l, 1913
INTENDING JURISDICTION
MILITARY TRIBUNALS
Wednesday, May l, 1918.

MILITARY TRIBUNALS
Wednesday, May 1, 1918.
United States Senate,
Committee on Military Affairs,
Washinton, D. c.
The committee met at 1890 o'clock
a. M, pursuant to the call f the
chairman, in the committee room.
Capitol, Senator Charles S. Thomas
presiding.
Present: Senators Thomas (acting
chairman), Kirby, Reed, Mcclellan.
Weeks, Wadsworth, Sutherland, New
and Frelinghuysen.
The Acting Chairman:-Gentler- en-,
the meeting of the committee for this
morning was ordered by the chair
man, who is too ill to be present.
A majority of the members of tn,
committee knew nothing about the
meeting at the time, and the most Of
them were informed of it for the first
time yesterday or the day before yes
teeday. In the absence of the chair
naa itg.has been necessary for us to
ASCERTAIN just what the purpose OF the
meeting is and why it was called by
the chairman. ~
It seems that during the considera-
tiou of bill referred to this mmlt-
tee. which has since been abandoned,
a couple of gentlemen came before tie
committee and made some statements
regarding conditions in the North
west, and as a result of those state
naents certain other gentlemen in that
section have asked to be heard. Inc
two men to whom l refer are Mr.
Bloodgood and Mr.. MCGEE.
After comforting upon the sltua-
tioa, it is the sense of the committee
that the meeting having been called,
and those desiring to be heard having
peymitted to make statements. But
inasmuch as but two men were heard
"a the other side we have determined
to the same number of witnesses, and
We will 90 on with the hearing until
Il o'clock, when a very important ses-
sion of the Senate will make it neces-
aary to take a recess. Who desires to
be heard? 80
4 Senator Weeks:-Should it not be
urlerstood that the statements are
to be limited to those that were MADE
leropatorv to this organization
The Acting Chairman:-Entlrely 50.
~ statements that are to be made
are to be limited to the actions when
k66 m8U0 LnlS InCCCilS uSoAA"o'
We will hear Mr.. Townley.
Nr. Lawson:-Mr. Chairman,
have a telegram here from Senator
Chamberlain.
The Acting Chairman:-The tere-
gram says, Replying to your request,
Win hear one of your representatives.
next Wednesday," think under those
circumstances we will limit the mum
ber to one.
M. sLawson:-That applies only to
the st. Paul request: ~
The Acting Chairman:-We WILL
hear one representative, or one speak
or. We will hear Mr.. Townley hrst
AID then see what else is to be SAID
Statement of MIR. Arthur Charles
Townley, President of the Farmers
National Nonpartisan League.
cThe witness was duly sworn by the
Acting chairman.)
Mr.. MISUNDERSTANDING OF tne
committee, the matter that l want &c
liscuss-
Senator Weeks:-May I suggest
NJ. Chairman, that Mr.. Townley give
bis residence and his position or occu'
The Acting Chairman:-Will YOU
rive your residence and occupation
NJ. Townley:-Mr. residence IS 81
PAM. MINI. I am the head OF the
Farmers National Nonpartlsar
League.
The matter that l want to discuss
before this committee is serious
natter with the people Of the North
vest, who in this matter, l represent
want to thank the committee fol-
~. opportunity, and I want to re1e'
.pocifically to some statements mace
hefore this committee which we EN-
hrace this opportunity to answer.
Judge MCGEE, when he was befort
THE committee, made a statement
that want to answer. In the course
~ his discussion he said this: ine
Nenpartisan League man is traitor:
n another part Of the discussion
read this: "The other day we lnoict
ed Townley, the head of treasonaDie
nonpartisan league"
Now, Mr. Chairman
Senator Weeks:-Are you under IN
lietment now?
Mr.. Townley:--1 am. ~,
,0enator Weeks:-What IS tn
charge? t.u,G -,
..1ure Of the Indictment. If I mig h
Ie permitted, Mr.. Chairman, l coulf
make this much clearer to the com.
nittee if could follow it in regular
sequence.
The Acting Chairman:-State VIVA
the total amount of liberty bond
bought by the farmers of your Stat'
has been, and what proportions hay
been taken by the members OF tn
Ir. Townley:-In the first llbert!
loan the members of the Nonpartlsa'
League, the farmers, did not SUP sur
scribe in as large a measure as tne!
have in the succeeding loans, oecaus'
the farmers of North Dakota wer'
not canvassed. The banks OF tn
state subscribed the first loan.
In the second liberty loan, can no
say what percentage OF the farmer
Of North Dakota were purchasers :. o
1