The pioneer express. [volume] (Pembina, Dakota [N.D.]) 1883-1928, 1917-03-02
THE PROMOTER VS.,
THE MANAGER.
MIR. rowNLEY AS A pRoMorER

MR.. TOWNLEY AS A PROMOTER
Opportunity knocks at every mans
door. But few men are clear sighted
enough to see Opportunity. or even if
they do catch glimpse of him they let
him pass without second look. The
man who sees Opportunity and who
takes hold on Opportunity is the sue
cessful man. He is not only success
full man but also a man of more or less
real genius, because as we said, but few
men even see opportunities.
In North Dakota year ago there was
political opportunity. There was an
unrest among the people and particu.
larly among the farmers. Some OF this
unrest was founded on real facts. some
was caused by distorted or exaggerated
facts, some was fanced because un-
known.
This state of affairs made political
opportunity for anyone bright enough to
see it and take advantage of 1t. There
was man who like Caesar, "came, saw
and conquered" His name was Town.
ley. Mr.. Townley evidently was a man
endowed by nature to seize "opportuni
ties" He had made several mistakes
previously, but apparently they had not
troubled him so much as they did his
creditors. When the present opportu-
nifty arrived in front of him Mr.. Il. join
ed in the procession, or rather he and
opportunity started procession of
which he was the head.
Then he gathered great multitude
to follow; that he not only got them to
follow but that he made them pay nine
dollars piece for the privilege, are mat
ters of history. This success stamps
Mr.. Townley as a man of genius as
promoter. His methods were crude, his
stated objects we're in many cases absurd
and no more apparent foolish idea was
ever presented than that men would not
only join him in so many absurdlties
but that they would be willing to pay
Tor the privilege. No one would believe
until he did 1t, that any one man could
assume the leadership and become the
sole dictator of so many people, simply
because he assumed that authority.
But nothing succeeds like success.
Whoever we are, we must take off our
hats in honor of Mr.. Townley. He did
it and did it all by hinself. The mir
acle of man lifting himself by his own
5ootstraps has at last been performed
and Mr.. Townley now resides in the
seventh heaven.
But that was and is but the begin
ming. Mr.. L. pulled out the plug and
let the water run and it has made quite
a food, Now, be is trying to control
the food, Before be was promoter, now
he becomes a manager. It remains to
be seen whether Mr.. Townley can carry
on the dual role, because the promoter
business and manager matters must
both continue il the procession is to
keep together and move onward.
NIB. TowNLEY AS A MANAGER
As manager Mr.. Townley has now
had about four months experience.
Some Of the difficulties he has been call
ed upon to adjust are matters of history
and to some extent 60 to show his
ability or disability as manager.
His membership to considerable OK.
tent, as is natural and certain, are taking
their second thought. Second thoughts
are generally more conservative
The calls for more and more money
are not pleasant features. That many
thousand dollars have been handed to
Mr.. Townleysand that there has been no
accounting ID certain but not reassuring.
II il not altogether pleasing to the
average American to be ruled by one
man, especially any one man who has
assumed to be . political autocrat with !
out asking the consent OF tho governed.
II Is also against American idsas that
any ono man should rule secret caucus
|of ono house 81 tho state iegislaturs aud
then have that caucus pass or reject
bills solely on the ideas 81 the hos, With
|out reienncs 4 the merits q the bill.
gss