Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1918-03-07
But not a single speaker made pa

But not single speaker made a pa
triotic speech. The only reference to
the great world crisis before our nation
was In an address by G. +. Lowrie,
said to be an active member of the
Nonpartisan league, and he said he did
not want to find fault with the govern
ment because it was dangerous" to
criticise. Presumably Mr.. sLowrie was
referring to the disloyal utterances
which have resulted in arrest Of speak
ers who wanted" to and did make
statements against the war and the
government And in that case he was
right, 1t is dangerous in Iowa ana
ought to be more dangerous
The farmers who came to Waterloo
to listen to the speakers and organizers
of the society no doubt came in good
faith and most OF them in loyalty to
their country. They heard savage de-
mutation Of one of Iowa's greatest and
most valuable agricultural institutions
the graduates Of which are among the
most valuable assets to the farms of
the state, and they heard all orator"
confess that he was afraid to speak
what Is in his heart of the war and
the government because"it was danger
GUS" Were the loyal farmers ontent?
1t is not Necessary TO hold a state
invention to organize a successful CO.
operative commercial association Of
farmers. The farmers Of Rockwell did
it long ago. They did million and a
quarter dollars worth OF business last
year with it. That association is known
from one end of the earth to the other
and it has never had to hold state
meeting or invite organizers Of the type
of Mrs. Reddick or Lowrie to denounce
the agricultural college of Iowa. Iowa's
educational system and to hint at dis
loyalty they feared TO utter.
The equity society may hold high
aims but in the light of past ex-
periences its organizers and its poll
teal aspect indicate that inquiry
should not be neglected. 1t will be re-
called that few years ago the build
ing and loan associations multiplied
under the law that permitted them to |
do business all over the state and out
side and validating by shrewd and |
schemers assisted by |
fluent organizers, finally forced a law |
which now confines these associations |
to the counties wherein they are or
1t may also be noted from the !
proceedings over Townley, the inven-
tor and organizer of the Nonpartisan
league, that this cooperative system of
his spread over state collected $780,
200 at least since July 1917 and that
thru a system OF interlocking director
ates President Townley controlled the
Consumers United Stores" and other
league enterprises" This
when Townley was asking absolution
from debts which he placed at over
$4,000 with assets OF $500 all OF which
he claimed exemption on. If any far
man can make head or tail of where
most of his money went and what it
was spent for in the various ENTER
prises'' from the Consumers United
Stores Co.." capitalized at $4,000 to
the ~. S. Guaranty Co.." capitalized at
100000 to the Nonpartisan Publish
ing Co.. and so on thru the list he can
do better than the bankruptcy pro-
seemed able to do from Mr..
Townley's testimony. But every man
who has put dollar in the Rockwell
association knows Just where it went
and what It went for or can know by
calling at the office IN his own town
and examining the books Of that asso-
citation.
When a society" or league" or
any organization moves in with IN
known Organizers" to organize a state
plain common sense suggests that 1t
needs watching. When in politics It
asks for investment of money for men,
bership or stock the investor ought to
look it over carefully. Townley ac-