The Fargo forum and daily republican. [volume] (Fargo, N.D.) 1894-1957, 1918-10-31
SOCIALISTS USE
iron RULE WHEN
KIDDER FARMERS
BOLT The LEAGUE

Another eruption has broken out
within the Nonparfisan league, this
time the farmers OF Kidder county
being involved. They are making
demands fors an independent -organi-
zation, seeking to get away from
the control of A. C. Townley and
Governor Frazier, and establishing
their own unit. - -..-
The movement became so
dangerous to the continued ex-
istence of the Socialist regime
in Kidder county that Mr. 5
Townley has dispatched Com
rade A. e. Bowen and Comrade
Joe Gilbert to the district to
break UP the movement.
Prominent in the movement aimed
at the destruction of the Townley re-
ginle within the Nonpartisan league
and which also means a reputation
of the absolute Socialist control OF
the state administration now exert
ed by Mr.. Townley through Govern
or Frazier, are former Townley
organizer, "a, Mr.. Sullivan Of Robin
son, and Editor McAlroy Of the
Dawson Press. They, or their
agents, have been collecting $14
from the farmers-a SO reduction OF
the regular Nonpartisan league
membership and Of that sum it is
understood that Sc goes to the news.
paper, and SO into the county fund
County Convention Called
A county convention Of the mem
bers Of the new league has already
foeen called to be held about Nov.
10 or ID at which time details OF
the Organization plans are to be
worked out.
Rumblings of discomfort among
the Nonpartisans league members OF
ISidder county have been heard fol
some time. but Mr. Townley, Govern
or Frazier and other Socialist lead
ers had, in a. measure, ignored it ur
to this time. having hoped not te
precipitate an open break previous
ITO the elections Of next Tuesday.
Fearing the Outcome
When the Socialists discovered,
however, that there wa a marked de-
Election of Nonpartisan league mem
bers from the Frazier TownIey tick
ct, and from the Socialist amend
ments, they could no longer ignore
the situation. and have sent theil
emmissaries into the county tc
break up and throttle the county or
ganiaztion, just as the Socialist
chief has throttled, from time tc
time, other movements launched by
the farmers to obtain some voice in
the management of their own affairs
and some voice in the expenditure
of the millions of dollars that have
been poured into the Nonpartisan
league treasury.
Messrs. Bowen and Gilbert are
said to have arrived in Kidder coun-
ty on Monday or Tuesday of this
week, and they have gone about the
task OF eliminating the county lead
ers who have dared to challenge Mr..
Townley's dictatorship over Non
partisan affairs.
The MIR. Bowen whom ToWnIey has
dispatched to the scene is the for
mer Socialist candidate for COVER
nor of North Dakota, while Gilbert
probably Is the same man who was
convicted in Minnesota OF obstruct-
ing the governments war movements,
and whose sentence OF year In pris-
on was recently confirmed by the
district courts refusal to grant a
new trial. The case is pending in
the supreme court.
Refuse to Pay.
Many members OF the Nonpartisan
league in Kidder county are refusing
to pay notes they have given to the
league or its subsidiary commercial
enterprises. In some instances, the
farmers gave checks to the collectors
obtaining the surrender to them
selves OF the notes, and then they
hasten to town and stop payment
on their checks. In that manner they
prevent further collection OF money
from them.
That Mr. ToWnIey wouldn't use
such important personages in his ma
chine as messEs. Bowen and Gilbert
unless he regarded the situation in
Kidder county as critical and inimic-
al to his continued control over
North Dakota through the Frazier
administration, is quite certain, as
they are much needed in other quar-
ters judging from reports that come
from many points.
Mr.. Towuleyss control of the league
is slipping: his candidate for COVER
nor will be repudiated next Tuesday;
his attempt at debating the supreme
court Justice selection is most GER
tainly gon6 to seed, and his efforts
to continue Mel Macdonald in the
school superintendency as means of
maintaining Socialist propaganda in
the schools, is due for the hardest
beating OF all next Tuesday, accord
ing to the estimate Of thousands OF
workers for the S. J.. Doyle ticket, as
they report TO the Joint Campaign
committee headquarters In Fargo.