Grand Forks herald. [volume] (Grand Forks, N.D.) 1916-1955, 1920-10-25
turned against his financial secretary,
MI. Hastings, and that in such an

turned against his financial secretary,
Mr.. Hastings, and that in such an
event it might involve or bring to
light his Florida investments. 1t
seems that Brtnton had suggested 10
Townley. my association with the
project as its owner. Townley related
how I had been in the real estate and
farm loan business for 20 years In
North Dakota; how it would cause no
suspicion it it became known that I
were the owner OF 22,400 acres Of land
in Florida. California Of Mexico. And
l saw Townley's point and the mental
explosion that would take place in
North Dakota IL it developed and be-
came known that Townley had invest
ed money in Florida land.
l have always been open for q deal
generally made my best deal when the
other fellow was the %aggressor. I had
dealt in real estate in Iowa, in Min
nesota, Montana and North Dakota,
but had seen Florida. I was
reluctant to go into a project which
] had saAen. Blu Townley was
impatient. For Gods sake, Jim, take
this deal off my hands," appealed Mr..
Townley. You can go to Miami, and
MIR. Townley, land it will be a fine
trip for you. I will pay your expenses
and after you have seen the property
and agree to assume ownership of it,
We car come to q more definite ar
rangement. I've got to get Hastings
out Of the deal and get someone else
to take charge of it."
This was Townley's general lire Of
talk. finally agreed to go to Florida
and look his proposition over, and
agreed to assume proprietorship of
the property If it was as he and Brin-
ton represented it to .be-provided
agement as he was familiar with it
and what had been done. MI. Town
ley and Brinton went back to Fargo
and secured a release or withdrawal
from Mr.. Hastings and Box, as I did
not care to have any association in q
business way with these gentlemen.
This Mr.. Townley secured and delfv-
cred to Mr.. Brinton and 7 before We
left for Miami. It reads:
p. Harvey, Miami, Flor.
ida. Dear Tom: This will intro
|. luce Mr.. Brinton. who is coming
to Miami to assume full charge
of The sisal proposition and prop
erty and the two companies which
nave been organised. Please turn
over to him all property, records,
Tiles. letters, documents and all
the organization papers, etc, and
hereafter make all future ar-
rangements with regard to your
employment expenses, salary,
etc, with Mr.. Brinton, as Mr.. Box
and myself are withdrawing from
the enterprise ana turning over
u interests to Mr.. Waters and
Mr.. Brinton. S!sned-J. j.
Hastings"
Compare this with Mr.. Hastings
telegram printed in the preceding ar
tlcse in which he said no was coming
to Miami. The telegram was dated
March II, 1919, and the above was
dated three days later, March IA,
1919. This shows how fast things
were moving. Speed was my instruc-
ions and secrecy my password until
embarrassing position. Welooked for
la 'front.' page cartoon in the Fargo
Forum every morning showing q
'Townley pipe line" connecting Tori-
da and North Dakota. with North Da.
kota above-and money like water
running downhill. I new refused ia
help a man out in my life when I
could. and especially one who had a.
400 acres Of land that lie wanted to
a nothing to lose and I knew that
1t was necessary to get Mr.. Townley
out OF the land owning class and into
the poverty bankruptcy" class in
haste if he was to continue as the
leader Of the Nonpartisan League
and at this time had no objection to
his running the Nonpartisan League
and AL its machinery. But later when
he commenced to take public funda
cut OF the tate Bank and involve me
and my associates and the state row
eminent, I changed my mind about
Mr.. ToWnley and his leadership.
Mr.. Brinton went to Mta,ni ahead
of me. as I couldn't get away inme-
diate1y because Of official matters
that ! had to attend TO-. Later, 4 few
days, 1 went to Fargo and got $1,000
at the Scandinavian American bank.
which Mr.. Townley had arranged for,
to pay my expenses, was joined by my
wife and We went to Miami and invee-
tigated the property. It - needless
to say thai I was pleased. MI. Brfn.
ton has already told you Of the won
derful future possibilities for money
making in real estate in Dade county,
Florida I returned and again held 4
conferences with Nj. Townley. with
Mr.. Brinton present who had returned
from Florida with me. Tovnley
agreed to pay me $4,000 a year and
expenses to manage. help finance ana
assume ownership of his project.
But at this time I discovered that
over $4,000 had been taken out Of the