Bonners Ferry herald. [volume] (Bonners Ferry, Idaho) 1904-current, 1920-03-23
FORMER LEADER GIVES VIEWS
OF The NON-PARTISAN LEAGUE

Inc non-partisan leaeue oo.o;,.
threatens to invade the state If + H. IN
no and dominate political ana aa.
ornamental functions here as con corr 80
iiy as 1T does in North Dakota y 4
TINS connection the FOLLOWING - -
view from the Milwaukee Jo5rn 80 -
FEBRUARY l6, 1920, will be iIh1n,;n. -
ing The recital of the prina, az, , ~
OF the league and the man9o ~ -,
winch the league has taken ovo,. ~ ~
state of North Dakota will toll IL me
ly OF how the original n,,,. p1s.,l.-
purely beneficial in intent ~ ~ PIIsess 49,
subverted to the detriment Nv &c ot zen
state. 'i'e eh1ire
The interview was wen bv N. p
Johnson of Tolley, n D., one Of The
cnree men who started the leapue and '
VINO, served as railroad COMMISSIONS 's,.
during the first league administers
tion. Mr.. Johnson was retired Ne
cause OF his refusal to follow tbe
ulcIation OF the leaders who gained
control over the league. He Il =
practical farmer and a director. in tho
American COOPERATION associat;on
Inc non-partisan league was start
ca early In 1915 at my homeu said
Mr.; johnson. "a. f. Bowen, +. p
Richardson and / discussed a pIan
lor organizing a non-partisan move
ment among the farmers to over
throw the political machine that then
ruled North Dakota and obtain leo;s-
lation that was needed by the farm
ers. We wanted a system of +ern,;-
hal elevators owned by the state or
Dy cooperative companies. We want
Gu laWs mat would assist in the bet
terment OF market conditions.
Il was then president of the North
Dakota Equity society. At the state
Equity convention in Bismarck in
1918, the league plan formulated in
my home was Endorsed. Mr.. Bowen
was engaged as organizer.
In April A. G. Townley saw the
possibility of the league and induced
Bowen to follow him. No orpaniza-
ton had been formed and # was
easy for Townley to assume CHARGE
He raised the dues from $3.50 to 81
year, then to SO, put organizers
to work and soon had an organi.a-
ton of with he was the head.
At this stage there was practical
ly 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 not
oppose the league. In fact they
supported it financially in the first
campaign.
Under Townleys control the
league program was rapidly extended
far beyond its original limits. AS
now proposed it means community
ownership of practically everything.
Many of these state projects are i'm
practical and have had the effect Of
driving capital from the state. A law
taxing moneys and credits of foreign
corporations had such a disastrous
effect that it was repealed.
Changes have been made in the
state governments, elective officials
being made appointive until the gov
ernor through his appointive power
has become a car. Gov Frazier is
only a rubber stamp for Townley.
Carpet-bagger theorists have been
imported and placed in important DO
sitions. The state industrial com
for instance, consists of the
secretary of agriculture
and labor, two elected officials, the
other three being appointed
This commission has almost I'M