Grand Forks herald. [volume] (Grand Forks, N.D.) 1916-1955, 1919-10-24
LEAGUE GOVERNMENT

The question of how a body Of men shall be gov
erned. so long as they have associated themselves volun-
tarly for . common purpose, is distinctly a question for
those men to decide. II they wish to govern themselves.
well and good. # they are satisfied that some other per-
SON shall govern them, that is their business. And the
manner in which the Nonpartisan league shall be gov
erned is a matter which concerns primarily the league
members themselves.
The situation is modified. however. by the purposes
for which the organization exists. So long as its activities
affect only its own members, interference by outsiders
is unwarranted, and even advice is apt to be resented.
But when the activities Of an organisation are Of a char
acter which necessarily affects the rights and interests Of
others, the method Of organization and control becomes
= matter Of public concern, even though it may not be
subject to public authority.
The Nonpartsan league is avowedly q political body.
1t is q voluntary association, but its purposes, according
to its Official title and to its invariable course, are to
bring to bear the weight Of it's influence on the govern
ment Of the state. a subject in which every citizen is in
terested, and by which everyone is affected. When it is
announced. therefore. that the farmers Of the state,
through an organisation Of their own. have decided on
q certain line Of political action, the citizens of the state
who happen not to be members Of that organization are
not only interested in the action which is proposed, but
they have a right to inspect and pass judgment on the
manner in which the members are actually represented
In the control Of the organization.
Tho action Of some Of the league members In Nor
~N
ton county in demanding changes In the form of league
government brings up afresh a subject which has cropped
out in one form or another on many occasions, and which
Is bound to keep coming up until the members at large
actually pass judgment on 1t. It is an old story that
the Nonpartisan league is not a democratic or a repre-
sentative body in the matter Of its control. It's mem
~bers have no voice in its management. Its control has
been SO arranged that it's inventor and promoter is an i-
responsible autocrat. The fact that he remains in power
does not change the method at all. Russia was none the
less an autocracy because its people for centuries sub
mttted to that form Of government, and the Bolshevik
government is none the less an autocracy because its
masses in large districts remain the vassals Of Ienine
Several other attempts have been made to inject
something Of democracy into the government Of the
league. Thus far these efforts have failed. Probably
the incpient revolution in Morton county will have a like
fate. Nobody can tell. But there are farmers, members
Of the league, not only in Morton county, but in every
other county in the state, who do not like to be bossed,
and these farmers will from time to time express them
selves. One of the chief tasks Of Mr.. Townley will be IN
smothering the outbursts Of sentiment in favor of popular
government which will come, now from one quarter of
the state and now from another. Mr. Townley is likely
to experience more and more fully as he goes along the
truth Of the statement that uneasy lies the head that
wears a crown ao.