The Ordway new era., 1920-10-29
A. Townley
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demanded $4,000 salary a year
and told him I could not stay for less
and boarded the train. not know
ing that my action was going to stir
up alarm In the League camp.
no sooner got to Miami. Florida.
than who should call upon me but the
man who had charge of the credit de-
partment of the bank. He had fol-
lowed me to Miami. Florida. at the
structions OF Townley's attorney,
TO warn me to remain silent about
the affairs of the Bank, or in other
words, to keep my mouth shut. The
Bank employee regictered under an
assumed anme in Miami. His mis-
sion was a secret. | was politely told
that l could be prosecuted for what
took place in the bank-for the tran
sactions that / objected to and walk
cd out because of; II | remained ST.
lent I could live in peace and quiet,
but If | opcned my mouth about the
inside affairs of the Bank of North
Dakota | would not only get others
into trouble. but myself as well. 1
was Indignant. And / confess / had
a nervous breakdown and was under
the doctors care for several days.
Upon my return | received a copy of
the Fargo League paper containing
resignation over my signature
claiming the Bank was in fine shape
and practically putting all the re-
sponaibility for all its affairs upon
me. Imagine my frame of mind. The
League bo33es feared | would give
cut an interview. as was being
sought by the oppo3ition press to give
reasons why | had resigned. and to
forestall such pioc1 of possible pub
licity. Townley's attorney published
a resignation for me I'm his paper so
as to publicly commit me before /
committed myself.
They never dreamed that / would
bow my mock" because they always
reasoned that couldn't afford to be-
cause of my connection with Townley
and the slgal enterprise. | said they
made mistake when they put me In
the bank. And one mistake generally
leads to others. They made mistake
when they publiahed re8ignation
without my authority. and they made
another mistake when they thought
rould ramIin silent and assume the
burden OF their wrongdoing for a
business consideration. AS soon as
read the unauthorized resignation,
which | never signed, 1 gave Mr..
Brinton signed statement repudiat-
ing the League bogges, Townley's at
torney and his Newspaper and all
those connected with tho affair.
When l returned to North Dakota /
found conditions still worse in the
Dank-and tho League fighting with
.tg back to the wall with the June
primaries on. / decided to remain ST.
cent until Gfter election as the farm
cr3 were not responsible for the con-
dltion of affairs. and in the mean
1, FI.,. .I.,t
first yeer'D salary ~ manager of his
sisal company. He told me that
ne was broke, his various treasu-
iiss empty, and ! received nothing
out promises. II YVES here that Town
ley was forced to abandon his Flori-
"a promotion. and l later found tuut
ne planned on repudiating me and
30 Ltno Florida deal-and saduIe
The v. Ole burden of financing the
ci Il. III isc upon me personally. which
may hive to do. SO took the mat
t,r ap with an attorney. and We
pressed Mr.. Townley. | wrote SOW
v.al letters to his new financial sec-
retary-at Townley's request-de-
manding money duo me. In the
meantime Brinton had taken the
bank situation up with the Governor,
mad received the cold shoulder and
nad made public my statement given
him IN Miami regarding my resigna-
ton. This brought on an attack up
ON me by the editor of the Fargo
League paper. who knew nothing of
IownIey's Florida deal, and / was
char gcd with blackmail. The editor
was fired. But Townlcy refused to
retract because that would force him
TO acknowledge his ownership of the
Florida land. then brought the
suit which is now pending In Cass
county, referred to heretofore in
these articles.
1 am making this statement for
Mr.. Brinton for publication so that
the public may know why have
been called a blackmailer, and why
| am not now considered good
Lacquer by Mr.. Townley and his at
torney. William Lemke. 1 regret that
! ever entered the Bank of North Da-
kota. II was mistake on my part
as | didn't realize 81 the time the
purpose which Townley and Lemke
wanted the bank for, and l honestly
believe the league bo3ses realize they
made miatake WIN they put me in
charge of their sisal enterpri8e and
tho big State bank. They say now.
publicly. that | was not big enough
for tho job. And / confess | was not.
1t was too big job for any honest
man-tho way they wanted to run.
could go on and give more details
regarding the Bank of North Dakota
and the aiaal enterprise, but these
details viii all come out in the court
proceedings now pending-and / pre-
fer to try my lawsuit in court.
Signed. X. WATERS.
So you Low have the story OF
Townlcy, the dreamer. the promot-
er and boss politician. How he arose
to fame aad power overnight and
how his ambition fer more money
and more power is destroying him
and tho organization he built. He
built a wonderful organization of
farmers; he secured their confidence,