New-York tribune., 1919-06-29
North Dakota Stands Pat

North Dakota Stands Pat
The radical socialistic faith of A. C.
Townley has retained its grip on North
Dakota by substantial majority in the
probably show some reaction from the
high water mark reached by the Non
partisan League. There has been no
shift sufficient to overturn the leagues
control Of the state, or block the imme-
diate introduction of the elaborate pro-
gramme of state socialism in issue,
state bank, state elevator, state -four
mill.
1t must be remembered that the Town
ley movement has prospered under cir
cumstances most favorable to the radi-
cal measures advocated. 1t was based
on real and definite grievances Of the
farmers, the correction of which had
been pig-headedy opposed by the ultra
conservatives of the state. The start
ing point was the historic occasion on
which a state Senator, refusing to heed
the legitimate pleas of rural delega-
ton, said to the farmers: "Go home
and slop your hogs!" The whole origin
of the movement has very large moral
for those shortsighted "standpatters"
who are opposed to budging a single inch.
The farmers of North Dakota, infiamed
by Townley's extraordinary eloquence,
set out to take yards. AS result they
have placed the whole fabric OF the
states economic welfare in peril.
In justice to the North Dakota farm
ers, it is to be recognized that the osten-
sible goal of Townley has been anything
but Bolshevism. He has deprecated every
use Of the word socialism in his propa-
ganda. Government ownership and oper-
alton of few key operations, state
bank, state elevator, state flour mill,
simply to influence and regulate prices,
has been the goal announced. These ex-
periments are risky from fnencial
point of view But they are very far
from spelling revolution. And the whole
procedure of enactment has been lawful
and orderly.
1t is in his methods of propaganda,
soviet organizations and in the unsee,
purposes that spread out on every hand
that Townley's subtle menace lies The
Americansm of Townley is now on trial
in Minnesota court, where he is ac-
cused Of obstructing the war. Whether
he is convicted or not there is no question
Of the lukewarmness of Townley in
the war, of the fact that his interest lay
wholly in his league and his reforms,
and not at all in conscription or Liberty
bonds or the preservation Of America.
AS for his propaganda and his organiza-
ton, To'vnley has used the Bolshevist
system ably and effectively in every de-
tail save only violence. He has made
himself the absolute dictator of his
league by right of forceful and dicta-
torial personality and through the ma
chinery of soviet representation. His
farmers meet in small districts and
elect farmer delegates, who meet and in
turn elect state committee, which in
turn sends delegates to national COM
mittee, which elects Townley and the
other members of the executive COM
mittee. This indirect system of class
representation has enabled Towney to
retain strangle hold on his organiza-
ton, which he runs as if it were his
personal property. So far as he could,
Iowniey organized the state Legislature
as farmers soviet. The farmers rep-
resentatives were organized in q caucus
OF their own and every effort was made
10 insen IN them sense of class con
scaoasness That has been the annea,
OF all OF Townley's great eloouence at
large and to his caucus of legislators
class consciousness.
A rarely able agitator Town)ev b..
SHOWN himself. Control of the press
ana the schools in true Bolshevist fash
ion was one of his first aims. A fvino
squadron of trained orators, a chain n
aply edited radical newspapers ma
uonal magazine-there was nothing tina,
tnc skilled propagandist could add tt
tne Io~nley methods Control of tn.
pubic schools, with the aim Of teach,n1 !
socialism therein, was one OF the ,ness
ufcs most, bitterly fought over in tn,
present referendum.
Il revolt from within the Nonpartisap
Lssgue' was primarily responsible 10,
Inc present counter effort. It was led
~ young and able lieutenant Of Town.
ieys' Attorney General LANCER, who
nad become disgusted by his leader,
methods. But, plainly, North Dakota
farmers were not ready for shift
!. Ihey had elected a legislature TO ini
tiAss IN experiment in state socialism
hnd In khA 1An~s.A II A. - =.