The Ward County independent. [volume] (Minot, Ward County, N.D.) 1902-1965, 1919-05-22
COURIER-NEWS REFUSES
TO PRINT AFFIDAVIT DENY.
ING LIGGETTS STATEMENTS
Declared Oscar OpOinen, Of DriscOll,
Had Benefited to Extent Of $S7
by Grain Grading Act--Latter
Never Received Money.

having been introduced by the late
Senator Drown of Cass, and having
been drafted largely by F. @. He'll
strom Of Bismarck.
League leaders in the 18th assembly
opposed the grain grading bill and
permitted the house majority to vote
for it only when it became apparent
that otherwise these would be show
down in which the league would APP
pear unfavorably. Since 1917, how
ever, the league has been pleased to
claim the grain grading. act.
Refuses to Print Public Denial.
Mr.. Liggett told how happy Mr..
Opoien was when Deputy State Grain
Inspector McGovern went to the Dris-
coll editor and uttered some word like
"Presto," kalamazoo" or "Trotzy--
skimo," and the elevator man handed
over $97 Just like that. to Mr.. Opoien.
That, said Mr.. Liggett, was Just
farmer would get for the SIS he paid
to Townley, Mills & Co.
Now it appears that Mr. Opoien was
not consulted before this story was
used He first had his attention called
to the thrilling tale when it was pub
lished on the front page Of the Cour-
ier-News of Saturday, April 26. Mr..
OpOien was somewhat startled, mas
much as he had not received any check
for $97. and not alto"ether pleased,
because the elevator referred to was
the Farmers EQUITY Grain & Mercan-
tile Co., in which he and fellow farm
ers Of the Driscoll territory were
stockholders. Therefore he and other
members Of the company prepared a
retraction, which they mailed to the
Courier-News under date of April 80,
with request that it be published.
The Courier-News to date has declin>
ed to make the correction, and Mr..
Opoien and the elevator company have
appealed to the independent press for
protection from the Townley organ.
The Affidavit.
The affidavit, executed April 30,
and which the Courier News has de-
MED publicity, reads as follows:
"The undersigned, Oscar Opoien,
farmer; B. F. Paisley. president of the
Equity Grain & Mercantile Co. of
Driscoll. N d.. Clare Cobb, manager
of Equity Grain and Mercantile Co..;
A. C. Jordan, Roy Cotton, O. N. Mel
son and George V. Cunningham, direc
tors of said Equity Grain & Mercan-
tile Co.. depose and say:
"That they have heard of news
item in the Courier-News of Satur-
day, April 26, and of editorial in same
paper based on said news item, under
date of April q. The said articles
play up the Equity Grain 4 Mercan-
tile Co. in very unfavorable and en-
tirely false light. After a thorough
investigation of the charges printed,
we and each of US find that there is abb
solutelv no foundation for the story;
that Oscar Opoien is not member OF
the Nonpartisan league; that he did
not authorize or report to any paper
other report; that he did not receive
by mail a check for $97 for flax. or a
check for any other amount; that the
attempt to injure the Driscoll eleva
tor, which is owned by farmers and
practically all members of the Nom
partisan league comes as shock to
said farmers; that four of the above
directors are members of the league
and have for years tried to work for
the farmers interests in every way
possible; that we individually and col
1ectively demand that the Courier
News make retraction of this false re-
port, giving the same as much public
ity as they gave the former slanderous
articles.
"Subscribed to before me this 30th
day of April. 1919.
tx. A. Ersland.
Notary Public"
Manager Writes Newspaper.
Addressing the Courier-News, Clare
Cobb, manger of the Equity Co.. said:
"Front page news item under double
COLUMN head under date of Saturday,
Anril 26, gave a sensational story
which while not giving name of our
company openly, was so direct that our
farmer customers and all others in
this territory readily understood that
you had singled US out for an attack.
which to date we are unable to under
stand We are enclosing herewith copy
of affidavit of the man who was charg
ed in your article with furnishing the
story. He says it is false. and the
whole thing seems to be the raving of
some irresponsible correspondent who
for some unknown reason seems to de-
sire to hit this elevator association
under cover of your sheet. The en-
closed affidavit sets forth the facts in
this case and the demands of signers
of the same. If YOU are as fair minded
as you represent your paper to. be, we
nail expect TO see IN tomorrow issue
of the Courier-News retraction de-
handed"
Mr.. Cobb advised the Courier News
that after the lapse of reasonable
time his correspondence would be
given to other newspapers.
ri-hh- -9nS directorsosdnand haswou
NOTICE FOR BIDS.
Bids will be received by the board
of supervisors Of Tatman township