The Nonpartisan Leader Newspaper, December 23, 1918, Page 3

Yo L In the interest * .~ for the farmers of a square deal .7, NO. 25 ~ Official Magazine of the National Nonpartisan League A magaziné that dares to print the truth ST. PAUL, MINNESOTA, DECEMBER 23, 1918 WHOLE NUMBER 170 Delegates.Appl‘ove the League’s Books Farmer Representatives From 13 States Find Accounts O. K.—Make Special Investigation of Moneys Drawn by President Townley and EFORE they adjourned, the dele- gates of the Nonpartisan league from 13 states, who met at St. Paul beginning December 3 examined the books of the organization, made a general - financial report for the mem- bers of the League, made a special investigation® and re- port on moneys personally drawn and expended by Mr. Townley, decided to increase Mr. Townley’s salary and took other important action besides the matters reported in last week’s Leader. The following delegates were appointed by the convention to conduct-a thorough investigation of the League’s books and records: Raise His Salary is the most fitted to continue as leader of the or- ganized farmers. This resolution was proposed by Delegate Del Patterson of North Dakota and seconded by Delegate J, D. Ream of Nebraska. It follows in full: = ; the national committee of the NATIONAL NONPAR- TISAN LEAGUE, assembled from 18 states in annual meet- ing this 5th day of December, 1918, desire to place on record our recognition and appreciation of the services of our hon- ored president, A. C. TOWNLEY, his worth as =a man, and his efficiency in the difficult office which he has occupied as the head of this organization during the strenuous period of 'its early history, and to which we have just elected him, as the man who, in our unanimous judgment, is best fitted to be at its helm during the EQUALLY STRENUOUS period which lies ahead of us. and the complete de- all funds handled by A. C. Townley, president of the National Nonpartisan league. Both his salary and personal expenses are found to be normal only, and are insignificant when com- pared with-big business salaries for services and responsibility in any way comparable to the work performed by Mr. Townley in behalf of the League.” Delegate L. L. Stair of North Dakota moved that Mr. Townley’s salary be increased from $3,600 “per year to $5,000 per year. Several farmers rose to second the motion, but the chair recognized -the second of Delegate Riley Rice of -Idaho, and the motion was adopted unanimously. Without any suggestion from Mr. Townley him- His ability, his unflinching courage, votion of his talents to the defense and championship of the rights of the many toilers, as against the oppression of the few who constitute the class of special’ privilege and mo- self or from any member of the League organi- zation staff, the convention adopted a resolution praising Mr. Townley£of the work he had done for the “organization and declaring that he of all men T. A, Welp, Iowa; E. D.- Paquin, Minnesota; Nathan Gorsuch, South Dakota; E. E. Wright, “Texas; W..H. Johnson, Oklahoma; J. I. Cahill, North Dakota; J. M. Collins, Colorado; 0. M. Tronaas; Ida- ho; J. L. Freeman, Weshing- ton; J. L. Coates, Kansas; E. J. Onstad, Wisconsin; R. J. ; Whitaker, Montana; J. D. - Ream, Nebraska. j - This committee, all of whom are farmer members of the " “'various ' state committees of the = League, employed _the services of an independent ~ firm of licensed accountants. ; Due to the charges which have ‘ been made against Mr. Town- = ~ley, to the effect that he had personally profited from - League funds and had mis- : handled the farmers’ money, % the cammittee ascertained " ‘every cent of money -which has been drawn by President S o Townley since the founding of the organization. They found that he personally had drawn the following sums: d From the beginning Recognizing people of the > . . “-of the organiza- R tion, in the spring B of 1915, to Decem- €18 ber 31, 1915 .:...$ 2,963.89 . wl-é During the year 1916 5,247.27 During the’year 1917 12,805.356 January 1, 1918, to £ - October 31, 1918.. b5,065.14 " Total ' ‘during - 43 ) months ........$26,081.65. Average per month.$ 606.55 “Concerning these figures the committee says: : .~ *“This amount-—-includes - Mr. Townley’s salary at “ - 9300 per month, also his - . traveling expemses.” It - ) further includes expenses. = - for automobiles, railroad / fare, " etc., of * Organizers .. and farmers who at times hecompanied Mr. Townley on his trips and assisted him in organization work - for the ‘League/ = - ‘Besides - this reference. to oneys handled by 'Mr, Town- personally, the -main’ body under 'Jm_liti’oné ~off 'to mar is our deliberate opinion that he is the common people who has' arisen in this nation since the SR D 9§pge‘ss;l‘i§ for the Leader: by John M. Baer the grain combine and meat frust is continu- lere pictures: a sitnation ‘that was acute dur- and Not enough feed-on to the farmer, and nopoly, have won the warmest admiration and the complete trust and confld&:nce e of each and all of us who know him, - great service that he is doing for the United States, and for humanity at large, it the greatest leader of day of Abraham Lincoln; and we PLEDGE to him our undivided and unfaltering support in the great task that still lies before us. The complete financial re- port made by the farmer com- mitteemen from 13 states and convention follows: The committee on audit and ac- counts has made an investigation of . the public accountant’s. audit report © # and takes leave to report. First—The committee consisted of. one member each from the following 13 states: North® Dakota,. Minnesota, South Dakota, Montana, Wisconsin, Kansas, Idaho, Nebraska, Oklaho: '(ll‘olor- o, Washington, Iowa an exas. These were all of the states represented. The committeeman in each case was a member of the state committee of the state represented by him and a delegate to the meeting of _the national c?nmlttee.f Second—The work the committee has undertaken has covered the fol-. ‘" lowing: - An examination has heen made of the method of accounting cash received, from the .inception. of the receipt of money from the mem- berships taken to its deposit in the banks. We investigated the method of filing vouchers, organizers’ re- ports, etc., the disbursement of funds by counter signatures, the proper ap- proval of all expense accounts and other expenditures, The result of the investigation of receipts and ex- penditures is: That the bookkeeping provides adequate accounting for the national. office, each state office- and on down to the direct personal ac- count of each' one of the 200,000 or more members, ‘showing in the ' of each member his _not cotn’ceive 3{4! hgew ht: ot accounting ' co .improved upon. Third—We examined the auditor’s report, comparing the same with' the statements of Thomas N. urer, setting forth a complete state- ment of receipts and of expenditures from the ning ‘'of the organiza- tion, May 1,7.1915, ‘to October 81, 1918, and found that in each instance the items in the auditor’s report and the treasurer’s statement to_ check. Your committee were found examined and made 4 tabulation of the reeelpt:n-ndtex- penditures of the various states, and tements . ‘comparing these with the sta of the national office they. were- found report and the treasurer’s of receipts and éxmd! 4 i The auditor's rt covered 'a complete investigation and a’thorough 4 reports, organizers’ | reports, vouchers . for "all ‘expenditures, ‘can- celed checks and bank statements and :vlrlemhins was_found' in" agreement, »e;dlt:&a lfithorlud.v S ourth—The - committee foun: ¥ loyes n y . are. ‘&-::Ptelybph dling ’ funds ade- unanimously adopted by the . the books of account and gone over w audit - of all" the books of aecount, . state izers’ | j accounted - for < and: q‘.”', in agreement with: both the auditor's = | rer’s statement