The Bismarck tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, N.D.) 1916-current, 1920-10-20
BURTNESS PUTS
T0WNLEY OUT
BEFORE CROWD
Two Meet on Same Platform,
After Boss of League
Tries to Dodge ,
.TOWNLEY'S ABUSE FAILS
Fails to Make Good His Bluff
When it is Called Hard
at Park River
TOWNLEY'S ABUSE FAILS

~ 4 NAN A~ASSA
Park River, N. D., Oct. 2O.-A. q
Townley was utterly routed in the
! presence of a crowd Of his followers
here by O. B. Burtness, Republican
candidate for congressman from the
first North Dakota district.
He brought it on himself when ne
rashly offered to make good his indls-
criminate abuse Of the business men
of Park River and other cities against
all comers. He didn't know when ne
made the offer that Mr.. Burtness was
in Pisek only five miles distant. The
Grand Forks man jumped at the
chance to meet the league boss, and
when the dust cleared away the lat
ter WAS about the sickest socialist tf
be found in North Dakota.
1t happened thus: Mr.. Townley
was holding one Of his "unadvertised'
meetings at Park River and the great
majority of those present were his
staunch supporters; there were, how
ever, few business men OF the city
in the rear of the hail. and agains'
them the socialist boss launched tn.
full force of his abuse. Finally, how
ever, he went too fa(. and farmer
in the hall who has" hitherto been "
supporter of the Nonpartisan League
arose and said:
Called by supporter. ..
"Mr. Townley, you are going to.
far in your attack on these busines:
men,"
The socialist boss came back witt
another TRADE, and an offer to up
hold his statements against anyone
who cared to dispute him. Thereup.
on someone in the body of the hal
demanded: yNl
"Olger Burtness is at Pisek tonight
will you argue this with him" Town
ley was evidently taken aback, ans
tried to back out, but this even his
own followers would not permit, an(
finally agreed to wait for Mr. Burt
ness. The lattefwas reached by tele
phone, the situation explained to him
and he Immediately left for Park Riv
er by automobile. arriving half ar
hour after Townley had uttered his
challenge. 9y ,4m
In the meantime the latter had no
ticeably begun to "craWfish, quail.
flying many of his previous state.
ments and showing a decided lack o
pep a --..
When Mr. Burtness arrived the
terms of the discussion were quickly
arranged each man being given Ii
minutes to question the other, and q
minutes for answer.
Demands American Flag.
Before proceeding fNrther, how
ever, Mr.. Burtness demanded that az
American flag be brought into tn;
hall. 81 have just finished speaking
to an audience of which so per cen
was foreign born, but which wa!
made up of good American citizens
who displayed the Stars and Stripes
I have always had flag in the hal
when l speak," he said. 81 want tt
see a flag here before l go further.
One Thorlif Moe, henchman o
Townley's attempted to tell VIII!
there was no American flag in thu
hail. but the big chief was apparent
ly afraid he would spill the beans.
and quickly shut him off. A flag Wal
brDhght adIthe debate began..h
Mr. Towliley asked Mr.. Burtnes
in effect, why the business men 0
Park River and other cities are op
posed to the farmers program"
Not Against Farmers. #
Mr.. Burtness' answer was prompt
"The business men," he said, "are no
opposed to the farmers program
they are opposed, however, to des
potic rule of self appointed bosses
many of whom are not even citizen
of North Dakota. In support OF thl
claim he cited the records OF the stat
legislature showing that the independ
ant members had loyalty supported
a]l of the real farmers program.
Mr.. Burtness' Questions.
If was then Mr. Burtness' turn
.>>1o question. and it was then that
Townleys downfall came. Here
are some OF the questions MY.
Burtness shot at the socialist
cZar: .N.
"Which has the greater lh!er'
est in this state, Mr. Io"h'e!'
you or 1! -
"Nnat explanation nave you
for the fact that every law passed
by your majority at the special
session Of the legislature which
was referred to the people was
voted down by them!
"WhsA did not the people OF
the state follow your urgent ad-
vice and vote down the Anti-Rcd
Flag law!
"Why were such books as Up
ton Sinclair's "The Profits OF Re-
ligiOn' placed in the state library
to be sent to people who wished
= books on social problems?
"Why did yov place your ad.
vertisement for league organizers
in the arcl.Socialist periodical,
1The Appeal to Reason!"
"Why did not you and Mr..
Lemke accept the opportunity
Continued on Page Three)