The Bottineau courant. (Bottineau, Bottineau County, N.D.) 1895-1929, 1919-01-09
the League farmers have the satisfaction of
knowing that they were not fooled. At the worst
they are werely beaten and not outgeneraled
as they used to be by political hypocrites.
THE COLLAPSE OF FARMER ENEMIES

THE COLLAPSE OF FARMER ENEMIES
The Nonpartisan League holds the unique
position of being the only political organization
in America today that carries in it's pocket a
judgment from a federal court testifying to it's
absolute honesty in handling the funds entrust-
ed to it's care by its members.
> 1t probably occupies this unique position for
two reasons: No other organization in America
is blessed with such fanatical, laundering en-
emies: no other political organization in Amer
lea would probably stand the test Of a years
searching investigation in a federal court.
Judge AmidOn's recent decision in the A. C..
Townley bankrupt case, which in reality cloak
ed a desperate attempt of the big interests and
politicians to wreck the League, is one Of the
most remarkable vindications of a political
movement in the history of this country.
Such expressions as these could come from
none but a judicial magistrate thoroughly
aroused by the overwhelming favorable nature
of the evidence: b.
1.-The trustee for the creditors in a hearing
which has lasted more than a year has been per-
mitted to go through the books of all the con-
Germs as with a lightd candle" and 'he has
found no trace of the use of any part of the
funds or properties by MI. Townley for personal
purposes, or for any purposes except the accom-
plishments of the objects of the political party
of which he is leader"
"The record Of these funds is. full and has
been honestly kept, and shows an honest pur-
pose to give an account of an honest steward
Ship, and his 1A.C. Townley's) only interest in
the property and funds of the Nonpartisan Lea
que and other firms, associations and corpora
tons referred to in the evidence is only that of
a leader of the League, and all his power over
the same is for the purposes of the League, and
that he has no private or personal interest,
either directly or indirectly, in any of the said
funds or properties except to the extent of his
salary of $500 a month";" (#.r
"The business of the (Nonpartisan) publish
ing company has not been conducted for profit
and has not resulted in profit. The evidence
leaves no doubt that the publishing enter
company and the properties acquired in it's
name have all been merely agencies for pro-
noting the political movement of the League.
The question here is whether the bankrupt, A.
C. Townley, is owner of these properties, either
directly or indirectly. He is not the owner and
has no interest, either direct or indirect, in any
of these properties"
with the question whether the organization
has been wise or foolish in it's business forms
or official condolences. this court has no concern.
Both are subject to change by the membership
of the League through it's conventions. Respon-
sibility in those matters runs not to the credi-
tors of Mr.. Townley, but to the membership of
the League" .
This remarkable vindication of the Nonparti-
san, League places it in a clearly advantageous
position, thanks to the unusual zeal of it's en-
emies. It now is the only political organiza-
ton in America that carries in it's pocket a GER
tificate signed by a federal Judge attesting,
after a years investigation, to it's impeccable
dealings and generally exemplary. behavior.
On this certificate is recorded over the sigma
ture of a United States judge a certified his
tory of the League, a certified statement of it's
financial dealings with it's members, a certified
statement of the purposes of the organization,
and everything has been found good and clean
honest and worthy. No one should be afraid to
join the League; the word of the United States
department Of justice is back of it.-Grand
Forks American.