The Ward County independent. [volume] (Minot, Ward County, N.D.) 1902-1965, 1919-06-05
AN EXCITING MEETING

AN XCIT1NG EETING
Townley Admits that He Told Mees
to Lie Like . Horse Thief"
Glen Ullin, N. D., May 28.-A. C..
Townley's effort to grill Senator F.
w. Mees in his home town for his in
dependence of the sort of domination
which has resulted in the LANCER Ko-
sticky Hall Mees-Nagel faction split
ting with the big boss, has not help
ed Mr.. Townley's cause in Glen Ullin
and vicinity. In spite of the energy
displayed by clique of fifteen or
more Townley organizers to make ap-
plause for Townley during his speech,
the meeting got away. from him.
Townley lost his temper, made damn
ing admissions, and finally blew up
altogether.
The crowd began to grow restless
when Townley in effect declared Sen
ator Mees a traitor to the league; de-
clared he had signed an agreement to
abide by the decisions Of the secret
caucus, and that he had generally re-
fused to be good, especially in con-
nection with the one-man tax commits
sion bill.
"How many votes were there in ia
vor Of this measure in the caucus ?"
asked voice from the crowd.
"Forty-nine or fifty" answered
Townley.
What is the membership of both
houses?"
Townley: Zone hundred sixty
two"
"Then because a man does not vote
with fifty against 112, he is trail
tori"
Townley: You're d right"
Then there was reference from the
crowd to Townley's advice to Senator
Mees to 20 home and lie like horse
thief.
Townley. in effect, said that he did
MT accuse Mees of selling out, but that
if he didn't sell out he was damn
fool' as there was all kinds of money
to be had, and 81 repeat that he's a
damn fool if he didn't get it,
"You say Mees is damn fool if
he didn't take the money!"
Townley in a sense affirmed the
statement.
"This applies to anyone?"
Townley: "Yes, d it,"
"You handle all the leagues money,
then this applies to you"
Mr.. Townley's wattles were very
red by this time. The picture of an
ger, pale and trembling, he called for
a vote Ito see how many We're with
him."
His fifteen organizers held up both
hands. That made thirty hands. The
crowd was estimated at 500 to 600.
Senator Mees. taking pity on his
former chief, then jumped into the
breach. you're calling for vote on
something the people don't under
stand: Let the chairman call for a
vote"
Townley: "This is a league meet
ing-you have no business here"
Mees called upon the chairman for
a ruling. Townley objected.
At this juncture, T. J. Nelson step
ped from the crowd, declared this a
Glen Ullin league meeting, and de-
clared that they. were going to hear
what Mees had to say.
The crowd then went wild, shouting
"Mees! Mees! Speech!
The chair then called Mees to the
stand. The senator from Morton, ac-
cepting the invitation, turned directly
to Townley and asked:
'Did you not say that I should go
home and lie like horsethief?"
Townley: "Mr. Chairman, let me
explain"
Mees: Eyes or no, Mr.. Townley %
Townley remained silent.
did you or did you not? ?" asked
Mees, raising his voice.
Townley: "I'll explain"
Mees, shaking his fist under Town
ley's nose: did you say 500"
Townley: EYES,"
And then pandemonium broke loose.
Mees: ibid you oppose the one
man tax commission two years ago ?"
Townley: II can't remember"
Mees: "Call on Senator Cahill who
is present, and your official stenogra-
pher."
Nothing doing.
Mees: "Did you say in caucus that
YOU would oppose it if any man other
than Frazier were GOVERNOR"
Townley. with mounting tempera-
ture: Eyes"
At this point Townley sought to
leave but the crowd was too dense, and
before he could force his way through
the deem ranks. many things were said
that did not add to the former league
leaders, complacency. The excitement
was so intense that had the crowd
been composed of less sober ;ndivid-
uals. something really regrettable
might have occurred
NOTICE TO c1EDITo1s
State of North Dakota,
| County of Ward.
+ IN COUNTY COURT,
| Before Hon. VIM. Murray