The Bismarck tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, N.D.) 1916-current, 1918-11-25
T0WNLEY INNER
CIRCLE TO HAVE
QUIET P0WW0W

Minneapolis. Minn.. Nov. 25.---A. c..
Townley today announced that ma
tlonal canventiOn' of his Nonpartisan
league will meet in ST. Paul, Dec. 3,
to be in session for five days, or a
week If necessary" Though Is states
are to be represented, there will be
only al delegates These are not chos.
II from the rank and file Of the or
ganization, but are members OF the
Inner circle' dominated entirely by
President TOWnley.
There was an abOrtive revolt in the
ToWnley OrganiZa zion last summer,
and predictions have been made that
there would be an effort, to 0vertnrn
the autocratic Townley control and
put the management of the league in
the hands of farmers but the make
up of the convention called Is such
that there is no drnger to Mr.. Town
ley from it's deliberations.
TownIey in for II Years.
The socalled "delegates,' according
to- the Nonpartisan Leader, will be the
members of the leagues organization
committees from each statey These
committees have been named by Mr.
Townley and his organizers, and are
made up with a view to perpetuating
his control of the league and its
funds. AS Mr.. Townley's term as
president is fixed by the league con-
stitution at IA years, his position is
held to be impregnable. This is one
reason why many members have de-
serted the league, realizing it was use
to try to put it on democratic basis.
The coming convention will be Sc
cret, like the Minnesota conventions
of last spring and summer The plan
of representation is announced by the
Nonpartisan Leader today as fol-
lows:
Each state where the league took
part in the recent elections, includ'
ing the states of North and South
Dakota, Minnesota. Montana. Idaho,
Nebraska and Colorado to be repre-
sented by the entire committee to
five farmers now in charge OF the or
ganization work and business OF the
league in each of these states. This
makes 35 delegates from these states.
each other state where the league
is organizing, but where it was not
sufficiently organized to take part in
the recent elections. will be repre-
sented by one farmer member OF the
present farmers state committee. Thls
will make six delegates, one each
from the following states: Washing
ton, Wisconsin. Kansas, Iowa, Texas
and Oklahoma. The total number or
delegates will therefore be A.
"Searchina" investigation Foreseen.
Evidently there will be no local or
state conventions to choose dele
gates. 1t will be strictly "a confer
ence of the Townley machine, domin-
ated by the founder, president and
dictator of the leagues affairs. 1t IS
announced, however, that business
matters Of importance to the organ
lied farmers will be discussed" and
that the convention 'will examine the
books and accounts OF the league, ana
the handling of it's busl-
ness by its officers and committees
As all the delegates to the conven.
ton will be members Of the aforesaid
committees, the investigation is eX-
pected to. be searching. When the
is over. members of the
league will learn what has been done
for them through announcements IN
the league papers. and no representa-
tiyes of the kept press" will be per
mitted to pass the outer guard.
WooDMEN SETTLE CLAIM.
Mrs. J. w. Moran. nee Mrs. Jennie
Jones, mother of the late Raymond
Jones. a young farmer living near
Fort Lincoln who died d short time
ago at st. Alexius hospital from Span
ish influenza, received a check last
week in full payment .sof her claim
from the WOodmen of the World. 0.
w. Roberts, clerk Of Rosebud Camp
l05, Woodmen of the World. when
questioned said: "Ray was one Of the
finest boys in the world, and had been
a member of our camp but three
weeks. His mother expressed her
gratitude for the prompt settlement OF
this claim fRgGm ahl 10 if4F SO