The Fargo forum and daily republican. [volume] (Fargo, N.D.) 1894-1957, 1918-01-30

Outstanding. No objection to goinl
thoroughly into Mr.. Townley's rela,
tons and his earnings from tina
company.
Mr.. Murphy: / am looking fol
! money and nothing else. / dom
care anything about politics.
A. conduct 1t in a general way
Heads Organization.
Q. Yourself, personally?
A. I am the head of the organi-
cation.
Q. Now is there not some com
mittee of which you personally are
a member which has charge of the
financial affairs of this organiza-
ton?
A. There is.
Q. And you are member of that
committee?
A. Yes. sir. r.
Q. That is known as what?
4. The executive committee.
O.. May / ask how many men,
bers there are on that?
Mr.. Manahan: Object to that as
immaterial. That is going into the
organization.
Mr.. Murphy: am not seeking to
do that. l think that is a matter OF
common knowledge. / don't think
there has ever been any tendency on
the part of the organization to de-
ceive the public as to that feature.
Mr.. Manahan: If it is prelimin-
airy
. Mr.. Murphy: 1t is. I am simply
trying to show Mr.. Townley's con-
nection with it.
A. In each state the committee
number is five, and in the national
organization, three. In each state
the committee number is five and the
executive management of the affairs
of the national organization the
number is three.
Q. You, personally, Mr.. Townley,
are member of the executive COM
mittee of the national organization?
A. Yes, sir.
Q. And also of the executive
committee Of the state organization
of North Dakota, for instance?
A. l am a member of the nation
al organization.
Q. But not of the state? At this
time, mean?
A. didn't say.
Q. Well. I am asking you. will
put it another way. The Nonpartisan
league was originally organized in
North Dakota. was 1t not?
A. Yes.
Q. 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.
q. And you were the president of
it at that time?
A. Yes. sir.
@. And also a member of the
executive committee in this state?
A. Yes. sir.
Q. And you continued so to re-
main for how long?
A. Up to the present time.
O. Is that your sole business,
managing the organization you
named?
A. I have no other business out
side of that connected with the in
terests of the National Nonpartisan
league.
Q. No, but have you any 9TH
er business except the management
as you have described It OF the Ma
tional Nonpartisan league?
A. No.
o. Have you had since the orig
inal organization Of it?
Salary $500 A Month And
Q. Does this organization pay
you any salary?
A. Yes. sir.
O. What salary does it pay you?
A. 5000 a month and my expenses.
Q. And your expenses?
A. Yes, sir, travelling expenses.
q. That means all actual ex-
penses?
A. Yes, sir.
for 1t or anything of that
sort? ...
A. Not in detail, but
Q. A general statement?
o. Does the organization owe
YOU any money now for salary?
A. / don't think they do.
Q. May ask whether they do or
not?
A. They do not. Il
O. Who is the financial officer. II
you have one; the person VINO keeps
rack Of the finances, directly of the
inances Of this organization?
Mr. Manahan: Objected to as in
irrelevant and immater-
Ial. !
o. If you wiz permit me, person
ally, unless my attorneys see some
reason why I might not
Mr.. Lemke: Simply question
of opening up a proposition that
may take a week or so.
Mr.. Murphy: Let me relieve
your mind a little, Brother Lemke' |
Is to that. purpose to Investigate
Mr.. Townleys ccnnec-
ion with the Nonpartisan league
md it's finances
JirectIy concerned we have no OBJ
ection but If for political purposes
we shall certainly object.
Mr.. Murphy: I am not doing
lnything for political purposes.
nave a right TO investigate, ] think,
md I apprehend the court will
sustain me in 1t, Mr.. Townley's con-
,ection with this organization with
| view to ascertain what, il any,
financial gains he has made from 1t,
and / have a right to investigate
hat organization to verify or refute
nv statements that he has made.
may want to call the treasurer as
| witness and I want to know his
lame
Manahan ovsrruIsd.
Mr.. Manahan: Objected to as
Mr.. O'Hare: Overruled.
A. A man by the name Of Thorn
IS Keyes is the acting treasurer.
@. Where does Mr.. Keyes live?
A. He lives in St. Paul.
O. He is in charge of the books?
A. Yes. sir.
@ Now that refers to the nation
i organization, as / understand 1t?
A. Yes, sir
@. How about the organization an
he state OF North Dakota; who is
he treasurer or who has charge of
he books Of that organization?
Mr.. Manahan: Same objection as
bove, incompetent, irrelevant and