Jamestown weekly alert. [volume] (Jamestown, Stutsman County, D.T. [N.D.]) 1882-1925, 1920-06-24
For G. Consideration OF Voters
LANCER REISSUES
DEBATE CHALLENGE
TO A.C. TOWNLEY

ney General Before AUDI
ence Of North Dakota
" Farmer.-Shows How Peo.
Piles Money Is Being Used.
Edmore, June FL. (Special) J.
Speaking to q Ramsey county au-
dience of more than 1900 people in
this village yesterday, William Ian
ger. independent Republican candi-
date for governor. hurled at A. G.
Townley another challenge to pub
lie debate, to discuss the issues OF
the campaign.
"A. C. Townley returns tomorrow
from Minnesota to take part In the
political campaign in this state, and
will no doubt charge three of the
present state officials with being
traitors to the people" said Mr.. Lam
ger.
II have on different occasions
challenged the big boss to meet me
in public debate. have sought ev-
cry opportunity to meet him face to
face before an audience of North
Dakota farmers but he dare not face
the farmers and defend his record. /
am going to give himl still another
chance. I hereby declare that my
previous offer of debate is open to-
day as when originally given. | here
by authorize any man, wearing the
Townley collar, to put my challenge
before Mr.. Townley, and to insist
that he meet me. undertake to
treat Mr.. Townley as were he.a gent
Eleman. L leave 1t to. him to treat
me in q, manner satisfactory to him
self. am prepared to prove that It
is A. c. Townley that betrayed the
farmers Of North Dakota, and that
Thomas Hall. Carl Kositzky. and my
self In resisting the big boss. have
done WHIST we honestly believed to be
6vr swsfa duty" :
+ The LANCER meeting Id Edmore
was q unique political demonstra-
ton, giving unmistakah:c evidence
gof the strength ofaths anti j-Townley
sentiment IN this county. Nearly a
hundred automobiles from Devils
Lake and intermediate points braved
the rain and 'plowed through the
mud bringing several hundreds Of
outsiders TO Edmore in honor of
''Bill' LANCER. Local showers pre-
vailed over large district, in places
the roads were unusually heavy and
considerable difficulty was experien-
,ced by LANCER enthusiasts, many Of
whom covered q distance. Of up to
forty miles in order to have. the OPP
portunity of hearing the workings
OF Townleyism explained by the lead
or in the fight. The farmers in the
vicinity of Edmore turned out in
large numbers in spite Of the threat
ening rain. The speaker received
the undivided attention of the large
audience for more than two hours.
Mr.. LANCER scored the most telling
hit when he demonstrated to the
audience how Townley had perfected
for himself and the other members
of the triumvirate q method Of self
pefpetuation in office, thereby re-
moving the management of the
league from the control of the farm
ers.
Linking this to the Fargo bank
scandal. in whtclthe state deposit
ory for public funds, the Bank OF
North Dakota was heavily invol-
we'd, Mr.. LANCER brought forcefully
home to his hearers the dangers in
7herent in private ownership of pub
lie officials, as practiced under the
Townley system of government.
idea Of democracy is a self
perpetuating triumvirate in charge
Of the league to exercise full author
ity over state officials elected by the
people but responsible only to Town
ley, Lemke and Wood.
Their distributions of public
funds. deposited with the bank Of
North Dakota and their use for re-
discopnting notes, secured by post
dated checks and other collateral Of
doubtful value, Is evidently causing.
the league triumvirate considerable
trouble. There is evidence Of wide
spread dissat ction with this sys-.
tenn. When dealing with this sub
iect, Mr. Langer was interrupted by
Nj. George Graham, Who from. own
experience could testify that officials
Of political subd divisions are threat,
ened With criminal prosecution Il
they do not promptly comply with
calls for money issued ~ the Bank
of Nor Dakota. The letters ex-ss
chanssd between the scand dfnayian-
American bank 81 Fargo, lr.s Town
ley ald the state bank 0mcials were
read ~ MI LANCER { and .saye the aus
dfance i thorough md nderstanding Of,
the Why and wherefores of Town
ley's banking system. The audience
rave videncs that It did not relish
this particular brand 81 Czarism
which under penalty of inprison-