Morris tribune., 1918-10-04
NON-PARTISAN LEAGUE
EXPOSED BY MAXWELL
Facts Told by Man on the Inside and
Closely Associated With
Townley

cation entitled Ine NOH-pdl eio1A
League from the Inside" which has
Just been placed on sale. The author
of this booklet is Rev. S. R. Max
well, formerly of Colorado, who has
been close student of economic sub
iects from various standpOlnts for
many years, and who has a reputa-
ton as a pulpit and platform orator.
Rev. Maxwell, like many other
men interested in lettering the con-
ditions of mankind, became interest
ed in the Non-Partisan League when
it first appeared in Colorado some
thing more than year ago. Know
ing nothing of Townley or his chief
lieutenants, personally, he accepted
a proposition to lecture in behalf of
the Non-Partisan League, and for
many months was considered one OF
Townley's most able speakers in Min
nesota and other states. He became
closely associated with practically all
of the leaders in the Townley organ
ization and had ample opportunity
to study it from the inside.
Rev. Maxwell in his book explains
ley was creating huge machine for
the purpose of acquiring great power
in the political world and securing
huge sums of money over which he
alone would have absolute control.
Realizing that Townley was creating
an autocracy with even greater sub
mission to his will than is that of
Germany to the Kaiser, Rev. Max
well decided to remain on the in
side for a sufficient length Of time
to give him a complete insight into
the machine. What he found and
learned is set forth in the book.
He relates how seventeen of the
most effective workers in the League
organized a revolt against the auto
cratic methods of Townley and de-
manded a more democratic form of
government for the League. He tells
how Townley, with an oath, de-
stroyed the petition they presented
to him, and how he has punished the
men who dared to question his iron
rule, by scattering them over vari-
Gus states, placing them in minor
positions and humiliating them in
various ways. Even Joseph Gilbert,
the State Manager of Minnesota, was
arbitrarily removed and given
mediocre job in connection with the
Townley publications.
Maxwell tells how Gilbert and
Randall had sacrificed themselves to
test out the question of how far the
League heads could go in preaching
and teaching disloyalty, in testing
out the law against sedition. He
describes the method of the Townley
machine in detail, the method OF
= selecting candidates for the 1egisla-
ture and other offices, and the agree
ment the legislative candidates who
secured the Townley endorsements,
are required to sign, surrender1ng
all their rights to individual thought
and action as members of the legis-
lature, and submitting their will
completely to that of Townley in
their vote on all matters coming be-
fore the legislature.
The origin of the League in North
Dakota is graphically described, and
the repeated statements of Townley
that he proposed to be the sole and
only boss of the machine, is convinc-
ingly proven.
The differences between the auto
Gratis purposed and the programme
he presents to- his farmer victims
are described, and the elaborate plan
Townley has concocted and placed in
to effect for his continued control of
the organization is Interestingly pro-
trayed.
Townley is Socialist and his real
purpose is to establish German State
Socialism.
Townley is pupil of Karl Marx,
the German founder of Socialism, and
would abolish the free institutions
of America for state-owned mono
poles such as have cursed Germany,
are assertions made and porven by
Rev. Maxwell, who says, "Townley
would extend the Empire of the
Kaiser and would copy his great
prototype"
Maxwell points out how the Town
ley purposes would ruin the farmers
: of the state, as we'll as the business
interests, and makes very convinc-
ing summing up of the entire Town
ley propaganda.
The retail sale of the book, "The
Non-Partisan League From the In
SIDE" will be through the st. Marie
Cigar and News Company, SO E. 5th
Street, St. Paul, Minnesota, the re-
tail price being soc per copy, by
mail prepaid.