The Bismarck tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, N.D.) 1916-current, 1923-04-25
FINAL BREAK
WITH N.P.L.lS
SEEN IN FIGHT
North Dakota Leader Defends
Sale of COurier-NeWs; Pro-
grcSsive AsSails Ii
TOWNLEY, WOOD HIT
War Declared on Men in Pow.
er in National NOnp@'tisan
League Organization
TOWNLEY, WOOD HIT

Nonpartisan League publications
III the state are at war today.
On the one hand, the North Dakot:
Leader, to be issued today in Fargo
the official state paper-defcnd.
the sale of the Fargo Courier-New>
as necessary, printing statement:
similar to those made by n. S. Davies
in an interview given in Crane
Forks and printed in The Tribune
Monday.
On the other hand "The Progressive,
the new weekly issued by John An
drcws and p. l.. Arrhus, calls it tho
work of a traitor, and leaves nr
doubt but that it believes A. {
Townlcy is the traitor.
The North Dakota Leader is pub.
lishcd under the direction of the ma
Nonpartisan League, and under the
organization contract which the
league held with "A. c. Townley was
to get 81 of the biennial dues for its
support,
Frank B. Wood, member of the ma
tional executive committee of the
Nonpartisan League, is bitterly as
sailed by the Andrews paper. 1t was
at Mr.. Woods house years ago, many
say, that the idea of the Nonpartl-
san League was worked out.
John Bloom. former business man.
ager Of the Courier-News, denied
knowledge of a telegram sent out
some days ago purporting to be
signed by himself and John Andrews
denouncing the sale.
The sale of the Courier News is
regarded by some as retaliation Oh
the party of Townley for the action
of the league state convention here
in breaking his organization and vir-
tually severing itself from tho ma
tionaI organization.
Happened Suddenly.
"The trick was turned almost with
in one hour" says The Progressive IN
It's first issue, commenting upon the
sale "The editor, John Andrews,
was advised at 3 o'clock or there
abouts by the United Press repre-
sentative that the paper had been
Sold and at 4 o'clock was busy re-
moving his papers from his desk and
clearing his room for his successor.
1t was fast work.
at appears That the papers in the
deal were signed the night previous,
although the transaction has been
under consideration for months. The
following day about 1880, F. B. Wood.
member of the National Nonparti-
,vnnnti,yn tina
pcared with his son, Howard, former
lieutenant governor; II. A. Paddock,
A. c. Townley's legal adviser, and
Johnson and Merrick, auditors and
accountants, at the office of the
Courier-News and broke the news 10
John H. Bloom, manager in charge
of the only daily newspaper in the
United States owned and controlled
by farmers.
THE property was turned over and
possession given without a word OF
protest then, and the accountants |
were given possession of the books
and were soon busy upon them, pre-
paratory to the statement required
to be made to the new owner.
"There was also need for speed. |
An injunction granted by Judge A. t.
Cole of the district court had been |
issued in March, 1922, forbidding the
sale of the plant or paper until
hearing could be had on the COM
plant filed by about 20 Nonpartisan
farmers, which complaint alleged
that the national executive commit
tee and the majority stockholder.
none other than our dear old balance
of power friend, A. c. Townley--i
were planning to sell or dispose Of
the paper which the money of the
farmers of North Dakota had paid
for. This injunction still stood and
might have been a stumbling block,
had it been produced. Contempt OF
court sometimes results seriously in
North Dakota. But the trick was
turned 'on high and the injunction
was only scrap of paper when the
parties to whom it was addressed
were across the Red river.
Arguments Prepared.
"Those who approved of or con-
done the perfidy involved in the sale
of the Courier-News in this manner
have prepared the usual convincing
to cover their retreat.
They DECLARE that the paper was los
ing money and would have eventu-
ally collapsed. This claim is met by
he business manager, Mr.: John H.
Bloom, who declares that the paper (
lad no pressing obligations and was .
meeting all demands.
"They declare that the Courier
News was q cause of more trouble
within the league ranks than any
,ther single thing. and that it was
urned over to the enemy and sill
need in the interests of harmony
within the league. The only trouble
hat ever arose was when A. C. Town
ey tried to use the paper to put
'ver his balance of power plan and
an against the opposition of ma
ority of the state executive commit 4
ec of the league, which used the t
'aper to fight his scheme and de- p
Gated it, "a
Perhaps annoyance was felt by n
hose who owned the controlling e
Continued on page thrse.) +