The Bismarck tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, N.D.) 1916-current, 1921-06-28
F. B. WOOD
WITNESS
IN DIST. COURT
One of Executive Committeeman
of Nonpartisan League Tells
of Early Days
TALKED BUYING BANKS
Said That Executive Committee
of League Discussed Buy
ing Banks in State

Governor IL. ]. Frazier was called
this afternoon in district court as the
first witness on the BrintOn perjury
case On direct examination the Gov.
ernor denied there had been a con-
troversy over the policy Of the Bank
Of North Dakota at its inception. He
said he did not remember that J. w.
Brinton had shown him slip regard.
ing various notes which were brought
to the Bank of North Dakota from
the Scandinavian-American bank and
which resulted in controversy. At
the beginning Of crOss.examination he
said that Brinton had sent him let.
ter in August, 1919, in which BrintOn
complained about certain paper IN the
bank. The Governor said he cOnsid'
cred the, statements so absurd he
didn't pay much attention to them
The cross.examinatiOn was expected
to he lengthy.
The financial history of the Non
partisan league in the early years OF
it's organization was reviewed In dis
trict court today in trial OF j. w. Brin-
ton. charged with perjury, when Fran
els B. Wood, one of three members Of
National Nonpartisan league executive
committee was placed on the witness
stand.
Mr.. Wood was called as witness
by the state In an effort to prove the
falsity of BrintOn's testimony before
house investigating committee that
Nonpartisan league executive commit
tee composed of A. C. Townley, Will
liam Lemke and Wood talked over
purchase of Scandinavian-American
bank Of Fargo in the presence Of
Brinton and J. J. Hastings, formerly
league employe.
Mr.. Wood declared that the matter
of the purchase of the bank was not
discussed by executive committee In
St. Paul in the particular conversa-
ton Brinton referred to. He added
that he had talked to members of ex-
ecutive committee about the purchase
of banks and probably the Scandi-
navian-American bank" He could not
remember that he ever talked about
purchase in presence of Brinton, he told
j. J. Weeks, special prosecutor in case.
Recalls League Birth.
In his cross examination Arthur Le.
Sueur, formerly active In league, re-
called that Wood filed on a farm near
Deering, North Dakota, In 1900, and
said he believed LeSueur made out pa
pers.
do you remember when l used to
come out to your house from Minot
and show you the milling charts and
talk about them?" LeSueur asked.
"Yes," replied Wood.
And you remember a man named
A. c. T0wnley coming there to visit
at your house?"
"Yes"
''That is the time when this organ
ization was born, when this man came
to your place, was it nOt?" .
Objections OF counsel for the state
to this line of testimony ended the dis
cussion. Mr.. Wood said that he Is now
living in Minneapolis In charge of the
livestock department OF the Equity
Cooperative Exchange.
1t was found difficult to finance Nom
partisan league in early days MIR.
Wood said, and the executive commit
tee discussed the buying OF bank to
assist -
And as a matter of fact the Scandi-
navian- american was one of them,"
asked LeSueur.
"Yes, think it was," replied wit
ness.
Mr.. Wood told of organization of
the League Exchange, Of which he is
president, to assist in financing league,
and of organization OF Consumers
United Stores company, Publishers
National Service Bureau and Northwest
Service Bureau. Hs declared he was
opposed to organization of Consumers
stores and Publishers Service Bureau,
but tried his best to make them go
after they were formed.
Talked Over Purchase.
He said that matter of purchase of
banks was discussed freely. The
League Exchange he said obtained
stock from J. J. Hastings in the Scan
dinavian-American bank, but he de-
MED that the League Exchange and
associates controlled the policy of the
bank for the league. He said william
Lemke opposed buying Scandinavian.
American bank when it was proposed.
Ownership OF Stores.
Another page of financial history OF
the Nonpartisan League and aftilia
tions was brought out during the
cross-examination of H. A. Paddock,
formerly general manager OF the Con-
sumers United Stores company, and
now secretary to the state industrial
commission.
Mr.. Paddock was asked who owned
the Consumers United Stores. He said
that there were 10 shares Of stock, Of
which William Lemke owned seven,
l.. l.. Griffith, one Of the store COM
pany's presidents, one share, and Frel
Miller, assistant to treasurer Of Ma
tional Nonpartisan league, one share.
The owner of the tenth share was not
given. Mr.. Paddock's testimony at
tracted some attention from specta-
h. h.,