Grand Forks herald. [volume] (Grand Forks, N.D.) 1916-1955, 1919-05-28
FAILS COMPLETE Y IN
STRENUOUS ATTEMPT TO Grill
SENATOR MEES IN HOME TOWN

cent Meeting; Big Boss
Gets Hot Under the Collar
and Leaves. .
Glen U1lin. N. D., May 2s.-A. G.
Townley's efforts 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
Kositzl1y Hall-Mees Nagel faction
splitting with the big boss has not as
sisted 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
applause for the president of the Ma
tional Nonpartisan league during his
speech here. the meeting got away
from him." Townlev lost his temper
made damaging admissions and final
ly blew up altogether.
The crowd began to grow restless
when Tcwnley in effect declared SEN
ator Mees traitor to the league; de-
clared he had signed an agreement
to abide by the decisions Of the se-
cret caucus, and that he had gener-
ally refused to be good, especially in
connection with the one-man tag
commission bill.
How many votes were there in
favor of this measure. in caucus?'
asked a voice from the crowd.
"F'orty-nine or fifty" replied Town
ley.
What is the mem bership of both
houses?'
Townley: "one hundred sixty
two
Then. because a man does not
vote with SO against 112 he's
traitor!"
Townley: You're d right
Then there was reference from
the crowd to Townley's advice to Sem
ator Mees to go home and lie like =
horsethief''
Townley in effect said that he didn't
accuse Mees of selling out. but that IL
he didn't sell out he was a ID
fool" as there was all kinds Of money
to be had, land repeat he's a d
fool if he didn't get it,
You say Mees is a d. fool il
he didn't take money!"
Townley in a sense affirmed the
statement.
This applies to anyone."
Townley: YES d it,
i 'You handle ;all the leagues money
then this applies to YOU"
!
red by this time. The picture Of
. anger, pare and trembling, he called
for vote ito see how many were
with him. 5
His fifteen organizers held up both
hands. u That made thirty 1hand2 The
crowd was estimated at from $50 to
500.
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 .
vote.''
Townley: This is a league meet
ing-you have ne busin ss here"
Mees called upon the chairman for
ruling. Townley objected.
At this juncture. T. ]. Nelson
stepped from the crowd: declared this
clared 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
5 stand. The senator from Morton ac-
cepting the invitation. turned directly
, to Townley and said:
Did you not say in caucus that
should go home and life like horse-
thief?'''
Townley: "Mr. Chairman, let mo
: explain
4ASCS. GS, VI HO. MI. lOWnl0ys
| Raising his voice. as Townley re-
mained silent: Did you or did you
, not?"
Townley: "I'll explain
, Mees, shaking his fist under Town
, ley's nose: Did you say so?'
Townley: Yes"
t And then pademonium broke
loose.
!, Mees: Did you oppose the one
man tax commission two years ago."
Mees: Call on Senator Cahill, who
i is present, and your oficial stenog-
: rapher."
t Nothing doing.
Mees: Did you say in caucus you
: would: oppose it if any man other
than Frazier were GOVERNOR"
Townley, with mounting tempera-
ture: "Yes!" yEe
) At this point Townley sought to
: leave, but the crowd was too dense.
I and before he could finally force his
way through the deep ranks many
. things were said which did not add
a to the former league leaders COM
= placency. The excitement was so In
tense that had the crowd been conn
a posed Of less sober individuals some
= thing really regrettable might have
= occurred.
, Better stay. Townley," Senator
Mees called after the retreatfng form
;. of the, man who was king: Things
|, are just getting interesting"
= :. But Townley kept going. us
j. g. 4