The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1921-06-10
DUCKED SHARP QUERIES
TOWNLEY DID SIDESTEP-
PING AT AUSTIN
Head of Nonpartisan League Not
So Clipper In the Mime
sofa Debate

Austin, MINI, June 3.-Arthur G.
Townley. president OF the national
Nonpartisan league. failed to answer
and entirely ignored six specific ques-
tions asked HIM by William LANCER,
former NonpartiSan attorney general
in North DAKOTA, who broke with the
leagae IN 1919, in the nrst or series
OF Minnesota debates mere yesterday.
Instead, Iownley charged that Ian
ger had sold out the second largest
state Office in North Dakota TO the
Minneapolis Chamber or commerce
and grain gamblers and had been a
traitor TO the league cause, which he
declared had been administered Tor
the benent OF the people OF the
Flickertail state.
Question asked of Townley by
LANCER follow:
One. Why have taxes advanced
800 per cent in North Dakota
Two. Why is it that North Da-
kota farmers DOW pay greater
percentage OF the tax than they
did before the league obtained
control and the railroads now
pay a lower percentage?
Three. Why were you convict
ed in Jackson county, Minnesota?
Four. DO you still maintain
that the Minnesota Supreme
court is composed OF a bunch OF
crooks?
Five. Why has the Non -parti-
san league lost votes steadily. III
North Dakota?
Six. Did you and your associ-.
ates receive $4,000 of every
$4,000 paid in TO- organize units
OF the United Consumers Stores
in North Dakota?
A crowd of 500 persons, mostly
farmers, including few women, paid
so cents each TO hear the debate.
Sentiment was about equally d.
vided.
Enter Denial.
answering a bitter arrangement OF
the league leaders OF North Dakota,
Townley said:
Il deny the whole doggone works
with a few exceptions. Langers
charges have not one doggone thing
10 do with the league and the league
program. He attempts to connect
me up with the Socialists. ,Langer/1s
a tool OF them to fight the farmers
the grain gamblers. His charges do
not concern the league.
why? Jake PreuS, in his cam
paign did not talk about the league
program at all. Instead, he told OF
the conditions in Russia and what
ne called socialism.
LANCER, in presenting the affirma-
tive side of the question, Resolved
that the Noppartisan league program
in North Dakota, as managed by the
league leaders has been a detrimen1
to the state" declared that North
Dakota, even previous to the league
organization. had been one OF the
most progressive of states with laws
for the farmers, and that during
Townley's early, years in North Da,
kota, Townley had never lifted his
finger to help the farmers.
"Cs=les Edward Russell, who was
defeated as socialist candidate fol
mayor Of New York, was employed tt
start the Nonpartisan league and
have records to show he was paid tC
do So" Langtr said. "Townley takes
full credit to himself for originating
the league. AS matter of fact it re-
suited from meeting of farmers So
cieties at Bismarck.
Making of Machine.
"Townley and F. B. Wood were
members of that farmers committee
They got together and secretely drew
up bylaws and took control of the
proposed farmers organization away
from the farmers. William Lemke
now NonpartisSn attorney general
was called in to draft the bylaws
which provided for the Townley.
Wood Lemke machine, giving it per.
petual control, even in case mem
Der died That is provided by max
ing it possible for the other two Il
elect a third man.
THE Nonpartisan league Is merely
a named used as camoufiage for so.
cialism. Arthur LIE Sueur, who wa:
an attorney for the /. w. W., wal
executive secretary OF the commit
tee I defy Townley to name one o.
the thirteen state managers for the
Nonpartisan league, who is not or ha.
not been a socialist. Some of then
including d. T. DoIman. Montana
manager, also was an l. w. w. Ii
Sueur was once arrested for his &C.
tyiities. Later he and Eugene v
Debs were. in partnership running thu
Peoples college, down in Kansas ant
LIE Sueur used to sign letters to Bill
Haywood with yours for the revolu
ton
Haywood Link Is Alleged:
"Bin Haywood head of the I. w. w.
Walter Thomas Mills and other socialis
leaders, assisted the league ID. G. Coates
who was nominated to head the /. w
W, but who Withdrew in HAYWOOD,
Dakota Nonpartisan publication.
Joseph Gilbert, now serving, time il
Red Wing. MINI. was imported to hell
of Haywood as I. w. w. chief. The Non.
partisan league advertised for organizer.
In the appeal to reason. If this does MOI
mean socialism. what does?'
LANCER asserted that the SIS and 81,
membership did not bring in money rap.
idly enough for the Townley- Lemke- Wooc
trio and that they started the chain o.
United Consumers Stores and collected
S1.l00,0 900 in a few months. He charged
that the stores gave the farmers whC
bought 500 shares no privilege othel
than to pay cash at higher prices thar
other stores asked, and said that M
store ever had more than $1,000 worth OF
goods. though $4,000 was raised for the
store units,
LANCER also declared that the Non.
citing TIE case of the Grand Forks
American, costing $4,000, which han
suspended, as one Of many examples. He
declared that the banks that had been