The Bismarck tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, N.D.) 1916-current, 1922-02-27
T0WNLEY SAYS
SUIT STARTED
UNNECESSARY
Head of League Declares Agree
ment Made to Leave Paper
Title to Convention
INJUNCTION is ISSUED
Majority of State Committee
Gets Order Directed Against
Townley, Lemke
INJUNCTION IS ISSUED

, Gets Order Directed Against
TOwnley, Lemke
Fargo, Feb. 27-A G. Townley
president Of the National Nonpartisan
League, last night termed "unneces-
sary" action begun in district court
here Saturday to force Mr.. Townley,
William Lemke and the Nonpartisan
Publishing company, common law
trust, to transfer to the state execu-
tive committee of the league stock IN
the Courier-News, official league
newspaper, to which they have title as
holders in trust
Believing that Mr.. Townley had
come to, Fargo to carry out oeai
for the sale of the Courier-NeWs TO
a Washington maf as announced IN
a letter to the state executive commit
tee. the committee, through Attorney
Harry Lashowitz, brought suit in the
district court to force transfer OF the
stock. At the same time the PLAIN
tiffs obtained temporary ln1unctlon
restraining the defendants from IN
terfering with or attempting to take
possession of the Courier-NeWs or
interfering in the management OF tne
paper by the leagues state executive
committee until March 80. This was
the date set for a hearing when the
defendants must appear before the
court and show cause why the injunc-
ton should not be made permanent.
Leaves 1t to Convention.
Mr.. Townley told the Associated
Press last night that he had not
changed. his plans to carry out his
Part of an agreement reached several
months ago which provides that no
action be taken toward transferring
the stock in question until the state
convention to be held late next month
1T was agreed that the convention
should decide who should hold the
stock" MIR. Towney said, "and I still
intend to leave 1t up to the delegates.
Their decision will be my decision"
Mr.. Townley was confident that "ev-
erything will be Strengthened out" at
the state convention.
Fargo, N. D., Feb. 27.-Judge A. T.
Cole Of the Cass county district court
Saturday issued temporary injunc-
tion restraining A. G. Townley, presi-
dent of the National Nonpartisan
league; William Lemke and the Non
partisan Publishing company, a COM
mon law trust, consisting of William
Lemke, F. B. Wood, John Thompson,
Herbert e. CASTOR and Albert J. Fox,
from interfering with or attempting to
take possession Of the Courier-News
official league newspaper, or to inter-
fere ,eith the management of THE
Ccurier-News by the league state ex-
ecutive committee.
The defendants. Townley, ct al,
ar given until March 30 to appear
before the court and show cause why
the Injunction shall not be made per-
manent.
1t was announced at league state
headquarterss that this suit was
brought because Townley and
Lemke refuse to live up to their pro-
misses made early last simmer to give
to the leaguers full title to the Cour-
ier-News and also because the COM
mittee had seen copies Of letter writ
ten in Washington, D. c., to North
Dakota people by man who claims
that he has made deal with TOwnley
to buy the Courier-News. In this let
ter, it. was said, this man asks for
financial aid in swinging the deal.
The papers in the case were served
on Townley and Lemke Saturday while
they were in conference with leaguers
from various sections Of the state.
At this meetine Townley is said to
have declared that he would not turn
the paper over to the committee un-
til the matter had been taken up at
the state convention to ibe held late
next month. Townley, it is reported,
admitted that he had repeatedly de-
MED the state executive committees
request that the farmers Of North Da
kota. subscribers of stock in the Cour-
ier-News, be given full title to the
paperA
1t was shortly after Townley had
again repeated his determination not
to give the league in North Dakota
full title to the newspaper, which was
purchased and has been sustained for
luTee years NY llOHcy oOliCltCu Aioui
North Dakota leaguers, that con-
stable served a copy of the complaint
and of the courts order on him.
Defendants Held Stock
It is set out in the complaint filed
in district court today that the Cour-
ier-News was purchased by the Nom
partisan league in North Dakota in
1915 and that at that time Townley
and Lemke were in charge OF the
league management; that the capital
stock of the Courier-News at that
time was placed in the name OF the
defendants in trust because the
league then organized could not leg
ally hold this stock.
The complaint further alleges that
the paper was purchased with the
money contributed by the members;
that when the organization in this
state elected it's own managers, the
executive committee of five, an agree
ment had been entered into with the
holders of the stock in trust that il
would be turned over to this com.
mittee or board of directors selected
to hold the stock for the membershi
1t is alleged that this promise has moi
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