The Nonpartisan Leader Newspaper, March 9, 1916, Page 2

b L §VES T - purpose - of assisting’ ‘thi Next Week: it confronts. President Townley Makes THE NONPARTISAN LEADER Is League ,Dangerous? Yes, to t Clearcut Answer to Charges ' Contained in Normanden---Wildest of Statements Pub- “lished for Political Purposes—-League Misrepresented In common with a few other manden, the Norwegian weekly newspapers in the state, the Nor- paper at Grand Forks, printed a long screed against the Nonpartisan League in its last issue. The principal charge against it is a secret organization and bos the League and its officers is that sed by a few individuals, therefore it is “the most dangerous political machine in North Dakota.” : President Townley has specifically answered the charges in sn interview given the Courier-News of Fargo, which is published here- with, and there is little left to say in answer to the Normanden, except to say that its article was not based on any faets and was printed for the sole purpose of casting suspicion upon the League and its officers and to arouse the spirit of political prejudice against them. The League is only dangerous to such editors and papers as the Normanden, which have long held political sway over their readers and pulled the wool over the eyes of the farmers of this state. Such editors and papers realize that the organization of the farmers of this state in the Nonpartisan League is going to take the farmers out of range of the influence of political bosses and their - editorial mouthpieces to stand by themselves for their own benefit. This is where the shoe pinches and this is what brings forth the squeals from the opposition newspapers that feel their old political . influence failing and their prestige as political bosses fast waning. Their influence has largely been used for the purpose of keeping the farmer in his present economic and political pondition, so that he may continue to be plucked by the old gang and the old parasites. - But the farmer is fast seeing the new light, and the wolves are crying for their lost sheep. Read President Townley’s specific answer to these charges.’ Says the Courier-News of Tuesday, March 7: Townley Interviewed The Courier-News, as an independ- ent newspaper, and in accord w1§h its usual policy of fairness, has inter- viewed President A. C. Townley of the league, in regard to the charges made by the Normanden, and herewith gives Mr. Townley’s statements: According to Mr. Townley, the ex- ecutive committee of the le_ague is as follows: _A. C. Townley, Minot, presi- dent; F. B. Wood, Deering, vice presi- dent; O. S. Evans, Fargo, secretary- treasurer; T. C. Nelson, New Eng- land, member; E. A. Bowman, Kulm, member. This committee was elected by the members of the league at the time the organization was evidently small, and was to have charge of all the business affairs. There is also a large advisory board consisting of farmers throughout the state, who are called into consultation on matters pertaining to the business transactions of the league. A list of the names of those on this advisory hoard has been furnished the Courier-News and is on file at this office. . Voluntary Organization In speaking of the league’s organi- zation Mr. Townley continued: “The Nonpartisan League is a.voluntary as- sociation of farmers for their own pro- tection, just as the anti-saloon league - or woman'’s suffrage organization is a voluntary association of men and wo- men for their protection and to further their purpose. The funds of the or- ganization are controlled by the ex- ecutive committee and used to further its -interests according to the agree- ment of each. member-when he joins the organization. The league main- tains a bookkeeping department and can show where every pemny: of the funds of this organization is used. The executive comittee will report to the membership and voters-when this~ campaign is over.” -'The statement that the league had: into an agreement with .the . entered Personal Liberty league-in-an effort to: bring the saloons:back into-the state was emphatically denied by Mr. Town- ley-and that while a great many. Ger- mans belong: to:the league they -be- - 1 merely - as farmers, and for the: e themselves: farmers. up-an independent ticket: but, will candidates for their support fromany.« ' > gwe;dod; andifii:ev finnesota and - South -Dakota wheat to smtv‘them-f_ ticket, regardless of party: Whether they indorse - candidate <for 'state office will depend on the way that can- didate’s record looks to them. : Answering ‘the charge that the ‘To Pick Candidates =~ = The league. does. not intend to. put- - league was connected with the Social- ist party President Townley said: “This is an effort on the part of our enemies to destroy the league. This organization has absolutely nothing te do with the Socialist party. In their convention at Minot the Socialists were divided as to whether they should support our movement or not. It has been very difficult to do any or- Just Among OQurselves Good things in next week’s issue of the Leader will include the first article of an impdx:tan_tu_ series on insurance and the lessons the farmers of North Dakota may learn from the experience | of others. In the same issue will appear a study of the history, purposes and accomplishments of the State Agricultural col- lege, the farmers’ school of North Dakota. This is especially designed to show what the school ought to be and the dangers ganization work in Socialist commun- ities. It is true there are many Socialists in our organization, as there are Republicans and Democrats but the organization is nonpartisan.” Mr. Townley stated that no arrange- ment has been made with Clarence Darrow to come here and address lea- gue meetings, and that Mr. Russell was merely to advise the league as a newspaper man and has no further connection: with the organization than he has with any other newspapers that use his stuff. The Nonpartisan Leader proposes to publish articles from anybody regardless of their poli- tics, if they can furnish material that will aid the farmers of the state to get a square deal. 3 Likes Farming Best, . In speaking of his own financial failure at Beach, which has. been criticised, the president of the league said that he carried on farming' op- erations on a large scale in that lo- cality, and in 1912 undertook to farm 8,000 acres of flax. When the crop was seeded flax was worth $2.50 a bushel, but when it was harvested and marketed it was worth less than a dol- lar. Knowing. that his failure that year was caused by the manipulation of the market by the large interests he decided he would not stay on the farm under those conditions. He saw the need of a farmers’ organization for regulating market conditions and has been agitating for such an organiza- tion ever since. The Nonpartisan League is a result of that agitation. Mr. Townley declares that as s}m the League is able to change e X conditions he is going back to Bek and start in again right where he: off. He said he would rather farm than organize farmers any time.-™ To Support Farmers ’\ . On being asked whom the Nonpér- tisan League would support for gov- ernor Mr. Townley made the folf:w- ing statement: “I have no way of knowing whom they will endorse, but have an idea it will be some bona fide farmer. That seems to be the sentiment of the farm- ers, anyway. “Precinct delegates will. meet short- ly in different legislative districts and elect representatives from each dis- Leader Readers Express Faith in Great Cause and Cheer Fellow Members of the League in March to Victory and Justice for the Farmers Cooperation Wins Will you allow me to express some of my thoughts and opinions? I am a Dutchman and been in this country four years and this writing is to the readers of your great fighting paper. Cooperation pays if managed prop- erly. In the country I come from that’s where the farmers do every- thing cooperatively. When they want' to buy anything they do it this way— they have a big organization and when they meet all are present nine times out-of ten. Suppose they want some seed grain. Everyone puts in his order and when everything is ready they ask for bids. The company who has the best grain for salc will get the order and of course ‘cash is always wanted. Nobody ever asks feor time, for the farmers are’ rich. I will remain a faithful fighter for liberty.—HARM ARENDS. L Why Not an Elevator? Would it not be a good plan to use the money some people want to put -into a new capitol into a state-owned and. operated flour mill. with a' 5000- bushel capacity and a 5,000,000 to 10,000,000—cgfiac1ty terminal = elevator at ‘Fargo. ese to be. followed soon by others® at Grand Forks and at a8 - Wahpeton, these again'to be followed' by others at suitable locations until selves. Leader is the onl: " the whole truth. We can heat the world in quality O, SATLOR. of flour and still keep our offals at home to be fed on the farms, thus aiding diversified farming and keeping the profits within the state, besides adding many useful inhabitants to the state list of taxpayers and consumers: —M. 0. WALKER. ; Read from Cover to Cover ‘We read the Leader from cover to cover and think it is great.—S. G. BISTLINE. - Sorry Stopped Check I surely enjoy your paper, the . Leader. In regard to the check, I must say that I for one had stop, payment of my check last fall, but now am sorry that I did, as I receive more facts and benefit out of the Leader alone than any other $6 that I ever spent. I will pay my subsecrip- tion at theearliesfigos&ihle date I-can. —J. 0. S. EKLUND. . The Greatest Movement " Please find inclosed money as my fee for ‘membership- in the e. Please send my certificate of member- shxip at onct%, e ; think the League is the greatest movement the farmers havex::arbed in the history of the world.” The gro and the cause.—C. D. HENDER- if we can’t get what rightful 4o us. I wish the League and Leader and all connected success.— ~tainly paper that tells uccess to the Lead- 1 am glad to see so many farmers . thit,‘grgfliamxilgtn_zote a straight Non- partisan ficket this fall. . We will see ly belongs: —WILLIAM it [N trict to meet in convention on March 31 and April 1 to endorse men for state offices—governor and the rest. - I am not personally acquainted with the delegates or the legislative dele- - gates they will send to the convention, except as members of the organiza- tion, so I have no way of knowing whom they will indorse.” “Ninety per cent of what the Nor- manden says is bunk,” said Mr. Town- ley. “Members of this organization - - were told early last summer that they wa:ild thneeger hear from the §$6 they. Ppai league organiZer, yet they g}?t everything that was promised " em. . : “If members of the erganization choose not to admit to their caucuses editors, _business men and politicians; the criticism of their conduct comes ‘with poor grace from business gentle:=". men and politicians, who have always . followed the same methods in their campaigns to control the state against” the interests of the farmer. “The Normanden charges that the organization is dangerous,” continued the' president of the league. “The Normanden is right. It is dangerous for the political gangsters who have controlled the state but it has no. dangers for the members of the organ- ‘ization—the farmers.” - (o) Newburg, N.'D,; March 5-16. Edlitor Leader: : 5 just. wanted to let you know that the March 3 ‘issue of the Nog‘manden, a Norwegian publi- cation of Grand Forks, comes out with big bold headlines that the League is' today the most dangerous political machine in the state of North Dakota, and that it does everything in secret and that the League is not incor- porated and that it has no legal existence, and they want to know what became of all the League’s | money. 5 Undeubtedly they will be able to turn some of their readers .against the League. Therefore, I :’htzug'hlti it l;.tleya iiuty to inferm you, ut undou Ol Were awar. of the facts. =7 e The Normanden uses as a tool against the 'League the saloon. They say the League is in favor of the saloon. Normanden says they have always been in favor of the society of Equity, but I can remember the time when they did not take very kindly to it. I always considered the Nor- manden an old gang rag. There are many Scandinavians in this state and I believe it would he wise to come back at the Nor- manden in the publication the Fram, Yours traly, : C. J. Swanstrom. No Dissatisfied Members . From all indications here the League 1sf a '(‘lgl;o” tgllfi r(ilght. glave not ,l‘zlfimig o1 a dissatisfied member yet.—FRE B. HOFFMAN. o Y¢ . Work and Pull Togéther Hurrah for the coming fights. If the fa.rmegs will give their gars you will - certainly capture their hearts. Let’s all work iand pull together.— PAUL WILLIAMS. - + Good Things in Store Al I am very much pleased with the Leader. It looks t(? me . as though there is good things in store for farmers in North akota if the pro= %mml o§ the __Lt;:nagu_e' ;\!r.ogzilktsyout. ‘Mr. ownley’s writing is ‘hij inspiring - and other writers are also oi‘p Exg% order.—KNUTE STEENERSON. 3 Greatly Interested - In regard to the Nonpartisan League eaucus;-everyone seems great- ly interested and I look for the sweep-, - ing change that you people have cer- - ‘All we need is a few wise and capable leaders and' we will be found ll:l?elr: with the votes—J. F. HOLLIDAY:: ' United We Win =~ I am a booster for the Le nd but si élzmwm t agul.é?: stick together. saying, “United well and wonderfully planned.” =