The Ward County independent. [volume] (Minot, Ward County, N.D.) 1902-1965, 1919-05-22
TOWNELY- YOUMANS
FIGHT Is ON

Townley Charges Youmans With
Writing Him Threatening Let
ters, Practically Accusing
Townley of Agreeing to
Accept $4,000 Bribe.
/. The storm that has been brewing
Tor some time between Grant s. You
mans, Anthony Walton and Leon Du-
rocher. directors Of the Savings Loan
iand Trust Co. and A. c. Townley, pre-
sident of the Nonpartisan League,
broke out in all of it's fury this week,
when Townley thru the Nonpartisan
league organs, the Courier News and
the Grand Forks American launched
his attack.
Townley charges that Youmans has
written him threatening letters prac-
tically accusing Townley of agreeing
to accept $4,000 bride in considera-
ton of Townley's securing from the
state supreme court favorable ver-
dict in the famous $150,OOO damage
suit against former Governor L. B.
Hanna, directors of the Second Ma
tional Bank of Minot and others,
which terminated in verdict for the
defendants.
Townley denies all of this in the
Fargo Courier News and says that he
never at any time made any PROPOSE
tlon to Youmans, of such a nature.
Just what effect this fight is going
to have on the aspirations of the
league boss is hard to say at this
time. That there is serious breach
between Youmans and Townley that
can never be patched up is absolutely
certain. Youmans is at the head Of
la big farmers organization in Minot
which has something like $500 stock
holders. Youman's friends and assc-
ciates cannot help but have a deep
feeling Of resentment over the attack
made by Townley. Youmans and
members Of his banking institution
have always taken prominent part
in affairs concerning the Nonpartisan
league, Youmans, Walton and Du-
rocher, being recognized as the league
leaders in this section of the state.
Even while the presses of the Courier
News and the Grand Forks American
were running, Youmans, Walton and
'Durocher, were arranging for a big
league meeting to be held in Minot
ON June 10.
Concerning the affair, Mr.. You
mans will make no statement, other
than he is still with the league move
Ment, regardless of what the big boss
Mas to say about him.
The following is the Townley ar
ticle that appeared in the Courier
News:
A. c. Townley, president of the
Nonpartisan league, today made pub
lie threatening letters written to him
and to other leaguers by Grant S.
Younans Of Minot, notorious for
various bank deals and promotions.
By sinsinuatiCns in letters to Mr..
Townley, J. K. Waters. p. NJ. Casey,
James Manahan and William Lemke,
the latter two attorneys for the
league, Youmans indicates that I'M
less league publications cease at
tacks ON him, he will publish story
to the effect that Townley offered
over two years ago to take $4,000
for securing decision from the
North Dakota supreme court.
1t seems that Younlans virtually
made this same threat to Mr.. Town
ley in letter last December 4, to
which the league president paid no
attention at that time. On the con-
trary, two weeks ago the North Da
kota Leader, official league paper in
this state, contained cartoon and
article ridiculing Youmans for at
tempting to support the league trait
ors at the state house, and for after
wards jumping on the league band
wagon at meeting Of farmers at
Minot.
Renews His Threats
As q result of the cartoon and ar
ticle which put Youmans in ridicu-
lous light he renewed in letters re.
ceived from him this week the veilcd
threats to publish the stories Of al.
legged trading in supreme court de-
cisions by the league president.
~ not only never offered to get any
supreme court decision for Youmans
in consideration of money or anything
else" said Mr.. Townley in making
Youmans' letters public. "The North
Dakota supreme court is incapable Of
being improperly influenced by me
or anyone else. Furthermore, | twice
told Youmans to go to blazes when
he nlmSel1 DIdZeHly SuS SeSteu 70 HtS
through other parties that ! help
him while his case against former
Governor Hanna and others was be-
fore the supreme court. / have never
believed that Youmans was sincere
man or safe banker, and have re-
peatedly warned farmers and others
cnocerning his banking operations.
That is the reason that he now tries
what amounts to blackmail upon me.
No man can fight me by insinuating
that he will make public libels upon
me, and l am making public You.
mans correspondence to myself and
other leaguers to show to what con-
temptible means men of his character
will resort.
CT "Not only was l powerless to aid
Youmans in any way while his case
was before the supreme court, and
not only did I tell him SO in strong
language, but at one time told him
that if he attempted to go through
with certain banking promotion he
was contemplating would warn the