American Falls press. [volume] (American Falls, Idaho) 1907-1937, 1918-11-05
~ TRUE.

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FoilowinR Is an affidavit that Is
fmportant ID IL Is true. II possibly may
represent a biased judgment. or an
o~verbalanclng prejudice. But there Is
a way on finding the degree Of ere
dence that attaches 10 H., and u IL a
a good time 10 do 40.
There are many farmers living AT
~ near Beach who will doubtless be
glad 10 answer inquiries as 10 the
character Of Mr. Richard. and also OF
Neaara. TOwnley and Brinton. The
farmers there should know all these
psrties and the Press suggests that
now. after the hcas OF the campaign
a. over IL a good time for those VINO
oppose a. we'll az those who favor the
TOvniey program. 20 mako an I'M
partial inquiry concerning Townley
aud the men who surround him. rms
affidavit sets out one mans view n
gives reasons for his opinion. II II an
a%rraignment OF the sincerity OF the
head of the league.
In the years 1910 to 1914, was
employed by J. W. Briton. then own
er and publisher OF the Golden valley
Chronicle az Beach. North Dakota,
and now the head OF the Leagues CO.
operative stores At ST. Paul. During
all OF that time A. G. Townley was a
resident Of Golden Valley county and
frequently talked over with Brinton
In my hearing the organization OF his
proposed League. In his converSa-
lions. Towniey talked freely and inti-
mately OF his purposes and ambitions,
and. among other things. discussed
che best manner OF organizing MS
aeu and his theories OF the psyche
logical influences 10 which he intend
I'D 20 appeal.
His statements made at that time
have clearly shown me that the class
nreiudice which the Nonpartisan
Ianeue IA arouaing, la methods OF
agitation BY l%nsinuation. It's attempt
10 sir nm ~dlscontent, as we'll as lts
.n,rovai of the methods OF the |. W.
" sre not the result OF accident, but
An a~ecordance with the design OF the
Ieaeue's founder. | got a picture OF
Townicy from his own discussions
which showed me that he had MADE a
clos. study of human nature m tnat
ne -purpoaely intended TO appeal 20 iS
~veahnessos with sinister motives
Among the statements made ny
aim arc the following. He spoke par
ticnlarly about the necessity OF ap
healing 10 class prejudice. OF array
ms one class against another TO brins
about a class war. and eapeciaily ar
~axfpV proiudlce and opposition 10
r,pital Ills theory was that the ap-
neal ought 20 be made hrst 70 lhe
farmers because they were me easloS'
.e,uis 90 appeal To- from a CLASS
standpoint. and 90 use his " WoruS
s,t.y were like sheep Ito said ne
tn.N rhey would fall for this aoclai-
t.t.e dome he would hand ont 20 them'
-rh. iearuo was then 20 appeal TO VA
harers This appeal was 90 be nl"u'
h. fhe most radical a%gitators thai me-
.s.i8 nick 49, with the primary put
r,.o aiaays tn mind of having such
.rtf..ar. ns Dee could control ITO"
...f he stated be- felt "a wise to nave
the members Don apparent control OF
fhr.r nan political action hy perlll'
flne fhrm fn select candidates loF
.nstft and minor offices. and I'm lhls
wat Keeping them unaware OF MS rear
motives nutii such time as b drus'
Nelnr administered would have IT'S
desired effect
"NNA M|NN ANL" EHNH"NH ""|"L
pi,rs his a~ritafors among any OF the
religious denominations Ia the eoun-
trv uifh the best Of results 20 his vote
uottlng proeram. because 30 was his
~,ninion that be con Ia aust enough
friction and dissatisfaction among It's
members by claiming that they were
peinr used as tools 81 the grafters,
who he said. were az the head OF
.Ht-H-.. ..u.nHmnHNnn lln SAID ]
ne would soon have them divided
among themselves aud would by this
undermining method swing he ma
iorify OF their votes. =,
lie proposed TO make his appear
particularly on the theory that tn'
rich were an grafters and that the
formers. labOrers. and common peo-
NE generally. were slaves 20 capital
ism. I remember he stated especial
~ that his plan was 10 ignore exact
statements Of fact. but To produce the
eTect which he desired by indirect
statements and by innuendo, not only
because such methods aroused more
prejudice and sank deeper into the
neople's consciousness. but also be
cause he could not he prosecuted un-
der the law. He proposed to make
only general statements and then
answer his critics by attacking them
personally. by defaming their charac-
tor and alleging their connection with
capital.
aHe particularly approved the &C
~tivities OF the /. w. w. organization
around Minot and elsewhere. He es-
pecially admired and commended the
work of LeSueur. who at that time
was the attorney for the l. W. w. His
commentator of the l. w. w was
that it was doing the same work and