Grand Forks herald. [volume] (Grand Forks, N.D.) 1916-1955, 1919-06-05
(Ry G. s. s~tr.ndvold.)

IL. NNl UTF NSSG ~ S@T$"S 49, rFEu--r-E'
TO look for linden springs in the
personality Of Arthur G. Townley,
president Of the National NonpaTtl-
task, because the search would be
futile. 1t is ali surface, pose, cam0u-
= When listening for the fourth or
fifth time to this man. who has sue
|,ceeded in, welding temporarily some
rather uncanny influence over q lot
Of good and honest people, it strikes
the observer that there is in all his
appeals 4 lack OF ~genuinenees, an ap-
er himself does not believe every
thing he says, and an i~rrepressiblle
tendency to beat about the bush by
uttering abusive words which are en-
ployed less with regard to h ele-
ment of truth they contain than be-
cause Of their effect on a crowd.
Vituperatton always fasctnates even
though it lacks foundation. MI.
Town1ey knows this and takes full
advantage Of his knowledge: Yet It
seems that he must be beginning to
learn a lesson, for when he appeared
in Grand Forks on Tuesday on this
week, he was much less violent and
unrestrained in his remarks than on
some previous occasions.
A Mental ChaneAeoa.
Mr.. Townley's most conspicuous
trait is his ready ability to change
parts. In the course Of an hour or
two we see him in q choice selection
of roles.
First of all he appears as the typ
ical and confirmed demagogue who
has studiously calculated the effect OF
his phrasing on an audience; he plays
with that audience, tosses it from
one sentiment to another, whirls II
he understands that it recognizes the
point which he wished to bring out.
And the beauty Of it is that it is not
until afterward the audience discov-
ers it has been played with. 1t re-
quires some peculiar ability on the
part of a speaker to accomplish this
When considering his methods, Mr.
Townley is easily compared to the
carricature of a revivalist. When one
lists, it is evident that there is a l0t
of similarity between them and A. c
Townley. Their method of exhorta'
ton is essentially the same; their love
for drastic and picturesque slang il
identical, and as the revivalist uses
his power for the purpose of making
poor sinners hit the saw-dust trail
SO Townley stops at nothing to con
vince his hearers that the only wal
to economic salvation and earthly
bliss leads through the principles
Of which he is the more Dr. less self
appointed master champion.
"Chicaot tho Jester.'
Mr.. Townley thoroughly under
stands the popular willingness to b.
amused. His c%ontortions when HI
lo<onHc an q p1offarYo a re mt 1ln1ikx
those of ONE of the clowns with Bar
mum & Bailey, and his witticism'
while generally as fiat and stale a
those of a fourth class vaudeville
stage, sometimes hit squarely wha
they are intended to hit, because o
the mimicry which he has made hi
own; because of the lnodulations o
voice which he must have laugh
himself like a modern Demostenes
and because of the amazing agilit!
with which he performs acrobati'
tricks on the stage.
1t amuses. 1t does no convince.
II Here is an instance. On Tuesda!
Mr.. Townley told the following anec
dpte:
IA few days g Senator Cahill AM
stI happened to be eating our dinner. il
a hotel somewhere in the state. TIL
girl who waited upon us expressed he
; Identification that in the future sh
would have to work only eight hour
instead of fourteen, and I told he
Senator Cahill was one of the mel
!. girl took his hand, held it for a lon
| time, and chatted with him for tel
minutes while she forgot all abou
me. / finally told her that I was tn
/. man who made Senator Cahill vot
for that bill" ~