Grand Forks herald. [volume] (Grand Forks, N.D.) 1916-1955, 1917-12-20
new new FARMERS
LEAGUE PPOS;El', I.
TOWNLEY GANG
North Dakota Farmers
League Organized by For
mer N. p. Members.
SEVERAL
HAVE BEEN HELD
Convention in Omemee At
tended by Farmers From
N. w. Part of State.

Minot. N. D., Dec. 20.-Believing
that the, farmers of North Dakota
should organize n that the organi-
cation should be under the absolute
control of the North Dakota farmers
for the purpose of defeating certain
vicious measures that have ,been agi-
tated during the past eighteen
months; for the purpose of further
ing certain measures believed to be
beneficial both from a social and eco
nomic standpoint, and. for the pur-
pose Of bringing about closer coop
Grafton between the farmers and the
government to the end that all may
work comparatively to preserve the
union in the present crisis, sare the
fundamental reasons for several hun
dred farmers in northwest North Da-
kota breaking from the Nonpartisan
league and organizing what is known
as the North Dakota Farmers league.
FARMERS Were Willing.
When A. G. Townley, president of
the Nonpartisan league, and a hand
full of organizers set out to launch a
farmers of North Dakota willing to
get together for the purpose of Sc
curing their economic rights. On the
surface the league gave promise of
being a simon-pure farmers organi-
cation and at the last state election
the ticket endorsed by the league
received a big plurality. Lynn ].
Frazier, a farmer, was placed in the
chair of the chief executive and the
have control of the state machinery
to bring about n:ucR needed reforms.
The last session Of the state legisla-
ture, however, had hardly opened
when President Townley and his
handful of organizers assumed the
roles Of dictators and the farmers re-
ceived no opportunities to carry out
the program they had planned. This
created a certain amount Of dissenA
sion. AS the days Of the session
passed the autooratici stand of Town
ley and his few advisors became more
and more outst: nding and defiant
and close observers of North Dakota
politics saw at a glance that time
would bring about a serious break in
h ranks Of the Nonpartisan league.
New Plan Welcomed.
league have devoted most of their
similar lines to the plan adopted, in
North Dakota and to meeting the OPP
position offered their organization by
other political organizations. They
felt confident that the farmer mem
bers of their league in North Dakota
would remain in the fold, thus the
new organization of North Dakota
farmers has been able to work along
through its infancy without oppose
ton. The members of the Nonparti-
sal league. who we're opposed to the
dictatorship set up by Townley, aid
ed by representatives in the last leg
islature who were elected by the
farmers but who found themselves
unable to represent these farmers,
held a series of conferences in Bot
tineau, Minot and other county seats
and laid plans for organization work.
No professional organizers were en-
ployed. The men who had the cause
of the state at heart spent their own
time going from district to district,
getting in touch with fellow members
of the Nonpartisan league who were
dissatisfied with the tactics of Town
ley. Frazier and other league leaders,
and when the northwestern part of
the state had been gone over and SEN
timent in favor of the new movement
created in every county, the farmers
behind this new party decided to hold
a general convention. The onven
ton was held this week in Omemee
and was attended by representatives
from almost every county in north
west North Dakota.
E N. p. Members Join.
! Several hundred farmers who have
been staunch supporters of the Non
partisan league since its inception
have Joined this new party known
as the North Dakota Farmers league
/, or have signified their intention Of
joining. An executive committee,
composed of, farmers and farmers
only, handlei the executive matters of
the new league, while a sub-commit-
tee is at work in each county signing
new members. AS a result of the
stand taken by Townley on the Liber-
'ty Loan issue and other patriotic
measures and the conduct of Cover
nor Frazier since the war began, par
ticularly his attendance at the st.
Paul meeting where LaFollette, Gron-