The Bottineau courant. (Bottineau, Bottineau County, N.D.) 1895-1929, 1920-09-23
EQUITY BOARD
DEFENDS LENKE


The Board Of Directors of the Eq-
uity Cooperative Exchange adopted
strong resolution last week, condemn
ing in unmistakeable terms the Shiny
attempts of the Fargo Forum and
other Poison Ivy newspapers to dis
credit the work of William Lemke.
Following is copy of the resolution:
(RESOLUTION)
Whereas, it has come to the notice
Of the Board of Directors of the Eq-
unity Cooperative Exchange in it's in
ception, are now attempting to dis
credit the work that William Lemke
did and the assistance he gave the
Equity Cooperative Exchange, and
Whereas, these papers are deliber-
ately making false accusations with
dishonest motives for the purpose of
discrediting William Lemke in the
eyes Of the people whom he served,
the farmers of the State, and
Whereas, we believe in a square deal
and feel that the people of the State
are entitled to know the truth in re-
gard to these matters,
' Therefore, we the Directors of the
Equity Cooperative Exchange, wish to
state that Mr.. Lemke's assistance to
the Exchange has been invaluable
and that we appreciate the work that
he has done for US and the farmers
of. the State, and
That, following constitutes only a
portion of the services he has rem
dered the Exchange:
1. Mr.. Lemke drew up the Ar
ticles Of Incorporation of the Equity
Cooperative Exchange.
2. Mr.. Lemke, up to 1916, con-
sulting attorney Of the Equity Coop
erative Exchange without fee.
8. During the time that George
Lotus was active in the movement,
Mr.. Lemke, together with Messrs.
Drake, Mammalian and Mum aided in
the early struggles Of the Equity Co.
operative Exchange when the oppo-
sition attempted to crush it.
A. When the Chamber of Com
merce, thru Mr.. Engerud, demanded
to see the books of the Equity Coop
erative Exchange, it was Mr.. Lemke
who advised the organization not to
comply with this demand for the rea-
son that the Chamber Of Commerce
was the real party behind the suit.
5. Mr.. Lemke also appeared on
several different occasions before the
Supreme Court in the interest Of the
Equity Cooperative Exchange and
was the attorney for this organiza-
tion in the State of North Dakota at
the time that Attorney Linde at
tempted to wreck it on the affada-
Wits of the Minneapolis Chamber of
Commerce. In this case he was assist
ed by Judge Mum and later by James
Mammalian. Mr.. Lemke took part in
the final argument before the State
Supreme Court in this case.
6. Mr.. Lemke also defended the
Equity Cooperator's Herald in the liza
bility brot by McCue and is still pend
ing. During all his service for the
Equity Cooperative Exchange it can
be truthfully said that Mr.. Lemke
never was paid more than his ex-
penses. ...
7. The statement that Mr.. Lemke
brought the Equity Cooperative Ex-
change case for his own benefit is
absolutely false. He was instructed by
the Equity Cooperative Exchange to
bring this suit, and if we had won it.
the proceeds would have gone to the
Exchange. The Exchange was put to
an expense Of over $10,000.00 in the
unlawful and criminal attempt that
was made by the Minneapolis Cham
ber Of commerce, which at that time
the Forum supported. The Supreme
Court Of the States decision, deny
ing the costs in this case was, we be
lieve erroneous and was rendered by
three judges, one member Of the
Supreme Court and two District Court
Judges, sitting as Supreme Court
Judges, who were hostile to the best
interests Of the farmers
| ]. M. Anderson,
Mangus johnson.
L. Noltimier
F. B. Wood ::s.
Nels Magnuson
o. n. Olson
]. G. Leum.