The Oakes times. [volume] (Oakes, N.D.) 1906-current, 1918-10-31
minister BALKS
T0WNLEY METHODS
AUTocRAr INTERESTED IN SELF
ACKNOWLEDGEMENT
Cares Nothing for Just Legislation
Where It Threatens to Take
Away Issue

AAS~s ~. O'S WI. 1O.-4OWAACy.
ism. especially as it relates to South
Dakota. is attacked from the inside
by Rev. William Henry Talmage. pas
tor OF st. Georges church of this
city. Mr.. Talmage has issued a
pamphlet addressed to members Of
the Nonpartisan league, in which he
charges A G Townley with juggling
the funds of the league, with assum-
ing an autocratic power and despot-
ism unprecedented In the history of
this country, and with plotting to en-
throne socialism and all its vagaries.
Right to Speak Asserted
Mr.. Talmage afiirms he has right
to denounce Townleyism, from the
fact he was among the first to work
for South Dakota branch of the
league. and that as early as 1915 he
was engaged in soliciting members.
Finally. he says. he obtained leave of
absence from his pulpit and devoted a
year to lecturing. drafting and lobby
ing Nonpartisan league measures
through the legislature at Pierre and
in starting the work in other states.
The break with Tovnley came, he
says. when he was sent to Kansas in
the spring Of 1917 to organize a
branch.
Just Demands Denied.
Il was not as wise then in the ways
of Townleyism as am now," he says.
"The Kansas members of the league
had adopted set Of bylaws which ap.
piled the acid test to Mr.. Townley's
loyalty to the farmers interests. He
promptly denied these farmers their
just and reasonable demands andFsup-
pressed the bylaws which et Santeed
them what he had all along been
promising them. To the perverted
mind oe Townley this document was
a crime. Although these rules gave
all money over to Mr.. Townley, except
afew dollars reserved for the Kansas
league campaign: although they grant
ed him his position as selfappointed
dictator, yet the great honest liberia
tor of the farmers baked when It
was proposed. for both safety and ex-
pediency. to retain few dollars
where they rightfully belonged for the
beneit Of those who gave them"
Emissaries of Townley, the preach
er farmer says. were then sent from
st. Paul to Ellsworth, Kansas, as fast
as steam could carry them, to relieve
him Of the charge of Kansas work and
''to suppress the idea of mixing de-
mocracy with the league manage.
ment."
100000 Gone
Addressing himself to the financial
affairs Of the league, Rev Mr. Talmage
says "they have been shamefully han
died." ION June LIST, 1s1S," he says.
"the national treasury, according to
Mr.. Townley's own word was empty,
although the fee of SIG had been col
lected from more than 160, 900 farmers
of the wheat belt. or in round num-
bers. $3.000.0o0. All gone. No one
knows where except Mr.. Townley.
Upwards Of 100000 had been collect
ed and sent out of South Dakota. This
also vanished so completely that at
the time Of the state convention in
June at Mitchell we were bankrupt,
and appeals for 800 from individual
farmers were made In order to get
sufficient funds for our state cam
paign. At the same time that the
league treasury became empty, Mr..
Townley became the controller of vast
private enterprises. the profits Of
which do not go into the pockets Of
the members Of the league. Where do
they go! It should not be expected
Mr.. Townley will tell you about these
concerns. He considers 1t none Of our
business.
seIfappolntsd Monarch
when Townley refused to permit
the farmers Of this state to elect a
state executive committee he
did at the late Mitchell convention
to manage the affairs Of the league,
In accordaqce with the promise made
to every paying member. my last ves-
tige of faith in his good intentions
vanished. = ssTownley is now the
selfappointed absolute monarch over
the financial and political activities Of
the league. have the documents to
prove this. He surrounds himself
With dummies and flgureheads. .
This is what was really done at Nit
chell. The South Dakota executive
committee was left to the appoint.
ment Of the national executive COM
fhittee. which is the same as leaving
It all to Townley: for. On the national
e1scutiye committee Townley Arst
appointS himself, chairman and then
proceeds Is appoint two others. Al
matters now stand. by viftue of IN
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