The Glasgow courier. [volume] (Glasgow, Mont.) 1913-current, 1920-10-08
ARTHUR E. TOWNLEY,
DREAMER, PROMOTER and
Big BOSS POLITICIAN
BY J. w. BrintOn, TOwnley's Former
Private Secretary and Personal
Representative

America has produced many dream
ers, she has produced many promot-
ers and many boss politicians since
the days of her declaration of indie
p~endence, but none have attracted
the attention of the nation nor been
more successful in gaining power
and financial support than Arthur e..
Townley, president of the so-called
farmers National Nonpartisan league.
In five a he has built a per-
sonal organization with a following
of $4,000 dues-paying members, cap
tured one state government which he
has absolutely dominated, has threat
ened the overflow of the three ad-
joining and has stirred to alarm the
population of at least ten other states.
The initial activities Of his organi-
cation in a state are well known. His
activities are centered principally
upon getting money and members,
organizing newspapers and creating
general dissatisfaction with organized
society as it at present exists, laying
the foundation for future campaigns
to be waged upon promises Of po-
litical and industrial reform through
legislation. This is in line with all
radical political organizations and
therefore does not cause alarm nor
give an insight into the real dreams
of Townley, the dreamer, the hopes
of Townley the promoter, or the am
billions of Townley the boss politi-
clan.
SO the writer will take you to
North Dakota, where the dreamer has
realized his dreams, the promoter has
organized his schemes and the boss
politician has perfected his political
machine.
First we will relate to you the ac-
tvities of Townley, the dreamer and
promoter, before he became a politi-
clan. He was born and schooled in
Minnesota. Finishing his school days
at Alexandria, he went to Beach,
North Dakota, then a frontier town,
doomed by real estate companies that
were opening up the adjoining terri
tory to homeseekers. Townley, the
dreamer went to Beach and was soon
trying to Guido the entire neighbor-
hood as a developer of land. 1t was
here that he became a promoter. He
discarder the slow horse-method of
farming. He bought a big traction
engine to do his blowing. He plowed
FIR others and dreamed of greater
activities in blowing, sowing and
rcaping.
Il was here that the activities Of
the real estate promotion companies
attracted his attention. One real
estate man, with engines, had put in
a 1900 acre-crop and netted $50, 900
profit in a single year. Townley, the
dreamer wanted to do more. He
knew the real estate men wanted
their lands developed, so Townley, the
promoter, joined with them and took
contracts to plow, sow and reap their
acres. He bought engines and ma
chinery, oil and seed. He plowed,
sowed, but he did not reap.
He was a failure in his first at
tempt, but the game was attractive
to Townley, the dreamer, and fasci-
mating to Townley the promoter. He
made new deals with other real estate
promoters. He went to Cheyenne
Wells, Colorado. With others he &C
quired another vast trace of land at
a very low price and then to attract
buyers at a higher price he and his
associates planned on great develop
ment and grain growing activities
While statesmen were bringing lane
seekers to Cheyenne Wells, Townley
the promoter, bought engines and ma
chinery, seed and oil. He plowed ano
he sowed but again he did not reap
His dream proved a nightmare ano
his promotion scheme a financial fail
ure.
He returned to Beach, North Da
kOtd, anu IHeEc euIeTeu lntO dHOUHe.
promotion with real estate men-thii
time lager than ever-like the pro
moter and gambler he is-doublins
his bet every time he lost. This tim'
Townley and his new real estate as
sociates planned on a 10000 acre fla.
crop. And again Townley plowe,
and sowed-and again he failed t,
reap. His failure was so great thi
time that he was unable to make ney
attempts as a power-farmer and rea
estate promoter. Townley, the pro
motor, for a short time lost his cum
ming and his ability to get new asso
ciates. His failures had been too nu
merous. His activities had attracte
attention and drew pages in the wild
est-read publications in America-hi
blowing and sowing-not his failures
But he had not gained his ambition
money. So he turned his failures owe
to his creditors and moved.
1t was then that Townley, tn
dreamer, became active again. Town
ley, the promoter, had been a failure
He had for a time lost interest i
real estate promotion. He no.
dreamed Of notifies and tho poUarc r