The Bismarck tribune., 1919-04-01
LANCER MILD
IN REPLY TO
BOSS T0WNLEY
None of Anticipated Fireworks
Develops in Attorney Gen
eraI's, Talk at Minot
SAYS HE'S FOR LEAGUE
Behind Industrial Program Until
He'll Freezes Over, Says
State Official
SAYS HE'S FOR LEAGUE

to tell YOU farmers and other citizens
of North Dakota that ! am behind tn,
industrial program of the Nonpartisa,
League and l will be behind it unit
hell freezes over" declared Attornet
General William LANCER to a crOwde,
auditorium this afternoon when ma k
ing his first public speech since ac
cused by A. c. Townley, president OF
the Nonpartisan League of being 4
traitor, and coward"
LANCER was here on the same plat
form with Walter W. Liggett, Anthony
Walton, Manager l.. G. HoOpman Of
the Equity Packing Plant 1T Fargo and
other speakers, addressing crowd as.
sembled in honor Of the opening of the
new Farmers Bank of Minot. Lis,
gctt preceded LANCER and spoke for an
hour on the leagues program, dwelling
at length on taxation measures and
paying his respects to the so-called
kept press" He made casual refer
ence to ''gas attack from the rear.
now "aimed at killing the league s
Program" but did not mention the re,
volt Of several state officers.
PRAISES STATE OFFICERS
LANCER told of record of state Of
ficers, mentioning the loyalty of the
late Dan. V. Brennan. recently assis-
tant attorney general, and others.
bringin & out how the men elected by
the farmers represent all classes, rich
and poor. both individuals and corpor-
atiOnS. He explained the banking
boards position with regard to the
Consumers United Stores Co.. pointing
out how the supreme courts decision
with regard to a mining concern at
HavelOck which followed the plan of
the Townley stores. left no other course
pei the Consumers United Stores Co,
to line up under the blue sky laws
or quit business.
GUARDIANS OF RIGHT +.
"We men holding state Offices he.
cause you men elected us, are the guar.
.dians Of your rights and liberties, and
We will fight to the last to have your
program carried out, and my office will
take the necessary steps to see that
no one interferes with that program
Illegally" LANCER said
Explaining how sometimes there muJ
he a disagreement. LANCER asserted
"A man must follow the dictates of
his conscience even though in doing $50
he will face criticism intended TO show
that he has been bribed by interests
opposed to the people" -..
WELCOME CRITICISM -
II want to tell yOu.' he declared
"that you have men in Bismarck whr
are not afraid of that criticism. If
the honest discharge Of our duties
brings forth criticisms from any man,
then we welcome it"
LANCER received trenmedous ap-
plause and was continually Interrupted
by it.
Lieut. Mcconnell, discharged Unit.
cd State soldier who signed an al
legged affidavit just after entering the
army, that Townley secured him a
state job so that he might evade the
draft, also spoke
Today Langer addresses the Barnes
county school officers at Valley City.
+ 4 +. q ANSWERS TOWNLEY
Fargo, N. D., April Through his
local publicity medium Attorney Gen
eral LANCER yesterday made the fol-
lowing statement:
"A. G. TOwnley says: The league
can only be destroyed from within.
then he proceeds, through the league
press to call number of league state
officials. fools, towards and traitors.
''Townley, by his threats and general
accusations. hopes that l will repu-
diate the league and the league pro-
gram and thus justify his conduct in
the eyes Of the membership. 1t woul'l
please Townley's vanity if under fire
would go back on the league and
furnish him an opportunity to discredit
me- In this he will fail. l will not
even under fire betray the people of
North Dakota / will do all in my
power to protect them. Townley might
as well realize that state officers rep
resent the people of North Dakota. and
are not the petty hirelings of a dictator
''Townley can use his papers to be-
tray the confidence that the member
ship have in him. but l will continue
to do my duty. If TowRley is right
that the league can only be destroyed
from within it is time the member