Omaha daily bee., 1921-05-26
Townley Is
Tern1edLiar
In Debate
Nonpartisan Leader Organizer
OF Money-Crabbing Corpo-
rations, LANCER Charges
At Deshler Meet.
League Head Replies

Deshler. Neb., May 25.-(Special
Telegram. )-Farmers from three
counties gathered here this afternoon
and, under the canopy Of hot, sun
dried tent, listened for TWO hours
to debate on the work Of the Non
partisan league in North Dakota, be-
tween A. c. Townley, national lead
cr of the league, and William Ian
ger, former North Dakota attorney
general and defeated candidate fer
governor against Frazier, Nonparti-
san Lacquer.
Discussion of political economy
was intermixed with bitter invec-
tives by the two speakers. LANCER
repeatedly called Townley liar and
rascal. Townley, always witty, al
ways calm and with a personality
that was winning, said.
II will not call LANCER liar or
a rascal any more than have to-.
LANCER produced figures and le-
gal documents in an attempt 10 prove
that, while Townley based much or
his appeal to the farmers on alleged
thefts of corporations and grain
gamblers, Townley, bankrupt, had
through puppets, been the stellar or
ganizer of money-grabbing corpora
tions in North Dakota.
Charges Money Grabbing.
"This man Townley, this rascal
LANCER said, put his personal ste
nographer in as president of the
Consumers United Stores company
in North Dakota and collected ST.
100000 from the farmers for pur-
chase of Lrye certificates ir the
company. What became of that
money in this concern which is now
insolvent? Here's where it goes, &C
cording to the organization plan
which has been carried out. Take for
example a store against which $50.
GOO 6 this $l,10O,0C0 was charged;
$l1D00 Of that amount went into the
store and $4,000 went into so-called
organization work. This IS only one
of series of such deals"
Continuing, LANCER charged that
while Townley had induced North
Dakota farmers to give thousands OF
dollars for the purchase of Non
partisan league newspaper in every
county in the state, it was arranged
so common stock owned by organ
izers controlled the newspapers and
the preferred stock given to the
farmers was in the minority in pow
er, but not in money invested.
Says Taxes Increased.
LANCER quoted figures which he
said proved that taxes had trebled
from 1918 to 1919 under Nonpartisan
league management in North Dakota.
He cited one farm on which he said
the taxes were $25S in 1918 and $627
in 1919 He cited the failure of AZ
banks in North Dakota under the
Nonpartisan league regime and chal-
lenged Townley to name one bank
in South Dakota that had failed dur
ing a similar period.
I LANCER declared the state was re-
voting against the new rule, which
he named as socialism under a new
cloak, aand pointed to the first cleo
ton of Nonpartisan league gov
ernor by four to one vote and the
last election of the same governor
by bare majority of per cent.
II also want to quote the names
of some of the leaders associated
with Townley and point to their re-
lationship with not only the Non
partisan league. but with the l. w.
w." LANCER said.
He named Arthur Lesseur, national
secretary of the Nonpartisan league,
and declared he had proof that Les
seur also was attorney for the I. w.
w. He charged that the managing
editor of the Townley publications,
David Coates, is an 1. w. w. Town
ley, who had the rebuttal, stated at
the beginning that his hour wouldn't
give him time to answer all the
charges made by LANCER.
Outlines League Pledges.
"1t is often said fool or knavc
can ask more questions in an hour
Turn to PAGE Two Column TwOJ