The Bismarck tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, N.D.) 1916-current, 1918-01-31
THE LEAGUE OF THE FUTURE


the people of North ! akota will not have paid l
expense Of $4,000 and it's appropriations Of tens
Thousands in vain if The Tribune reads Alright Il
message of the special session, which seems to |
that gradually this great organization Of farmers
less powerful by 10000 votes than 1t was year ag
but still unouestionably in position, if it uses i
power wisely, to be factor in the politics OF Mort
Dakota-gradually is recovering from it's socialist
delrium
The league, in North Dakota, gives promise thu
it is approaching point in it's development whe1
it can distinguish between socialistic doctrine
where it will adopt that which is constructive an
valuable and will promptly reject that which is dan
gerous and destructive.
The history of the league has been that of ever
reform movement which has gained foothold i
America 1t was launched an extremely radlca
growth and it first attracted to its folds the mos
radical extremists Many Of these men were pre-
fessional agitators who have fattcned on just sue
movements in other states and in other times.
The sober sound-thinking farmer who forms tn
backbone of the league was forced to accept niue
that was distasefu, because he believed the organ
cation ultimately, under conservative control, cou
be made a power for the good
Slowly but surely the predominance Of this con
sentative element has made itself felt Preslden
Townley nothing if not an astue judge OF men AM
conditions, has quiet removed from the North Da
kota field his most rabid agtators-sOcialists of tn
Bowen Thomason type. The Richardson boys hay
gone The organizers who are left may be thorough
going Socialists but they not preaching the red
ranting type Of doctrine which the pioneers deeme
necessary to get hearing.
The change has been made because Townley ha
been far-sgh enough to the inevitable evolu
ton Of the league into sound, Webalanced pOit
zeal organization which would rebel against suc}
teachings
Now comes the announcement from Townley
own lips that North Dakota will little Of hin
henceforth. lie predicts that this will be good new
for many people He aims that satire at his enemies
but it may be accepted applying with no less force
to many of his friends who, however much they re
spect Townley for his ability as organizer an,
leader have come to feel that the best interests 0
the league demand more domestic control centerel
in men more responsive to the needs Of and NOR,
familiar with the conditions obtaining in their owl
state.
E'Townley is not the statesman type,' said
thoughtful and well-read socialist employee Of tho
league during the special session. ''Iie is the born
agitator; the character Of man who will always be
found pioneering in movements Of this kind; the sor
of man who goes out and rifles them up
Townley has succeeded in ''riling up not only
North Dakota but all of the United States AS al
agitator none can question his success. AS con
structive organizer his ability may be doubted. His
value to the Nonpartlsan league movement IN Nortl
Dakota except as an bject lesson is believed by
many good eaguers to have lived its day.
The league movement has outgrown Townley. Il
is bigger than he, and those who have studied il
carefully, hope that it may become better than he
No movement found solely on hate and dlstrlst ano
class prejudice can long exist under a republican
form of government The laborer Of today is the in
dustrial chief of tomorrow; the farmer Of today is
4hn Olyaro fhn merchant al {
he changes his economic position his pre- JUDGES and
his preferences change
The league is big enough, and, its friends believe
broad enough, to cease living upon hate, meagre
and unsatisfactory diet at best. 1t is big enough
to introduce it's reforms and make them permanent
without tearing down the whole fabric of society and
endeavoring to piece together entirely new pat
tern. On the other hand if North Dakota farmers
had not had grievance to begin with the agitation
which built the league would not have found an ear
so receptive 1t is futile to against the league
while these grievances persist Attacks on the league
movement movement have and will continue to
only strengthen its snews. Like every revolutionary
movement that ever has gone down in history it will
best drive on opposition.
Opposition to the teachings of Townley and the
-advised acts Of Frazier are one thing Opposition
to the league is another.
It has served the purpose of Mr. Townley to
make them appear one and the same, and he has
with small percentage Of league mem.
bers. But Townley's attacks on his enemies have,
like many of his enemies attacks on Towney, fallen
Of their weight. They have been too vicious so
reeking with animus SO lacking in logic or Judgment
or poise as to forfeit serious consideration in the
minds ofscrious people.
The Tribune has seen reforms come and go. In
IS almost half centurys existence here in Bismarck
has seen great parties made and unmade. From
IS experience it h1 profted to such an extent that