The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1918-08-02

in Mr.. Rempel's demand for a re-
traction, then it is a sad commentary
on the ability of the attorneys to-
properly handle their cases and mar
shall the facts before the men who
are called on to sit in judgment. The
Free Press feels that it has just cause
to demand a retraction from Mr.. Rem
pei.
In that part of the article refer,
ring to the Liberty bonds and the
subscriptions to the Red Cross, The
Free Press made no direct charge
that Mr.. Rempel had not purchased
bonds or subscribed to the Red Cross
and other war activities. The state
ment was made by an official of Wa
tonwan county who was at the po-
lice station on the morning of July %
that Mr. Rempel had not made these
purchases or subscriptions and The,
Free Press was given that informa
ton with other allegations.
Summoned Before War Board.
From an investigation made by The
Free Press it appears that Mr.. Rem
pei was twice requested to come be-
fore the war board of Watonwan
county to explain why he had not
been more interested in the purchase
of Liberty bonds Su nmoned before
this board in February last Mr.. Rem
pei said in substance that he could
not ask patrons to withdraw their
money from his bank and buy bonds
at four per cent interest. Is that
patriotism? He said he would not
ask those who owed the bank to pur-
chase bonds. He took the position
that the government had made a
mistake in issuing bonds at the rate
of four per cent interest because
money could be loaned at higher
rate to individuals. He was man
finding fault with the government at
a time when every patriotic citizen
was doing his utmost to assist the
government This information was
given The Free Press by c.. E. Full
er, member of the war board of
WatOnwan county. In this connection
| it should be said that no solicitors
were engaged to sell bonds but the
banks in Watonwan county were ask
ed to handle the sales. Several thou
/, sand dollars worth of bonds were sold
iby the other bank in Butterfield.
4
drive, Mr.. Rempel was again sum-
moned before the war board to ex-
plain why he had not subscribed to
his allotment of $4,000 of Liberty
bonds. According to the testimony
given at that time Mr.. Rempel adj
mitted property holdings in the sum
of $134,000. 1t developed that in the
| first loan drive he subscribed for 500
| in bonds, and he said that he con-
| tributed $100 to the Red Cross: that
| he bought no bonds whatever of the
| second issue. Although his allotment
was $500 in the Third Liberty loan
he refused to subscribe for more than
$1,000.
Rempel testified before the board.
that he owned 500 acres of land in
Watonwan county, 1000 acres in North
Dakota, a section in Canada and land
| in Wisconsin. In addition to this he
had notes and bonds and other per-
sonal property, and no debts ex-
cept taxes. The board did not
take any action in regard to his Of
fer to buy $1,000 of bonds, but refer
red the matter to the Minnesota Com
mission of Public Safety for action.
Later the Peoples State bank report
ed that Rempel had subscribed for
$1,000 of bonds, $500 less than his
allotment and with admitted proper
ty holdings of $134,0O0. 1t might be
remarked here that Bernhard Rem
pei Us a man past fifty years of age
and is bachelor
According to a statement made by
Mr.. Fuller of the war board to The
Free Press, Mr.. Rempel told the
board that if the law compelled him
to take the allotment of $4,000 in
bonds he wo~'' Go 20. His attitude
was Eat CO a man prompted by
Ea lotto spirit but rather that of
one who would act only when COM
lpelled to do so by the law. He also
complained to the board that If he
bought bonds he would have to bor-
row the money. Many patriotic men
have borrowed money with which to
buy bonds and were glad of the op-
portunity to assist their country to
THAT extent
that Rempel took everything with a
lWry face" Postmaster p H. Grogan
and o. c. Peterson of st. James, 9TH
er members of the board, agreed with
Mr.. Fuller.
]. o. Ness acted as solicitor in
Butterfield when the great drive fo1
$10O, 100000 for the Y. M. C. A. was
on. He informed The Free Press
that he presented the list to Rempel
calling on him at the Peoples State
bank in Butterfield. Mr. Ness said
that Rempel did not deign to notice
the list and did not look at him, and
Mr.. Ness stated that as far as he
knows Rempel did not subscribe to
the fund which is supporting this
splendid organization which is doins
such wonderful work for the SOL
der boys in the war zone and at the
: environments.
There is an interesting chapter il
connection with the War Savings
Stamps drive in Watonwan county
Professor Dyck and Eivine Brogge1
solicited Mr.. Rempel for pledges Il
the War Savings Stamps fund. These
gentlemen called on him at his banl
on June 6. Instead of exhibiting ;
. Willingness and a readiness to re-
= spond he attempted to parley will
: the gentlemen and he put them of
!, until the following Saturday. He sait
, he wanted to look into the matter.
: At this time it is also alleged tina
Rempel pointed to a Liberty LOAF
!, poster and said that, the government
urged everyone to buy bonds but i
did not specify how many. He ais,