The Bismarck tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, N.D.) 1916-current, 1920-10-28
DEMAND REASON
FOR OPPOSING
PROBE OF BANK
Stormy Meeting Held at Beach,
Former Home of Boss of
the League
DODGES CAMPAIGN ISSUES
Business Men Keep Quiet, While
Farmers Ask Questions and
Women Shout
DODGES CAMPAIGN ISSUES

Beach, N. D., Oct. 28.-In all
his experience as imperial leader
of the Nonpartisan league Ar
thur c. Townley probably never
got in so tight a box as he did
here last night when he ad-
dressed the largest crowd that
has yet attended a special meet
ing.
Two farmers put him to rout
at times. Pandemonium reigned
and shouts of ANSWER ques-
tions," "Tell US why taxes are
so high" and 'why do you want
us to vote against examination
Of the bank" were hurled at him
after the audience had listened
to his long boycott TRADE, and
he invited questions.
It was the same old Townley who
came back the Townley who went
bankrupt trying to farm Oh big
Biz scale, the Townley who was
known to Beach people as Socialist
and a leader in the Socialist party in
the state just few years ago.
That Bank Deal
He came into county where the
Bank of North Dakota had loaned
$4,000 to a nonresident of the state,
according to the records in the county
offices here, while farmers could not
get loans on small farms. w.
Probably half the audience was
composed of women, and they seemed
even more insistent than the men in
demanding replies from Townley,
while he avoided them and rambled on
about big Biz and grain gambling,
failing to answer questions.
Townley's downfall came when,
afte, HIS long, vulgar TRADE against
business men and his efforts to fan
class hatred he grew bolder and ask
ed why business men opposed the
farmers program. No one responding
ne grew bOlder and rather sneeringly
:epted by A. II. kukOwski, farmer,
wEo was continually interrupted by
Townley when he tried to speak. The
crowd became incensed at this treat
nent Of Mr.. Kukowski and demanded
that Townley allow him to respond to
he invitation and speak, Women
particularly were disguised at the
lnfairness Of ToWnley.
Leaves Platform
After ten minutes Of commotion
Townley left the platform. Kukowski
;aid he was not spokesman for busi-
ness men, but supposed they opposed
The league for the same reason he did,
because their taxes had been trebled
without anything to show for their
money.
He asked lot of pertinent questions
that Townley would not answer when
le resumed the stage and rambled off
nto discussion of things immaterial
% the disgust of the audience.
ToWnley then sneeringly said he
would give someone else ten minutes
and J. NJ. Sill, another farmer. went
lfter him rough shod demanding ex-
plicit answers why he opposed the
initiated measures, especially those
pertaining to the bank. He asked
why one law was made for the exam
nation of private banks and another
for the Bank of North Dakota. GA
Joker in the Jaw prohibits the@ bank
examiner from examining liabilities of
he Bank of North DakOta.)
TOwnley's weak answer was that he
was not running the bank and the
crowd exploded again. Townley said
if anyone wanted answers to those
questions they could go to Bismarck
md interview Cathro. He totally ig
nored the question as to why $4,000
was loaned a nonresident, an uncle
Of Congressman John Baer, when
farmers could not get money to finance
their crops But Townley was not an
swering questions like that and the
crowd jeered him. many women invit-
ing him to go back to st. Paul.
Boss Is HumbIcd
TOWnley was in an humble state OF
mind when he left. He said he only
came out here to learn first hand why
business men were fighting farmers.
This was the burden Of his speech and
into this he put venom enough to
poison some. But he did not threaten
boycott He evidently had been feel
ing a reaction on that threat. He
talked of war on grain gamblers, the
beef trust, bankers and price tixers.
Not business or professional man in
terrupted him.
A dozen farmers took advantage of
the opportunity Townley offered to
interrupt him and ask questions.
Altogether Townley was a whipped
man when he closed his speech plead
ing for peace between classes.
Everybody who knew him in the old
DAYS remarked that his pep was all
gone and they believed him when he
said the league was beaten unless it
could rake up every vote from former
members He pleaded with his fol-
lowers to go out in gangs campaign
ing.
Admit He's Slipping
Even Townley's own followers ad-
nit that he has lost prestige. He acc
ually drove away votes because he
LIZ I'll