Grand Forks herald. [volume] (Grand Forks, N.D.) 1916-1955, 1919-11-29
Reform Will Include News
papers, Stores and Other
Enterprises, According to
League Leader; Precinct
Locals to be Established.

Minneapolis, Minn., Nov. ,2s.-That
William Lemke. vice president OF the
Nonpartisan, league and advisator ex-
traordinary to A. G. Townley in the
conduct Of the leagues affairs, has
pledged group Of league workers
that the league regulations will be put
upon thorough going democratic ba-,
sis December .. when the national
committee meets in ST. Paul. became
known today.
Walter w. Liggett. former head OF
the Publishers National Service Bu-
reau in North Dakota. who was re-
Gently relieved from the position by
Townley, is said to have been the
leader Of the group Of insiders who
put the proposition UP to Lemke at
Bismarck this week, declaring that
they would carry the fight directly to
members Of the league IL CONCESSIONS
were not granted that would make for
democracy In the conduct Of the or
ganization. ~
Will Include Papers.
Lemke's promises for reform are said
to include not only the Nonpartisan
league itself but the newspapers, the
stores and other affiliated enterprises.
The reorganization Of the league is to
include, according to information
available, here, the esta ablishment Of
precinct locals, these to have repre-
sentation in a county committee, the
county committee in turn to be rep
resented by q member on the state
committee. The national committee
Is to be made up of; Representatives
from each state committee elected by
the state committee.
One of the principal points in con-
nection with the proposed reorganixa-
ton plan contemplates that there
shall be no Interference with the local
units, the county or state committees,
the other socialists who have hereto
fore dictated the affairs Of the league
They are to operate Independently Of
the present league dictators, giving
the members full opportunity to Sc
lect their own officers and representa-
tives In the several county and state
committees and in the national COM
Leaders Dictated.
j Heretofore. league leaders have de-
cided to q large degree, the choice Of,
delegates in the precincts to the coun-
ty conventions. The county conven-
80 scheduled that representatives from
headquarters could attend, and direct
the work, the headquarters represent
ative in virtually oil instances picking
the county delegate to tho state con-.
ventton. This permitted ;Townley to
call to his aid aconvention of picked
men, and enabled him to put over the
several schemeea that have benn en-
doFSed in the state conventip&is,, and
tos. .nonasnats his sss1atee. OF cAn4tdatea
with no trouble. - n. NJ
! fn%the recent call that was issued
for a+hational a COMMITTEES meeting in
ST. Paul, 1t was asserted that matters
relative to reorganization would be
considered. The national committee
IL now made up Of men picked by
Townley, while the national officers,
Townley, Wood and Lemke, selected
themselves, and they elect each other
in turn, from year to year, the ma
tional committee. having no voice in
the selection Of the executive COM
mittee: except that they may ratify
the choice that the executive commit
tee makes This was the plan used
last year when Lemke and Wood re-
elected Townley president of the
league, and certified his election to the
national committee.
= ,Rumors are current that Liggett
may be q candidate for the league
presidency; that j. r. Waters is to
be removed from the managership of
the Bank, of, North Dakota, and that
]. w. Brinton lis to be ousted from
control Of the league newspaper COM
bination.