Webster City freeman. [volume] (Webster City, Hamilton County, Iowa) 1884-1946, 1918-05-06
James VI. Pierce, Editor of Iowa
Homestead, Gives Address at
kamrar on the NOn.Par.
tisan League.
FIGHTS CLEAR OF TOWNLEY.
Says League, as Organization, is 10y
al, But Says Nothing Of 10y.
atty Of Officers.

James NJ. Pierce, editor OF the Iowa
Homestead, addressed a good sizet
audience at the Woodman hall il
kamrar THU sday night on the subject
"The Signs of the Times in Iowa.
The purpose of the address was tt
give a clean bill of health to the Non
Partisan League. 1t was Iuustly de-
voted, however, to attacks upon the
Greater Iowa association; Wood
worth Clum, its secretary; the Des
Moines Chamber Of Commerce, Mr.
Faxon, it's secretary; and upon the
city Of Des Moines, where he charged
that elections are bought and solo
like merchandise. He also paid his
respects to the press of Des MOines
which he charged is corrupt. The
connection between all this and the
Nom Partisan League was not clear
to the audience, however. Mr.. Pierce
was introduced by Fred Weip, mayor
of Kamrar.
Farmers Can Organize.
Mr.. Pierce sought to pose the Non.
Partisan League as a martyr organ
ization. He charged that those OPP
posed to it were seeking to deny the
rights of the farmers to organize
This, however, is untrue. This is q
free country and the farmers have
the same right 10 organize as anyone
else. Those opposed to the league
are opposed to it's high officials, theil
disloyal actions and the unpatriotit
speeches they have made. Mr.. Pierce
charged that Woodwork Clum, sec.
rotary of the Greater Iowa associa.
ton, draws "a salary of $4,000 year
IL did not state, however, what A. G
Townley, president of the Non-Parti
san League draws. Nor did he tel
that Mr.. Townley has twice gone
bankrupt, yet is now rated as veal
thy man. Mr.. Pierce stated that the
farmers of Iowa, the farmers Of
South Dakota and the farmers gener'
ally are true and loyal Americans. He
is right. The rank and file of the Non
Partisan League, too, are more thar
likely loyal, but can this be said Of
A. C. Townley, the president, who
directs the activities of the organiza
ton? Two months after the declara
tion by the United States of the eXis
tence of a condition of war with Ger
many, Townley made tour Of Nortf
Dakota assailing 'the injustice of the
war and the manner in which the
officials of the administration arc
carrying it into effect" He said tina
it required "some effort" for him tt
believe that our soldiers ARE COINS
to fight for the freedom of democra
cy." He referred to the Liberty LOar
as "all wrong" and as anything blu
patriotic. He referred to the fathers
who had sent their sons to war a:
having sold their sons for price.
League and Liberty Bonds.
In Washington only this week, Mr.
Townley admitted that the league!
annual income was $1,6O0,0OO, that i
had taken none of the first or SECOND
Liberty Loans and but $4,000 of thu
third loan. He explained this by say
ing that the league is not a prof
making organization. Neither are tht
Elks, Masons, Odd Fellows, Knight!
Of Columbus, and other lodges, We
as soon as the war broke out the Elk!
assessed their members for a million
of dollars for base hospital work ant
all other loyal fraternal organiza
tions, none of which are profit max
ing organizations, took large sums il
Liberty Loans or appropriated larS'
sums for war work of one kind ant
another.
81 believe the Non-Partisan League
as an organization, is thoroughly 10y
al" said Mr.. Pierce, though he wa;
wary enough to say absolutely moth
ing of the loyalty" of Townley ant
other high officials of the orsaniza
ton.
The Freeman-Journal has no fear!
as to the loyalty or high mindednes
of the rank and file of the farmers
The real interests of the town ant
country are not antagonlstlc
Whatever laws are for thu
good of the farmers ar,
for the common good of all and NJ
matter how strong the Non-Partisal
League might become in Iowa, thu
farmers of the state are not going t.
be flim-1ammed by A. c. Townle.
- To-, AL m,