Great Falls daily tribune. [volume] (Great Falls, Mont.) 1895-1921, 1919-06-26
TOWNLEY STILL ABSENT ON
OPENING DAY OF HIS TRIAL
Remains in North Dako-
ia on Election Mat
Evidence Is Being Heard
on Disloyalty
Charge.

Jackson. Mimi, June 25.-Activities
of Joseph Gilbert and Irving Freitag OF
the National Non Partisan league in
Jackson county in 1918. were touched
upon today by three witnesses called
by the prosecution at the trial of A. T..
Townley. president of the National Nom
Partisan league, and Joseph Gilbert. a
former league organizer, who are charg-
ed with conspiracy to commit disleyalty.
O. C. Thorson. judge of probate court
of Lakefield. and F. e. McKelar, county
auditor. testified that Gilbert persisted
in making an address at Lakefield on
January %, 1918. after the county of
ficials had notified him that nom
partisan meeting would not be permit
ted
o. A. Collan. farmer living at Heron
Lake said that he became a member of
ton of Freitag and later a certificate
of membership and some league litera-
ture bearing the stamped signature of
President Townley was sent to him by
mail.
Prosecuting Attorney III. Il. Nicholas
stated in his opening remarks to the jury
touching the complaint of conspiracy
that the state would not attempt to show
that Townley was connected officially
with any activities in Jackson county of
Freitag and Gilbert.
i Gilbert is also under indictment on a
charge of having made unpatriotic ut
terances.
Most of the argument given today was
DUNG discussion of what constituted
politics, made rather tart reply to
questions put to him by Attorney Hoke
Of the defense. McKellar was clerk of
the draft board for Jackson county.
which he said, inducted 567 men into
the military service. He said that the
draft board had considerable difficulty
in certain sections of the county and
testified that his principal objections to
nom partisan league activities early in
1918 was a disgraceful effect at that
time upon the community
Attorney Hoke questioned Mckellar
along the same lines that he had ques-
TONED Thorson-as to whether opposi-
lion to the non-partisan league was not
Of plitical nature.
IF you want to know the political
situation which existed in Jackson coun-
y, I'll tell you," said McKellar. "If you
we're for the non-partisan league, you
got their vote 100 per cent, but if you
were an out and out American you
1idn't." Judge Thorson, who was on the
stand just before McKellar. testified he
believed that Jackson county farmers
who were non-partisan league members
we're good citizens.
Neither McKellar nor Thorson attend
ID the meeting at Lakefield on January
3, 1918, at which Gilbert delivered an
address which later was the basis for
Indictment against him, charging I'M
,A.r.otic utterances. The witness testi-
led merely to the fact that they formal
Y notified Gilbert that the meeting
,ould not be held. Gilbert insisted he
lad constitutional right to speak at
he Commercial club rooms where he
discussed the matter with county officials
md delivered the address which subse-
Iuently resulted In his arrest.
Townley did not arrive in Jackson to-
lay. His absence was not discussed at
he trial. 1t was said by his associates
hat he is still in North Dakota where
statewide referendum vote will be
AIKEN tomorrow Of certain non-partisan
eague measures which were enacted into
aw byAthe 1919 North Dakota legisla-
ure.