Grand Forks herald. [volume] (Grand Forks, N.D.) 1916-1955, 1918-01-30

S~dnlZAIlOn, tnree. In GaCn SIat6 & tI1c
committee number is Ave and the ex-
the national organization the number
is three.
Q. You, personally, Mr.. Townley.
are a member of the executive COM
mittee Of the national organization?
A. Yes sir. .ra
Q. And also of the executive COM
mittee of the state organization OF
North Dakota, for instance? A. I
am a member Of the national organi-
cation.
Q. But not of the state? At this
time, I mean? A. l didn't say.
@. Well, I am asking you. ] will
put it another way. The Nonpartisan
league was originally organized in
North Dakota, was it not? A. Yes.
G. Could you tell me approx
mately when your organization was
perfected primarily? A. About three
years ago. .
Q. That would be in 1914? A.
Yes. Il
@. And you were the president of
it at that time? A.. Yes sir.
Q. And also a member of the ex-
ecutive committee in this state? A.
Yes sir.
@. And you continued so to remain
for how long? A. Up to the present
time.
Q. Is that you sole business, man
aging the organization you named?
A. 1 have no other business outside
of tina connected with the interests
of the National Nonpartisan league.
@. No, but what you any other
business except the management as
you have described it of the National
Nonpartisan league? A.. No.
c.. Have you had since the original
organization of it. A. No.
Q. Does this organization pay you
any salary? A. Yes sir.
G. What salary does it pay you?
A.. $500 a month and my expenses.
@. And your expenses? A. Yes
sir. travelling expenses.
@. That means all actual expenses:
A.. Yes sir.
@. Do you have to make a voucher
for it or anything of that sort?
A.. Not in detail, but
q. "A general statement? A. Yes.
Y. Doe the organization owe you
any money now for salary?
A. l don't think they do. -.
=. May l ask whether they do or
not? a. They do not.
Q. Who is the financial officer,
treasurer, if you have one; the person
who keeps track Of the finances, di-
rectly of the finances of this organi-
cation?
Mr.. Manahan: Objected to az in
A. Ii you will permit me, person.
ally, unless my attorneys see some
reason why l might not
Mr.. Lenke: Simply a question Of
opening up a proposition that nay
take a week or SO.
Mr.. Murphy: lie: me relieve our
mind a lite. Brother Lemke, as to
that. l purpose to investigate thor
oughly Mr.. Townley's connection with
the Nonpartisan league and its
finances
Mr.. Manahan: AS far as that is
directly concerned we have no objec-
tion but if for political purposes we
shall certainly object
Right to Investigate.
Mr.. Murphy: l am not doing any
thing for political purposes. l have a
right to investigate. l think. and l ap-
prehend the court will sustain me in
it, Mr.. Townley's connection with this
organization. with a view to ascertain
what. if any financial gains he has
made from it, and l have a right to
investigate that organization to verify
or refute any statements that he has
made. l may want to call the treas
urcr as a witness and I want to know
his name.
Mr.. Manahan: Objected to as i'm
material.
Mr.. O'Hare: Overruled.
~. a mar by the name of Thomas
keyes is the acting treasurer.
v. Where does Mr.. keyes live? A.
He lives in st. Paul. g..
Z. He is in charge Of the books?
a. Yes sir. T.
@. Now that refers to the national
~. n ivotin1, nc I ,nIorcforl itC
Yes sir.
q. How about the organization in
the state of North Dakota; who is the
treasurer or who has charge of the
books of that organization?
Mr.. Manahan: Same objection as
above, incompetent, irrelevant and
imnaterial
Mr.. O'Hare: Overruled. AS l un-
derstand it, these questions are asked
tor the purpose of finding out who
the treasurer is II If they want to
use him to subpoena him and bring
him in.
AIR. Murphy: That is it exactly.
A. He is also the treasurer of each
state organization.
@. Mr.. Keyes is? A.. Yes.
q. And as l understand you, Mr..
Townley, ne has charge of the books
of these various organizations? A.
Yes sir.
@. DO you receive any other money
state. on your personal account save
and except the salary which you have
just testified to and the expenses
which you have just testified to? A.
l do not.
@. And have not since its organi-
cation? A.. No sir.
Q. You have the sole charge, have
you not, of the disbursement Of this
money? A.. No sir.
charge Of it? A. The members of
the committee.
G.. The national committee? A.
Yes sir.
@. And who, may l ask. are MEM
bers of hat committee in addition to
yourself?
MI. Lemke: Same objection.
Mr.. Manahan: Incompetent, irrele-
want and imlnaterial.
Mr.. o'Hare: will overrule the
objection, but / will also state here.
gentlemen. that regardless of any
ruling that I make the witness would
have to answer anyway.
Mr.. Manahan: l just want to make
the record; that is all.
Mr.. Lenlke: l don't understand
that he would have to answer all
questions put to him. He could re-
fuse OH his W account.
M. Murphy: II he wants to take
chances. Please answer the question.
A. l would like to ask my attor-
neys a question. Am l to divulgei in
formation here that oncer the OPP
erations of this political organization
in the interest of the membership. OF
the organization or not?
Mr.. Manahan: L would say not. l
would be willing to advise you that a
court would not. in my judgment,
compel YOU to answer questions that