The Bismarck tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, N.D.) 1916-current, 1919-05-14
ORGAN DECLINES
TO RETRACT ITS
EQUITY ATTACK,
Falsity of Story About Farmers
Elevator at Drisc0ll Covered
Up by Courier-News
MADE FROM WHOLE CLOTH
Oscar Opoien Gives Affidavit
That He Never Received $97
Rebate on Flax Sales

T. Rebate on FlaX Sales
Driscoll, N. D., May ,l4-Walter W
Liggett, one Of the league speakers,
used with great effect in his debate
with State Auditor Karl Kositzky at
Bismarck the story OF how Oscar
Opoien, DriscOll farmer, had recov-
cred $97 from a Driscoll elevator un-
der the provisions Of the state grain
grading act. which is, incidentally, not
q pieceo of league legislation, the
original bill having been introduced
by the late Senator kirkeide of Ben
son county and Senator Drown OF
Cass and having been drafted largely
by F. @. Helstrom of Bismarck.
League leaders in the 18th assembly
opposed the grain grading bill and per-
lnitted the house majority to vote for
it only when 1t became apparent that
otherwise there would be a show down
in which the league would appear IN
fayOrahly. Since 1917, however, the
league has been pleased to claim the
grain act.
REFUSED PUBLIC, DENIAL.
Mr.. Ligeett told how happy Mr..
OpOien was when Deputy State Grain
Inspector McG0vern went to the Dris,
coll editor and uttered some word like
Presto" "Kalamazoo," or "Trotzyski-
That. said Mr.. Liggett, was just a
no." and the elevator man handed oyer
$87, just like that, to Mr.. Op0ien.
That, said Mr.. liggctt. was just a
patch on what every North Dakota
farmer would get in exchange for the
SIG he paid to Townley, Mills & Co.
Now it appears that Mri Opoien
was not consulted before this story
was used, He firsN had his attention
called to the thrilling tale when It was
published on the front page of the
Courier News Of Saturday, April 2G.
Mr.. OpOieIl was somewhat startled,
inasmuch as he had not received any
check for $n, and not altogether
pleased because the elevator referred
to was the Farmers Equity Grain 4
Mercantile Co. in which he and fell
low farmers of the Driscoll territory
were stockholders. Therefore he and
other members Of the company pre-
pared a retraction. which they mailed
10 the COurier-News under date Of
April 30 with, a request that II be pub
,]ished. The K 0tiriei- Views To date has
declined. to-. make the correction, and
Mr.. Opoien and the elevator company
slfnve.nppealed to the independent press
for protection from the Townley or.
organ - f&'. e
THE. AFFIDAVIT. Fl
The affidavit. executed April 30.
and which the sCourier-News has de-
MED publicity, reads as follows: s
'The undersigned, Oscar Opoien.
farmer; B. +. Peasley, president; of
the Equity Grain & Mercantile CO. of
Driscoll, N. d.; Glare Cobb. manager
OF Equity Grain & Mercantile Co. !;
A. G. Jorand. Roy Cotton, O. n, Mel
son and George V. Cunningham, direc.
tors of said Equity Grain 4 Mercantile
Co.. depose and say:
THAT they have heard Of Il news
item in Courier News of Saturday,
April 20, and of editorial in same
paper based on said news item, under
date of April p. The said articles
play up the Equity Grain & Mercantile
Go. in very unfavorable and entirely
false light. After a thorough investi-
cation Of the charges printed. we and
each of us find that there is absolutely
no foundation for the story; that Oscar
Opoien is not a member Of the Non
partisan league; that he did not au-
thOrize or report to any paper the re.
E; port credited to him, nor any other re-
port; that he did not receive by ma a
check for $97 for fax, or a check for
any other amount: that the attempt>tO
injure the DriscOll elevator. which is
owned by farmers and practically all
members Of the NOnpartiSan league,
comes as shock to said farmers: that
four of the above directors are mem.
hers Of the league and have for years
tried to work for the farmers interests
in every way possible; that we in
iividually and collectively demand that
the Courier News make rctractiOn Of
this false report. giving the same as
much publicity as they gave the former
SlanderOus articles.
"Subscribed to before me this Goth
day of April, 1910.
tx. A: ERsLAND.
%.s. ~ Notary Public"
MANAGER WRITES NEWSPAPER
Addressing the Courier News, Clare
Cobb. manager of the Equity Co., said:
Front page news item under double
column head. under date of Saturday.
April 26, gave a sensational story
which, while not giving name of our
company openly, was so direct that our
farmer customers and all others in this
territory readily understood that you
had singled us out for an attack. which
TO date we are unable to understand
We are enclosing herewith copy of affl-
davit of the man who was charged in
your article with furnishing the story.
He says it is false and the whole thing
seems to be the raving of some ire
Sponsible correspondent who for some
unknown reason seems to desire TO hi.
1hiS elevator association under cover g.
of your sheet. The enclosed affidavit
sets forth the facts in this case and
thc demands Of signers Of the same
. If YOU are as fair-minded as you repre-
sent your paper TO he. We shall expect
70 see in tOmOrrow's issue of tho
Courier News retraction demanded.
Mr.. Cobb advised the Courier News
that after the lapse Of a reasonable
time his correspondence would he Civ
on other newspapers.