The Bismarck tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, N.D.) 1916-current, 1919-06-27
SAYS T0WNLEY
|. BXT0LLED RED
FLAG. IN SPEECH
Leader of NOnpartisan League
Arrives in Court to Hear
Testimony
RECALL SALTWATER TALK
Citizens of That City Recount
Address Made in Sullivan
Wilcox Contest
RECALL SALTWATER TALK

rie, banker from Saltwater, Mimi,
testifying this afternoon at the Town
ley trial, declared that Townley, in
political speech at Saltwater, Feb
ruary 10, defended the red flag and de.
clared it was the emblem of the Op-
pressed
Public addresses since the. war and
since the armistice by Pres. A. c..
Townley Of the Nonpartisan league, as
Transcribed by stenographers who copi-
ed the speeches. were cited this fore
noon in the trial of Townley and Joseph
Gilbert, league organizer.
The addresses were made by Town
ley at the st. Paul auditorium in 1917 !;
at Glencoe, June q, 1917, and at
political meeting at Saltwater, Minn.,
on February 10 Of this year. In all
these addresses Townley discussed the
war. He assailed profiteering in con-
rectiOn with the war and declared pri-
vate wealth Of the nation should be
.consripted to win the war.
The state claims these addresses were
part of conspiracy to discourage sup
port for strong prosecution Of the
war. The defense takes the stand that
Townley,s addresses were merely a
discussion Of economic policies in
which the league is interested.
. = TOWNLEY IN COURT.
Townley was in court when Gille-
pie, testified. The testimony was ad-
mitted by District Judge f. c. Dean,
after counsel for the defense had made
vigorous objections. Townley and Gil
bert are on trial. charged with conspir-
acy to commit dsloyalty, and the. state
alleges that overt acts were composed
of speeches by Non-Partisan League
men including President Townley. and
by the distribution of Non-Partisan
League literature for the purpose. Of
hampering the governments, war pro-
gram. The meeting took place the
night before election. to choose a state
senator from the Saltwater district.
The candidates were George W. Sulli-
van and ]. Wilcox, candidate for the
Non Partisan League. The meeting
broke up shortly after the red flag in
c:dent.
II do not remember great deal Of
TOWnley's speech at the beginning
testified. "For some time l
enjoyed it. Then he took a different
turn. He said there was bill in Min
Eesota to prohibit the use Of the red
flag and he said he knew only one ami
NAL that took exception to the flag and
that animal was enclosed in cent. He
said that some people used that flag
as an emblem of distress. He said the
Russian administration was being car
ried on successfully and that that was
their flag.
"At this point a Russian Jew, 1sidor
Lott, respected resident Of saltwater.
interrupted. Mr.. Lott said he took ex-
ception to the red flag statement and
declared the American flag was good
enough for him. Townley replied:
CALLS HIM RUSSIAN JEW.
Gentlemen, look at this man here.
Is he Russian Jew?'
''The mayor interrupted and said,
Yes he is, but he Is an American citi-
zen. He has two boys in the war
"Lott then asked TOwnley:
"'How many boys have you in the
warp
''Townley got off the platform and
that ended the meeting"
HOKE REPRESENTS TOWNLEY.
Gillespie was cross-examined by Geo.
Hoke Of St. Paul, chief counsel for the
defense.
Hoke attempted to show that Town
Icy referred to the red flag only In a
humorous way. Gillespie admitted on
c, discrimination he had been a close
friend of George E. Sullivan.
J. w. Foley, Saltwater lumberman,
followed Gillespie and testified along
similar lines. He also testified that
Townley referred to the red flag as the
"emblem Of the oppressed
He said Townley stated "they psob-
ably would also pass laws prohibiting
the use Of red neckties and red ban
dana handkerchiefs."
He said that Townley stated in his
speech, "We Of North Dakota are not
afraid Of the red flag"
A recess was given after Foley left
tie stand