The Fargo forum and daily republican. [volume] (Fargo, N.D.) 1894-1957, 1918-02-25
AUTOCRACY IN
LEAGUE MUST GO
IF IT SUCCEEDS
Dunn Center Member Deals
With Own Loyalty to n.
2. and Its Future

DuAlA NNHAEAF ~ La ANbs 81
Taking the position that any organ
ization which is seeking to bring
about a greater degree of demOc-
racy in the government OF a state
or nation must of necessity place its
own house in order first, by doing
away with its autocratiC form OF
government, Theo. G.. Nelson, OF
Dunn Center, in a letter published
in The Spring Valley Times, lays
bare a few Of the details in connec-
ton with the fight that was made
at Bismarck a year ago to bring
about a change in the form Of the
organization of the Nonpartisar
league so that the membership
men who are putting their money
into it-wOuld have some check on
its affairs.
Mr.. Nelson's letter is published. he
explains, in consequence Of the cir
culation Of rumors in the Dunn Cen
ter direct to the effect that he
(Mr. NelsOn) was disloyal to the
league, and he charges that Alex
Liederbach, member Of the house OF
representatives, a league organizer
and candidate for the senatorial en-
dorsement In the Dunn-Mercer-
oliver legislative district, is more or
less responsible for the creation OF
the sentiment that he says exists
with respect to his own loyalty, or
alleged lack of loyalty. to the
league.
Mr.. Nelson also sets forth at some
length a few inside details in con-
nection with the battle that devel-
oped a year ago between the Nom
partisan league and the Society or
Equity over the veto by Governor
Frazier of the terminal elevator bill
and which conflict was more or less
responsible for M. p. JOhnsOn's re-
cent retirement from the presidency
Of the Society of Equity.
Say Liederbach Suggested Meet.
The publication Of the letter is a
direct result Of the recent meeting
held in Dunn Center by the Equity
Elevator Co, for the announced pur-
pose of endorsing legislative can
Cidates. but which failed to make
such endorsement by reason Of Mr..
Liederbach's opposition to the plan.
The Spring Valley Times maintains
that Mr.. Mederbach was, In fact,
responsible for the call for the meet
ing, and that he originally suggest
ed it during the recent special ses-
sion of the state legislature.
MIR. Nelson's Statement.
The letter. in part. follows:
For some time reports have come
to me that some parties were circu-
lating statements and hints that
left the impression that the under
signed was a dislOyal NOnpartisan
league member, (disloyal to the
league not to the government.) The
day of the farmers mass meeting
these reports began to indicate that
several people really believed them.
No one knows all that has been said
or whispered in this connection but
suffice to say that true to the habits
of gossip the stuff has been twisted,
warped, coIored, heated, turned in
side out and back again.
up to this time I have said very
little even privately about these
little poisonous jabs that have been
shot around, originally by men VINO
have apparently awillfuily and mallc-
iousIv distorted facts and later 9th
nrs who unthinkingly taking the stun
for granted have passed the JaDs
along forgetting for a moment that
IT might be wiser to inquire a little
about the other side before becoming
pa1.ties to spreading damaging stun
about a fellow man. Believing, now
ever. that the bulk of the members
of the Nonpartisan league and the
ia ru1ers in general want to get at
the truth before passing Judgment
i'm any way on anybody or anything
il is undoubtedly in order now TO
relate q few facts that bear on the
matter in question.
Wanted Less Autocraey.
at the time the Dunn Center leg
islative delegation met at Bismarck
last winter there was great deal %, OF
tank about changing the form of the
orranization of the league. or reor-
paniZing as some called II, so as 10
nut az on a less autocratiC basis ana
that Townley or whoever had direct
charge of the funds Of the league
shouId be put under proper bonds. II
he wasn't. and a detailed accounting
made to the membership. This was
often discussed in the rooms OF the
Dunn Center boys, as 1t was most
eyervwhere in Bismarck just then
practically everybody chimed in one
way or another and most EVERYBODY
agreeing that there was room LOT
Must Change or Lose.
ct was sincere in the matter ana
believe that every sound thinking
man agrees that any orgahlZa Ii !oi
whose big purpose is to estaDli 81
democracy must itself in due time ne
S.erI, democratic or sooner or later
lose it's momentum. To this prin-
cinIe there was no noticeable oppo-
siffon voiced. 1t was frequently sug-
gested. however, that it might ne
harmful and perhaps dangerous TOT
the immediate success of the league
nropram to take any steps in that
5irartion while the legislature was
j., session The matter was finally
taken nm in league caucuses ana was
there as I understand it, dismissed
far that time upon Townleys eN-
nIanation and request. If my part IN
This matter constitutes dlsloyalIy "
the league then the others that to 1y
mart in these discussions are equahy
p1liltv and so are fellows who are IN
sfsting the league should be Moor
porated as well as men VINO nave
called Townley a yellow Dog, put
are now apparently considered IN
good standing in the league.
FOUGHT TO Avoid Break
srvVten Governor Frazier vetoed the
terminal elevator bill The Co-opera
.ors Herald and The Nonpartlsun
,eader engaged in an open scrap
Roth nauers have a substantial cir
rnIafion and following and 1t was
cissr IN me that III that scrap con-
gin1ed very long worse things Would
1annen to the league than the re-
orea nizatfon talk which was put 70
sIeen IN Bismarck. Believing that u /
vas NV privilege and duty as 1t
would be for any other member OF
Inc league to do, wrote to a NUM-
Der of the active league and equity
men i'm the state urging that some
hing should be done and suggest
NC 4 meeting to which all interest
"a parties might be invited but be-
fore taking any steps in that direc-
lion sought the opinion OF those
whom I wrote. A few fellows who
didn't know me very well evidently
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