The Bismarck tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, N.D.) 1916-current, 1917-12-10
WHITE WASHING PARTIES.

WHITE WASHING PARTIES.
This thing of rushing into print with
resolutions defending the patriotism
of the people Of North Dakota" when
ever Townley, Frazier or any Of their
crew suffer a blow from the rebound
of things they preached until public
sentiment called a halt is becoming
ridiculous.
The latest resolution comes from
the state council Of defense. 1t was
drawn up by Chairman Dorr Carroll
Of Minot, with the assistance of Gov
crnor Frazier, Herbert G. Castor, edi-
tor of Townlcy's Courier-.<ews and
two reporters employed on Townley
newspapers, and it was voted through
by handful Of employees Of state in
situations over which Governor Fra
zier and Mr.. Townlcy have absolute
control. The inspiration of this reso-
luton was an article, largely made up
of fact, which had appeared as an
interview in the New York Herald
and which was copied by the St. Paul
Dispatch, the Fargo Forum and other
northwestern papers. This interview
dealt almost entirely with the activi-
ties of Mr. Townley and with the neu-
trail attitude of Governor Frazier and
other members of the Townley admin
istration toward all things patriotic.
There was nothing in the interview
which was new 10 the citizens OF
North Dakota. The one extreme state
ment rejecting on the people of North
Dakota was that their patriotism had
been reduced to chaotic condition
through the activities of Mr.. Townley.
Anyone, who followed the course of
the O'Hare trial must acknowledge
this to be true in sections where
Townley's leadership has been blindly
accepted.
The Nfi4uhe always has maintained
and maintains now that the PEOPLE
OF North Dakota are loyal and patri
otto. Their patriotism and loyalty
never have been questioned. The
Tribune does not consider Governor
Frazier the PEOPLE of North Dakota
nor representative OF them. Nor does
it so consider Mr.. Townley. The
Tribune has not felt that North Da
kota people in the mass have suffered
any more through the Vaccinations OF
Mr.. Townley than have the people OF
Wisconsin because they have La
Toilette or the people of Missouri be-
cause they have Stone, or our own
people because we have Gronna.
Townley is not even North Da
kotan. His legal residence is now in
ST Paul. If any, state or community
must answer for Mr.. Townley they
are Minnesota and st. Paul. Why not
let their state defense council do the
whitewashing? North Dakota's de-
Tense council will have outlived its
usefulness when 1t descends to truck
ling for the favor of Governor Frazier
1t is true that Governor Frazier made
the state defense council and that he
has the power to unmake it, but il
this organization is created solely as
a defender of Governor Frazier and
A. c. Townley, when such expressions
of public sentiment as the conviction
of Kate Richards OEIare give them
renewed proof of tie need for such
defense, the sooner it is unmade the
better for the safety of North Dakota
1t is an insult to the intelligence OF
North Dakota for the defense council
or any other organization to go into
print with such q resolution as was
adopted Saturday evening by a hand
full Of state employees. There were
present at that meeting but three rep
resentative business men of the state
One Of these was DOrr Carroll OF
Minot, chairman. and the other two
were Bismarck citizens who had be.n
invited in. The proceeding was very
similar to others which Townley has
INDUCED in to procure endorsement
Tor himself and his administration
when public condemnation became 50
strong that some camoufage was
found necessary.
Whether it be meatless day or a
wheatless day, It's never an eatless
day at the Mckenzie dairy lunch.