The Leavenworth echo. [volume] (Leavenworth, Wash.) 1904-current, 1920-03-05
NON-PARTIzAN
LEAGUE ISA GREAT
MENACE
ONE OF IT'S FOUNDERS SHOWS
HOW TOWNLEN. HAS RUINED
THE NORTH DAKOTA FARM
ERS ORGANIZATIONS.

he nOnpartlSan league has threat
cncd to invade the state of Washing.
ton and dominate political and gov
enmental functions here as com
plctelY as it does in North Dakota. In
this connection the following inter
view from the Milwaukee Journal of
February Is. 1920, will he illuminat-
ing This recital of the primary aims
of the league and the manner in
which the league has taken over the
state Of North Dakota tell plainly If
how the original purposes, purely
beneficial in intent have been sub
verted to the detriment of the farm
ers' interest and the entire state.
Unless an early and united effort is
made to show the farmers of Wiscon-
sin exactly what the Farmres Non
partisan league has done in North
Dakota and what the effect of its rule
has been. the league will capture
political power in this state and re-
peat its Legislative program here"
This statement is made by NJ. p.
Johnson. FOLEY, y d., one of the
three men who started the league and
who served as state railroad commits
sloner during the first league admin
istration. Mr.. johnson was retired
because of his refusal to follow the
diction of the leaders who gained CON
troll over the league He is a practi-
cal farmer and director in the Am
crlcan Cooperative association. He
has spent several days in Milwaukee
attending to association business.
Original Plan Changed.
"The Nonpaltisan league was start
ed early in 1918 at my home," said
Mr.. Johnson. "A +. Bowen. l.. p.
Richardson and | discussed a plan for
organizing a nonpartisan movement
among the farmers to overthrow the
political machine that then ruled
North Dakota and obtain legislation
that was needed by the farmers. We
wanted a system Of terminal eleva-
tors owned by the state or by coop
eratiVe companies. We wanted laws
that would assist in the betterment Of
marketing conditions
81 was then president of the North
Dakota Equity society At the state
Equity convention in Bismarck in
1913. the league plan formulated in
my home was endorsed. Mr.. Bowen
was engaged as organizer
"ln April A. c. Townley saw the
possibility Of the league plan and in
duccd Bowen to follow him. No or
ganization had been formed and it
was easy for Townley to assume
charge. He raised the dues from
$3.50 to S6 a year, then to So, put or
ganizers at work and soon had an or
ganization Of which he was the head.
Business Men in Line.
AT this stage there was practical
~ no opposition to the league. It's
program was moderate and consisted
Of demands in behalf of the farmers
which were generally recognized as
fair and Just, Business men did no.
oppose the league. In fact they sup
ported it financially in the first cam
paign.
"Under Townleys' control the league
program was rapidly extended far be-
yond its original limits. As now pro-
posed it means community ownership
of practically everything. Many of
these state projects are impractical
and have had the effect of driving
capital from the state \ law taxing
moneys and credits Of foreign corpor-
ations had such a disastrous effect
that it was repealed
Changes have been in made tho
state government, elective officials