The Daily Missoulian. [volume] (Missoula, Mont.) 1904-1961, 1918-03-12
THE PLAIN DUTY OF FARMERS
TO THEIR STATE.

After scanning the Montana
Equity News of March 7, with
high-power reading glass, we
fail to find a mention Of A. C.
Townley.
That is the best and most hope
full sign in our vision for many,
many days.
We take it to mean that the
farmers of Montana and, in par
ticular, those of the American So
ciety of Equity, have determined
to control their own affairs and
are preparing to dump Townley,
the demagogic author of sedi-
tious utterances, who is under
arrest for violation Of the Min
nesota statutes, relating to dis
loyalty.
We will rejoice if this hope is
realized. We haye always be-
licved that the Equity would see
the criminal folly Of burdcning
itself with Townleyism. No or
ganization can hope to extend its
influence in Montana, or else
where, by carrying the faint of
Townley's leadership. Every list
of deaths of our brave boys in
the French trenches will add to
the resentment Of our people
against Townley and his socialist
lieutcnants, who see nothing in
this war but a game for profit
GERS, who have given to North
Dakota the name Of the Stacker
state, and who ran to cover from
The rising storm far too late to
conceal their real motives and
sympathies.
We are heart and soul with the
farmers of Montana in their ef-
forts to better their condition,
Upon their prosperity depends
the future of Montana and, espe-
cially, Missoula. We approve
their organization for, by that
means alone, can they make their
demands heard and compel JUS
ticc in legislation. We hope to
see more of them in the lcgisla-
ture of Montana in place of the
politicians and lawyers who have
dominated legislation too long. Al
the late session we were I'M
pressed with the high, patriotic
qualities of such men as Repre-,
sentativcs White and kcmpls
who made one of the clearcst ant
best talks during the session.
The farmers of Montana car
gather strength only as they work
for the common good of all the
people. There are too many
varied interests in this state te
permit any class organization te
control politics. Nor will any
such class ever, in our judgment
be strong enough to acquire sucl
control. There was a time wher
the great corporations dominated
politics and legislation, but thai
time is happily past and will
never return, either in the state
or the nation. The agricultural
business and industrial interests
of Montana are too closely cor
related to permit any one of these
to exercise political control over
the others. Each may organize
within itself for the advancement
of its own interests, but not to the
dctriment Of others.
Townlcyism is menace to the
organized farmers, because, to
the loyal people of Montana, il
stands for disloyalty to the ma
ton. No guise or subtcrfuge can
conceal that. The record is fixed
in black and white and must
stand. As the war goes on the
people will become more and
more keen to this situation and
the farmers who follow Townley
must expect TO share the crltl-
Clsm.
Therefore, we say again, that
as a matter of wisdom, of loyalty
of self interest, the farmers OF
Montana should drop this foreign
leadership, drop Townlcy and his
imported North Dakota spell
binders, drop these strolling
mountebanks of dangerous, dis
loyal socialism. Let them choose
their leaders from their owr
ranks in this state, leaders ant
organizers whose citizenship viii
stand the appraisal of theil
neighbors and, above all, stanC
the acid test of loyalty to the ma,
Ition. When that is done and pub
llicly made known, all suspicion.
Twill have been removed and tn
Farmers. no matter under wha