Grand Forks herald. [volume] (Grand Forks, N.D.) 1916-1955, 1919-01-25
Farmers Are Led to Believe
That They Are Operating
Meeting But Townley and
Hench1nen Lead Them On
(By Geo. A. Benson)

Bismarck, N. D., Jan. 25-The Nom
partisan league secret caucus. which
meets nightly in Patterson's hall and
sometimes on Sunday, is the greatest
example of applied psychology the
state has seen. Students who struggle
school over problems in psychology
should be allowed to visit the caucus
one or two nights, after which they
could pass fairly good examination
on some Of the principles involved. A.
c. Townley and William Lemke, his
chief henchnqan, are masters in the
practical application of psychology, as
they have demonstrated so splendidly
in public meetings and in the manner
in which they handle the sixteenth
session of the North Dakota legisla-
ture. But nowhere do they practice
It so successfully as in the secret eau
Gus, where the bills really are approx
ed and passed. e.
Consider, for a moment, the meet
ing of the secret caucus Thursday
night, January 23. True to their plan,
the leaders let the farmers, those who
had signed the caucus agreement,
think they were in complete control
of all matters pertaining to the legis-
lature. "Self determination" is given
these caucus members and these leg
islators, just insofar as 1t serves to
put through the program planned by
Townley and Lemke.
Thursday night. several very i'm
portant bills were considered, among
them being the state hail insurance
measure. which is the result Of the
hail insurance amendment to the con-
stitution. But the farmers got no
chance to take a stand either for or
against the BILL William Lemke had
the reigns in his hands, and he steered
the bills through the caucus as rapid
ly as possible, and in every case avoid
ed pitfalls of discussion. The bills
weren't even read, much less explain
ed and discussed. y
When the meeting opened, the eau
Gus members were asked to elect a
chairman. Lars o. Fredrickson, OF
Pekin, was dominated. and elected.
Mr.. Fredrickson took the chair, and
1t became his duty to introduce a fed
eral agricultural agent who delivered
an address on the determination OF
grasshoppers. 4
When the. address was concluded
the members entered into a discussion
Of the subject. A number of the farm
ers had had experiences with grass
hoppers, and they recounted them. In
Walter Maddox, chairman Of the
steering committee, got up and an
inounced that the committee had had
a number of bills for consideration
and wanted them recommended for
passage.
Someone moved that the committee
have the bills introduced, but Mr.
Maddox said that they wanted the
farmers to discuss them and that the
committee did not want to take al
that responsibility. But that was what
the committee wanted, and Mr. Mad
dock knew that that was what the
committee would get
William Lemke, who steers tht
steering committee, took the floor
and. with the leagues legislative pro
grim involved, commenced putting
motions himself.
First. he called attention to the fac
that he had couple of resolutions
Sometimes, he did not read all tn,
titles. There was no explanation, nj
discussion of any Of the bills. The!
were approved in one, two, three or
der, and in less time than it took t,
read the titles.
But Mr.. Lemke did not let tn
members go out without again i'm
had exercised the right of self de
termination" and that democracy wa
in the saddle behind the closed door
He told the legislators that tn
league had bill which, was of par
ticular interest to elevator men. H
called upont A. J. McGovern, stat
grain grader and inspector, to explain
the provisions Of the bill.
Mr.. McGovern hardly had sat dow
before the caucus members got int
a very animated discussion as t
whether or not there should be q par
tition between the elevator office an,
the engine room. This discussion last
ed for some time. and gave Mr., Lemk