The Bismarck Tribune Newspaper, March 25, 1919, Page 1

“BIS THIRTY-NINTH YEAR. NO. 71. LANGER CALLS: TOWNLEY’S HAND IN BRIBE STORY Personally Calls Upon President to Claim $1,000 Reward for Evidence ANXIOUS TO. PROSECUTE Would Put Jobbers Behind, Bars for Any Illegal Prac- tices Proven Attorney General Langer calls ‘President ‘A. C. Townley’s hand in a statement issued today offer- ing a reward of $1,000 for proof that, as claimed by the Fargo Courier-News on Sunday, a plot has been hatched in which $40,000 is to be used to illegally harrass the United Consumers’ Store Co. The Fargo story was #0 wordéd as to intimate that the Consumers’ Unit- ed Stores Co, considered the investi- gation of its business ordered by the ;blue sky commission, of which Mr. Langer is & member, a part of t! plot. In addition to offering a reward of $1,000, “as an individual and’ citizen o fthe state’ of North Dakota,” for any evidence which will lead to the apprehension and conviction of any person, idividual, associatio or cor- poratio implicated in said illegal plot inviolation of the state laws,” Mr. Langer has wired William C. Green, state’s attorney of Cass county, re- questing that he investigate a phase of the Courier-News story to the ef- fect that Fargo wholesalers and job- bers last Thursday evening raised $1,500 to be put into a fund of $40,000 which the Fargo paper alleged is be- ing raised in the Twin Cities for the purpose of illegally fighting the Unit- ed Consumers’ Stores Co. “Borrowed the Money.” >To relieve the public of any suspicion that he has at this time a sudden accession of wealth, Mr. Langer naively closes his reward motice with the postscript: “I borrowed the money.” The notice follows: “To whom it may concern, and especially the officers and attor- neys of the United Consumers’ ‘Stores Co., the editor and.officers. of the Courien-News sublishing company, the chief of police of Fargo, the sheriff, of Cass coun- ty, North Dakota, the United >::| States Marshal, ANO TO A. C. TOWNLEY: Sire SP See es t { “Mmformation having this day been published in the Courier-News of Far- go. N. Dak, that.a plot has been hatched, as. part of which there was a meeting in Fargo on March’ 20, 1919, at which $1,500 way raised as a part of a fund of $40,000, with which to Megally harrass the, United Consum- ers ;Stores.Co., you are hereby noti- fied that I as an individual’ and citi- zen of the state of North Dako:a have deposited the sum of $1,009 in the Farmiers’ Equity State bank of Mandan, at Mandan, N. D., to be paid by me personally for any evidence which will lead to the apprehension and conviction of any person, individ- ual, association, or corporation impli- cated in said ilegal plot in violation of the state laws. “WILLIAM, LANG “ATORNEY GED I BORROWED ER, AL THE MONEY.” Asks Prosecutor to Act. To William C. Green, state’s attor- ney, of Cass county, Mr. Langer wrote: ; “The Courier News this morning states that Fargo wholesalers ard jobbers Tuursday.eyening raised $',- 400 to be put into a fund of $40,006 now alleged as being raised in the Twin Cities for the purpose of il'e- gally fighting the United Consumers’ Stores Co. : “You are hereby instructed to in vestigate these charges. I suggest that you immediately interview the editor and. officers of the Courier- News and the officers of the Consum- ers’ United Stores Co. for the purpose of getting evidence against any whole- salers or jobbers and that if you “ave evidence even to warrant a prima fa¢ie’vase, that you imediately arrest the jobber or wuolesaler or both. hereby tender the services of one of my assitsants and the powers of my office to assist you. It is my earnest desire that. you investigate these charges thoroughly and impartially and assiduously, and that you bring the guilty individual or corporations to justice.. I assure you of my zealous jed the service to deteriorate in some ‘\shing. ‘transmitted to Governor Fra- NORTH: DAKOTA TELEPHONE MEN TALK CONTROL Government Regulation of Public Utilities Important Topic at Valley ~ STEELE DISCUSSES TAXES Valley City, N. D. March) 25.— ernment control of telephone compan- ies, regulation of public utilities and workmen's compensation laws are to be discussed at the thirteenth annual convention of the North Dakota Tele- phone association which opened a three-day session here this afternoon. J. M. Smith of Beach, president of the association, discussed the handi- caps under which telephone compan- ies-hove worked during and since the war. The increased cost of supplies and the shortage of much of the ma- terial used in. repairs and co: tion of new lines, he said, had ¢: sections, but telephone men is gen- eral are meeting these conditions. without additional expense to the subscribers. George W. Robinson, district super-! visor of independent companies of Minnesota and North Dakota talked on the benefits and difficulties en- countered in government control. Other speakers wio will address the convention during the session are William Langer, attorney general of the state, who will discuss “Regula- tion of Public Utilities,” H. H. Steele, of the state tax conimission, who will talk on “Taxation,” and John H. Ha gan, commissioner of agriculture acd labor of North Dakota, who will talk on the “Workmen's Compensation Law.” FORTY-FIRST DIVISION Is COMPLIMENTED Black Jack Pershing Pays His| Respects to Fighting Bunch of Sons-of-Guns Bismarck boys of the Fighting First who were members of the 41st divis- fon have a reason\ to feel elated to- day over a letter from General Per- aier by Major General Peter E. Traub. General Pershing in part says: “I wish+to-compliment: the»41st .di-| a6 vision on its appearance and bearing in embarkation camp at Brest. This division had the longest ad hardest; career of service in fhe American Expeditionary Force. It was one of the first five divisions_to arrive in France, organized and‘ trained as a combat unit, it was. immediately brok- en up and a majority of its ‘personnel | was sent to combat units. “The part these men played is 4 matter of his- tory of the first, second, 26th and 42nd divisions, with which they were ident- ified.” J The letter, which continues in this eulogistic vein, will be preserved and given a prominent place in the arch- ives which are to fid a permanent home in North Dakota's Victory mem- orial building. | C.E.STANGELAND | LANDS ON LEAGUE PAYROLL AT $5000 Reports at Capitol Have It That; Former Diplomat Is to Be ~ Bank Official C. E. Stangeland, report has it. here, soon is to become an influential zen of North Dakota, in no less ca’ city than that om statistician for the Bank of North Dakota, at a salary ot $5.000 per annum. About the capitol, they're asking, “Who is this man Stangeland?” It may be, ’tis said, taat he is the same gentleman who represented the United States as a diplomat to- Bo- livia; that it is the same Stange! who was a member of the American diplomatic corps in London; -that it is|.possible that he is the same Mr. Stangeland who was indicted by a United States grand jury on a charge of sedition. : It is said for certain that Mr. Stangeland is now in St. Paul and al- ready on the pay-roll of the league, at $5,000 per annum. cooperation.” ji -ROAD WORK LET Contracts Awarded for 30% Miles in Williams The state highway department to- day announced®the letting of 30 1-2 miles of federal aid highway con- struction in Williams county. The road grading goes to Schultz Bros. of Bowbells and the bridge and’ cul- vert work to the Independent Bridge Co. of Minneapolis. PRESTON HOME AGAIN Bismarck Officer Returns From the Front Lieut. Ward Preston of Co. K, the There was a rumor some time ago to the effect that ‘Mr. Stangeland was to become professor of economicy at the University of North Dakota, but it is said’ that the league management found its interests already well cared for in this institution and that it was decided to use Mr. Stangeland else- where. NORTH DAKOTA : FIRST AGAIN “North Dakota is first again,” Proudly announced Adjutant General Fraser today. “This time it enjoys the distinction of being the first state to close the work of all its local boards ad to'ship all supplies and records {ter appearing in the St. -1 annum, is to be -| office and operating expense. DADDY ROOSEVELT Cornehus and Theodore, Jr. THURSDAY TO BE BIG DAY FOR OUR GLORIOUS STATE Two-Ring Circus to Be Staged by: League Officials at the State House Thursday promises to be an inter- esting day at the capitol. This is the date set by the industrial commissio> for the selection of a temporary site for the Bank of North Dakola. The claimg of several. cities which are seeking this institution will be con- sidered. It is also the date set by the blue sky commission for, its in- vestigation of the operations of the Consumers’ United Stores Co., which ing disclosures. The officials of the Consumers’ Wpnited Stores Co. defied the original rder of the blue sky commission de manding that) the ‘managers of ‘the Townley chain store system appear and produce their books. As a result |a-second and more pointed. command “Wwvuetl* Whethér the Consumers Co, will continue with its: defiance remains to be seen: In that event. ii is understood the ‘blue sky voard has ample recourse. SHEAHAN FINDS TAX STATEMENT Deputy Says Thompson of Ban- try Made Mistake Common to Some Legislators Thomas J. S deputy in charge of the hi rance depart- ment'in Commissioner Olsness’ office. calls attention to an error made by G. C. Thompson of Bantry: in a let- Paul Dis- patch and copied in North Dakota. Mr. Thompson conveys the impression that the flat tax of three cents per acre on all tillable land, expected to yield from $900,000 to $1,000,000 per sed solely to defray An ap- propriation of $50,000 is made for the use of the hail department in estab- lishing its office and meeting: operat- ing expenses during the first year, ad- visesyMr. Sheahan, and the tiree-cent acredge tax goes into a general pot, to form a nucleus for the fund from which hail losses will be paid. Mr. Sheahan finds that Mr. Thomp- son in estimating that the maximum assessment of 5) cents per acre al- lowed by the act will not be suffi- clent to cover the average total loss in\this state has not taken into ac- count the revenue which will be de- rived from this flat tax of three cents per acre. In assuming that this flat tax is. solely to provide money for office and operating: expenses, Mr. ‘Thompson, says Deputy Sheahan, has fallen into. an error that was enter- tained’ by some Of the legislators when the bill was under consideration, and which is due, probably, to a somewhat ambiguous wording of the bill. It is not expected that the cost of opera- tion, which will include office ex- pense and the commissions allowed adjusters, will exceed the $50,000 which has een allowed by the legisla- ture for the first year. After this year, the expense will be paid from the receipts from acreage tax and as- sessments. BLISS HEADS COMPANY ° Poputat Former State Official in into Washington. This has been done and . all help has been dis- charged: Barnes’ is' the first county in the state to go one step further and dispose of the property which the government authorized it t» sell. The North Dakota draft boards handled a total of 166,072 cases in the approximately 20 months during ’ Business Jay W. Bliss, former state engineer and recently a lieutenant In the’ U.S. army engineer -corps, is executive head ‘of the Dakota Bgineering & Construction Co., of Valley City, which has just filed its articles with the Dickinson unit in the 164th, but who] which they were active. The number] secretary of state. Associated with went overseas with Co. A of Bis- marck, is home after more than a year’s active service in France. of registrants classified technically as femoris will be less than one per cent Bliss are K. C. Schmidt, R. Engineer F. H. Bradshaw and L. B. ‘M." Stee, Dale. HOME FROM is expected to result in some interest- ERROR IN HAIL. IS OVERSEAS 4 This is the first picture of Lieut. Col. Theodore Roosevelt and his family to be taken after his return from service in France with the 26th U.S. Intantry. Mrs. Roosevelt has been home but a short time. She was the first canteen worker to be’sent to France by the Y. M. C. A. The children from left to right are Grace, THOUGHTS THAT WDONNELLS MAY PLEAD GUILTY Officers Declare They Are Draw- ins Net Closer . About Allezed Murderers SOUGHT TO COVER CRIME Alleged That Father Attempted to Secure Coffin Without ! Certificate i: Jamestown, D. March 25.— | (Special)—That Dan Mcwonnell and his wife, Mrs. Etta McDonnell, held in the Stutsman cdttaty; jail here on @ charge of murder in, tie first degree asa result of the death of their 12- year-old daughter, Etta, slain, it Is alleged, at their hands Friday morn- ing, March 14, at the McDonnell farm {home oné and one-half iniles north of Courtenay, may plead. guilty| to the jcharge preferred. against them, was [the contention of county oftictals to- day. | it is alleged by those assembling ev- [idence in tne case for-use in the eveat the case does come to trial, that their conviction is most probable. Both are still confined to separate cells in tne county jail, neither apparently show- ing any remorse over the loss of their {innocent little daughter, beaten and kucked to death, 1 is alleged, in one of the mosi brutal assaults on record in this section of the state. George Berg, prominent Kensal farmer, in Jamestown last week to attend the round-up meetings of Stuts- man farmers, has taken charge of the stock on the McDonnell tarm. Mr. berg is the owner of the farm. The stock was mortgaged, it is repprted, and Mr. Berg will handle aftairs and attempt to straighten out the tangle.. Evidence Very Strong. Evidence against the McDonnells is said to be very strong, officials with- holding many important pieces of tes- timony to produce at the trial, if one [is mecesea ly Vhe coroner's jury conducting the inquest at Courtenay three days after tne crime was committed returned a strong verdict, charging Mr. and iMrs.. McDonnell directly as being re- ‘sponsible for their daughter's death. | “Etta McDonnell came to her death | by blows inflicted on the head and body, ‘blows inflicted on the head causing concussion of the brain, said | blows being delivered by Mr. and Mrs, j'McDonneil,” was the verdict returned by the jury. That the little girl was also in a starved condition, starvation being a |eontributory cause of death, is also the claim of Coroner T, L. DePuy. |Dr. W. W. Wood and Dr. W. A. Ger- rish, who conducted 4 thorough post- mortem over the remains. Like Famished Animal. A piece of bone the size of a per son’s little finger was found in the llittle girl's stomach during the au- topsy, indicating that her hunged was so great shortly before her death she seized ‘on any morsel of food with the (Continued on Page Two.) ———— | Vote Next Tuesday Every man and woman in Bismarck Who has the right to vote owes it to himself or herself and the future of the city to go to the’ polls next | j Tuesday and ballot; on the city - com missionership. There are four candidates in | | field for .two city commis- sionerships, and in'this'con- test. women may vote. A po- ‘lice magistrate also’ is to be BISMARCK, NORTH DAKOTA TUESDAY, MARCH 25, 1919 @/| aries or less hours. elected, and ‘there are three candidates’ for this. office. arg April 1, is election . 2° | PRICE FIVE CENTS NEW TAX PLAN AS USUAL HITS PLAIN FARMER League Agriculturist of Golden Valley County Shows Where Farms Come In CITIES FIRST TO BENEFIT Town Property Will Pay Smaller Proportion—Renters Are Helped, Also Banks Writing from Beach, J. M. Still, a pioneer league farmer of Golden Val- ley, furnished the following interest- ing analysis of the probable effect of the league “expert” taxation plan adopted at the recent session of legis- lature and now in effect: 1 have noticed several’ predictions relative to the new tax schedule. I am only a taxpayer. As, such one gains experiences that most tax ex- Derts do not. The farmers must ex- pect to pay more taxes to carryout their programs. However I doubt if they have considered the vast amount of city valuations which will be less in proportion to the count under the new schedule. Slight differences will be noticed in the personal valuations, but in the real estate it will be an important {tem. For example, in our little Gold- en Valley county the exemptions of our farm improvements will exempt a trifle over one-twentieth of our country real estate valuation. To ex- empt a like amount of city real estate, in proportion in this county, basing each on the new schedule, it will re- quiré. but 50 homes, valued at $2,000, to equal the country exemption in like Proportion. Ail additional reductions | of city real estate below 100 per cent in tals county will in addition lessen the city valuations in relation to the} country, The equalization board may | strive to overcome this but as all} other city real estate is assessed 100 per cent it will be impossiblé to low- er farm lands. They will also have difficulty’as they also are in the 100 ber cent class with railroads. - The farmers may Yind they are hooked in the same old place. It will, however, be a valuable lesson as to} just what the single tax would do te! the farmer. We can feel grateful that our Jegislators did not see fit to fall| for the tax schedule presented, espe-| clally in reference to city values. Mr.j Martin’ stated in Beach it was because | the cities objected and had they not! the farmers would have exempted all! city homes. Thanks to the city ob- Jector. Values are Reversed. A vacant city lot. bears,,about. the relative value as a farm home with no land in connection. The quality of the land largely makes farm values, but it is the structure that makes city values. As farm Improvements make up a small amount of country! values, city improvements make up} the bulk of city values. It is from this| class the investor in city property gains an. income, while on the farm it is opposite. The farm equipment exemption also; is some joke, as it will benefit the | farmer. The $1,000 exemption in this county will exempt an item which un- der our present schedule amounts to $29,000. The $50 exemption that has been in effect exempted in the aggre- gate this amount, and largely the household goods. The small farmer wil receive a less relative benefit, by the new schedule. True all his prop- erty of this class will be exempt, but] the large farmer will get a larger per- centage exemption, though in few cases will any farmer reach the full exemption. This class of property has received a light assessment, and rep- resents a small item in farm equip- ment. Shifted to Farmer. If the new schedule shifts the tax responsibility in all parts of the state as here, I question the advantages they claim shifting it to the one most able to bear it, unless that one is the farmer. The farm improvement exemption will favor us fellows with good im- provements. We like it, it shifts to the vacant land and the farmer who has not been able to build so ex- tensively. The difference is hardly no- ticeable, on account of a low assess- ment, and such a farmer usually has land in proportion to his good im- provements. The renter will be great- ly benefitted. His tax shifts to the land owyer who will get the small benefits under the small exemptions, and other land owners. In my own! tax to figure it under the new sched- ule, with like levies, on a section of land well improved, a large amount of stock, my tax would be considerable less. My neighbor, with small im- provements and a small amount of stock pays it. The merchant, machine companies and Standard Oil at 50 per cent also shifts not to city property in values, but through less values in the city to the farmer in additional taxes. As usual every time a shift is made the farmer gets ,whether it is increased taxes, profits, higher sal- We understand! the system but don't like the quick! shift. The farmer just takes a little less, works just a little later to make this world better for other people to! live in. | : Benefits on the Reverse. The farmer has placed great hopes in the N. P. L. program, but the thing comes to him backward, as ysual. We hope its organizers will get all they want quick and‘then lay off and. let ‘the farmer catch up. 4 We, so to speak, cleaned the politi- GERMAN-AUSTRIA AFFECTED BY . DISTURBANCES IN HUNGARY: ABOLISH TITLES OF RANK Socialists Take Over Government in Most of Lead- ing Cities—Don Cossacks Hold Back Bolshe- viki Regiments—Paris Conference Blamed for Trouble. : Paris, March 25.—The conditions in Hungary seemed to have affected German-Austria. “Advices to the American peace con- ference delegates from private agents in Vienna indicate the existence of a threatening state of affairs there. “One of the agents reports that even the date has. been ‘fixed for some time in April for the transformation of the existing government into a Soviet government, which will co-operate or merge with the government of the Hungarian Soviet. + (By the Associated Press) MARTIAL LAW PROCLAIMED i Paris (Monday), March 24.—Unofficial reports from Buda- pest state allied missions there are debating the advisability of leaving and that the disarmament of French troops in the city is being considered. American representatives are being assured protection, and may be asked to remain. Martial law has been proclaimed and the death penalty pre- scribed for armed resistance to the Bolsheviki. A fine of 5,000 crowns has been fixed for the sale of alcoholic liquor and ten thousand for drinking it. Two British monitors are réported on their way up the river. All the delegates to the peace conference are very anxious, regarding the situation in eastern Europe and are impressed with the necessity of doing something to hasten the return of. normal conditions. Beginning Tuesday morning the conferees will hold two sessions daily to bring to early settlement the principal questions. CHARGE CONFERENCE . London, March 25.—Morning newspapers unanimously charge the Paris peace conference with responsibility for Hungary em- bracing Bolshevism and the general delay in promoting peace. The Post accuses the conference of delaying peace while “its-ideal- ists are following the will o’ the wisp called the league of nations.” : DISCUSS COVENANT Paris, March -25.—The conference discussing the covenant of the league of nations has disposed tentatively of the first sixteen sections which they believe will answer the objections of Senator Lodge and other American statesmen. No action was taken on amendments for safeguarding the Monroe doctrine, but this. subject probably will be considered Wednesday. The Japanese amendment for securing equality of nations belonging to the league was not considered tonight. The entire covenant when amended and agreed upon by the committee will be submitted to a drafting committee which will put it in more legal form before going to the supreme council. PANIC PREVAILS : Copenhagen, March 25.—The claims of the Hungarian Bol- sheviks as set forth in a wireless message are largely untrue, ‘says a Hungarian newspaper. Panic prevails in Budapest, but the country, it is said; has not yet decided’on a Bolshevik republic. The alleged voluntary surrender of arms by the French troops because they were infected with Bolshevism is denied. 4 The correspondent says that the rumored advance of Russian soviet troops, toward Hungary, has no foundation. Eye witnesses who have reached Vienna from Budapest report the streets of Budapest were very lively Friday afternoon. Processions were in progress. Shops were hastily closed. When the excitement was: at its highest, heavily armed soldiers appeared and announced that Count Karolyi has just resigned. REACH BRODY Berne (Monday), March 24.—The Bolshevik army which is on its way to Hungary has reached, Brody, according to latest news here. Brody is a city in northeastern Galicia, 50 miles west’ of Lemberg. TO OPPOSE ENTENTE Vienna (Monday), March 24.—A dispatch to the Neue Freie Presse declares all the non-socialist parties in Hungary will support the new government, for the reason, it is said, it has been decided to oppose the entente. RUMANIA MENACED , Paris, March 25.—Budapest dispatches say Count Michael Karolyi, former premier of Hungary, has been negotiating with the Moscow soviet government since last November through M. Rokovzky, with the object of introducing Bolshevism into Hun- gary, Rumania and Jugo-Slavonia. “Rumania is seriously menaced,” the dispatch says. “The allies should rush men, munitions and food there, for every hour lost may have serious consequences.” i The Rumanians and Czech-Slovaks are said to be mobilizing troops. BRITISH-FRENCH MISSION DISARMED Vienna (Sunday), March 23.—A dispatch to the Neve’ Freie Presse says the British-French mission at Budapest, consisting of 246 men, has been disarmed and that a wireless message has been sent Lenine announcing that the allied mission has. left Budapest. “French troops have been disarmed by us and mutinies appeared in some French regiments,” says the dispatch. have “The phrase, ‘the entente won the war but lost the peace,’ may come true,” says the dispatch. : TO ABOLISH TITLES : Amsterdam, March 25.—The new Hungarian ‘government has decided to abolish all titles of rank, to separate the state and church and to dismiss all commissions of the Karolyi government while inviting workmen’s councils to select directors of four mem- bers each to replace them. r DRIVE BOLSHEVIKI OUT London, March 25.—Six Bolsheviki regiments on the northern Den front have been driven over. the Donetz river by the Don Cossacks, according to a dispatch from Ekaarinodarain. ‘The Cos- sacks also reoccupied Ekaarinodarain, the northwestern part of the Don territory. x OCCUPY ALL POSITIONS Copenhagen, March 25.—Extra editions Friday night, accoyd- ing to the correspondent, announced the communionists had oceu- pied all positions. Some rioting occurred in Budapest Friday: and stveral persons were wounded. Sailors occupied the streets in which are situated the consulates and offices of the French and British missions. t Measures were carried out energetically to preserve order. ~ An official statement from Budapest dated March 24th, de- cal slate of bankerg_two years ago, but if our league organizers continue to increase their bank stock in pro- portion for two years more, they will have the old gang: backed off the map. -While we have expected to see farming interests soar, we did feel just a little sympathy for our banker: when we read the Leader. We pause| government, (Continued on Page Seven.) clares that order was prevailing. “In most of the large towns socialists have taken over the administration,” the statement says. - FOR HUNGARIANS ONLY 3 S Prague (Monday), March 24.—In political cireles here it is declared the recent happenings in Budapest have long since arranged by the former provisional. president. change ‘of it is declared, was a politcial maneuver. Masquera (Coutinued on Page Seven) _ : :