Grand Forks herald. [volume] (Grand Forks, N.D.) 1916-1955, 1922-02-28
AGREEMENT ON
C0URIERNEWS
Is PRODUCED
League Chief Once Said He
!. Had Nc Connection
With Paper.

4 Fargo. N. D.. Feh. 2S.-The agree
ment by which it is alleged A. C..
Townley. William Lemke AID others
agreed to turn the Fargo Courier
News over to the executive committee
of the Nonpartisan League has been
brought to light in connection with
the legal battle for the ownership of
the paper which has been started in
the Cass county courts.
The agreement is dated March 2,
1921. and was apparently accepted by
the new executive committee Of the
League on June Is, 1921.
The petition for an Injunction
against Lemke. Townley, ct al made
by the group of Leaguers friendly to
the executive committee sets forth
among other things hat the paper
was turned over to Townley and
Lemke at the time of its purchase in
November, 1916.
Interesting Angle
This is especially interesting since
during his bankruptcy hearing which
took place about a e. after this
date, Townley swore on the witness
stand that he had no interest in the
Courer-News beyond drawing a salary
from the paper.
The alleged agreement is az fol-
lows:
This agreement made this 31st day
Of March. 1921, between the Nonpar-
tisan Publishing company, a common
law trust hereinafter referred to as
the company, and the state executive
committee and their SUCCESSORS of the
National Nonpartisan league in and
for the State of North Dakota, here
matter referred to as h committee,
sCnl-a~-okL. w,-4 ~ .o;5 1r-
pany hereby delivers possession to
the said committee of The Courier
News, a daily newspaper published at
Fargo, N. D., together with all ma
chinery and equipment thereof. =
It is hereby mutually agreed and I'M
derstood that they will hold said pro-
perry so transferred to them as we'll
as all other property which they may
hereinafter acquire, as trustees for
said company during their term of Of
flee as members of said committee,
and upon the expiration of their term
deliver the same to their SUCCESSORS
together with the proceeds thereof for
the following purposes and uses: to
engage in n carry on with such
property and funds a general news
paper business in any and all of its
branches for the purpose of aiding
and furthering the principles, and OBJ
jects of the National N~onpartisan
league, supporting league candidates
for public office, its political and
economic program, and educating the
members OF the said National Non
partisan league and hold the posses
sion of said property in trust for said
purposes.
1T is mutually understood and
agreed that said committee and theil
successors are to hold all said prop
perry and to nave the exclusive man
agement and control thereof subject
to all taxes, insurance, assessments
bills payable, accounts payable, liens
and all other forms of indebtedness
incurred by The Courier-News as per
audit Of Equitable Audit company as
Of date March 81, 1921, which is made
a part hereof by reference, and that
all expenses of operating the same
r to be paid by said committee out
of the proceeds thereof, and shall
have full power and authority to do
any and all things necessary for the
purpose of conducting said business