Bonners Ferry herald., 1919-09-16

- ~ Ncut> annually must
oe paid on the preferred stock before
'he common stock shares in the NET
earnings After the preferred stock
mas been paid 40 cents. then before
II can share in any further earnings
the common stock. which cost the I'M
reau probably one speech, a few dol
larS carfare and hotel bill. is en-.
utled to 20 cents a share.
How Townley Controls.
"One would suppose this method
OF organization was the consummation
Oh all gall, but this is not true. There
are YET even greater heights to which
Mr. Brinton and the inner circle can
climb. Each share of the So gift
stock has one vote. but only each
shareholder, who puts up his actual
money for stock has a vote. A man
who owns 90 shares, par value Of $500.
gets but a solitary vote, which is
matched by the vote attached TO
y share of stock given to the bureau
l am shareholder in the Morton
County Farmers Press and the So
gltt stock has 450 votes, while the men
who put $10,50O in money into the
paper have 400 votes. This method of
organization insures the control of all
league newspapers by the bureau,
which in turn is controlled by the in
ner circle Of the league, which Is con-
trolled absolutely by Mr.. Townley.
These league newspapers not only
are overcapitalized and forced to
divide any earnings they might ever
make with the bureau, but they must
look to it for all supplies and news
service, which, of course, includes edi-
tOrial matter. The result is that Mr..
Townley dictates the policies of his
state weeklies, his two state dailies
and 30 odd county weeklies The same
propaganda appears simultaneously
and the same editorials grace each
sheet. He maintains a bureau of
three experienced newspaper men at
the capital and no expense is spared
in securing team work on the part
Of these publications in putting over
the various TOwnley schemes.
State Supports Papers.
"As l suggested Mr.. Townley found
these newspapers an expensive luxury.
Business men were not eager to patron
Ize them and attorneys and others did
not come forward with sufficient .alac-
rity with their legal publications, so
the famous Newspaper Act was con-
ceived. This act, in brief, provides
that the people of a county shall, at
each general election, select an official
newspaper-pending the first election
a printing commission was established
consisting of three state officials, to
select the newspapers for the different
counties. 1t is then provided that all
official proceedings of the state and
Its political subdivisions, together with
all legal notices, shall be published in
these newspapers. In addition to Sc
ecting the official newspapers, the
printing commission controls all the
state printing. 1t lets such contracts
without bids-it opens the portals of
the treasury of the state to the bureau
and its newspapers.
Smashes a Free Press.
"Can you conceive of a more das-
tardly outrage upon the freedom of
the press? The newspapers have been
selected and the scheme is in full op-
Grafton. Already some 80 odd weeklies
In the state have suspended publica-
ton. driven out OF business, their prop
erty cOnfiscated by this act of the leg
Islature. 1t Is all part of the grand
scheme, not only to keep Townley's
followers in ignorance of what is really
transpiring in the state, but to fill
their hearts with malice and hatred
which is necessary to success in the
soviet system. Moreover, the young
must be educated. If a socialist state
would succeed, the rising generation
must be imbued with socialistic prin
ciples. This rape of the Independent
press of North Dakota is a part OF
the educational program of the league
to establish and perpetuate socialism
in North Dakota.
"No real American can object to thu
honest presentation of new theor,
of government-history teaches tina
progress in government is only mad
by experimentation. However, an.
such political issue should be clearl.
defined and it's ultimate effect upol
the established system, which ha
stood the test of experience, shoul'
the final test.
Crisis Is at Hand.
"a worldwide crisis confronts a.
Since the conclusion of the great wal
no clear-minded thinker doubts tina
public opinion must ultimately rul
every nation; people must decid
whether they will reject an establishe
system, which, however faulty, has II
suited in the greatest personal lDsert
and the greatest material prosperit
that the world has ever known.
a new system is to be substituted Il
the old, 1t ought to be honestly an
frankly presented, and not advance