The pioneer express. [volume] (Pembina, Dakota [N.D.]) 1883-1928, 1916-05-26

~ prOmlSo 10 vote on unknown u0oS.
tions just as some certain somebodies
toll him to vote.
The question as to who IS to tell the
possible legislator how to vote is also a
matter of consideration. 1t is possibly
fact that in the case of some few mem.
bers OF the legislature in past years that
it might have been good thing for
some intelligent person to have advised
| them how to vote, but IN this case the
question is who ia, or who are, the
league" that proposes to use the mem
bers of the legislature as their owo
creatures whom they are to lead with
string.
Most political organizations grow from
the ground up. They start with the
people. The people get interested aud
organize, that is, they elect officers, form
constitutions and bylaws and platforms.
etc.
The Non-partisan League appears to
have reversed the usual direction of
growth. 1t started in the air and grew
downwards towards the earth. 1t be-
gan with president, vice-president, etc
and thus downwards to the people. Mr..
president" Townley was not only the
originator of the League but was the
League" and SO far is still the League"
He has simply permitted other persons
to join with him, and to pay him six and
nine dollars each. He appoints all SUBJ
ordinate officials, and his Non-partisans
are but members who work under his
orders-and board themselves.
The constitutions of the United States
and of the State of North Dakota say
that "all power is derived from the peo
pie" but in the case of the Non -partisans
call power is derived from President
Townley.'
And If this man who was kicked out
of the Socialist party along with his half
dozen immediate associates succeed in
getting a majority of the members of the
North Dakota legislature, then this man
becomes the political boss of this state.
This man Townley who has half mil.
lion dollars of unpaid chattel mortgages
against him according to the books, who
is an outcast from the Socialist party
because of crooked work, will become
the autocrat of North Dakota as he now
is of the Non partisan party. This man
who deliberately declares himself the
foe Of all business interests except those
of farmers, Is to be the sole legislator.
He will have governor to sign the bills
that his servant legislators will pass in
"the sole interests" of the farmer and
against all other business interests. A
doctrine which in itself is so absurd that
it stamps President Townley as about as
big fool as ever set himself up as
political wiseacre.
Can a candidate for the legislature
conscientiously present himself before
the voters as a republican or a democrat
when he has pledged himself to vote in
the legislature as Townley directs, and
who has further agreed to vote against
the principals and candidates of his pro.
fessed party?
Can man honestly ask for and vote
a republican or democratic bdllot at the
primary election when he has already
declared his intention to vote against all
his professed party candidates at the
November election who are not ''endors.
ed" by Townley?
| A partisan under North Dakota statu.
tes is man who afiliates with and ad-
heres to the principles and candidates
of party.
A non. partisan is person who affili.
ates with no party.
There is nothing to hinder man from
bong either, but he cannot be both. A
man might be an atheist, q Protestant
or Catholic, either one. but be cannot
be either two Of these.