The Ward County independent. [volume] (Minot, Ward County, N.D.) 1902-1965, 1920-10-07
BY ]. w. Brinton, TOwnley's
Former Private Secretary and
Personal Representative.

FOrmer frlV8te OeCTeSdEy duu
Personal Representative.
(Copyrighted)
America has produced many dream
ers, she has produced many promot-
ers and many boss politicians since
the days of her declaration of indie.
pendence, but none have attracted
the attention Of the nation nor been
more successful in gaining power and
financial support than Arthur c:
Townley, president of the so-called
farmers National Nonpartisan league.
In FIVE years he has built per-
sonal organization with following
of 25O,OOO dues-paying members, cap
tured one state government which he
has absolutely dominated, has threat
ened the overthrow of the three ad-
Joining and has stirred to alarm the
population of at least ten other states.
The initial activities of his organi-
zation in state are well known. His
activities are centered principally up
on getting money and members. or
ganizing 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 ambl-
tions of Townley the boss politician,
SO the writer will take you to North
Dakota, where the dreamer has realiz-
ed his dreams, the promoter has or
ganized his schemes and the boss pol
itician has perfected his political ma
chine.
First we will relate to you the. ac-
tvities Of Tpwnley, the dreamer and
promoter, before he became politic-
ian. He was born and schooled in
Minnesota. Finishing his school days
at Alexandria, he went to Beach.
North Dakota, then . frontier town,
doomed by real estate companies that
were opening up the adjoining terri
tory to homeseekers. Townley,. the
dreamer, wentlto Beach and was soon
trying to outdo the entire neighbor-
hood as developer of land. 1t was
here that he became a promoter. he
discarded the slow horse-method of
farming. He bought big traction
engine to do his blowing. He plowed
for others and dreamed Of greater ac-
tivities in plowing, sowing and reap
ing. H.,
It was here that the activities Of
the real estate promotion companies
attracted his attention. One real
esate man, with engines, had put IN
a 2,OOO-acre crop and netted $3O,OoO
profit in single year. Townley. the
dreamer, wanted to do more. He knew
the real estate men wanted their lands
developed, so Townley, the promoter,
ioined with them and took contracts
to plow, SOW and reap their acres: He
bought engines and machinery, 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 promoter. He made new
deals with other real estate promot-
rs. Helwent to Cheyenne Wells, Col
orado. With others he acquired an
other vast tract Of land at a very low
nrice and then to attract buyers at q
higher price he and his associates
planned on great development and
prain growing activities. While sales
men were bringing land seekers to
cheyenne Wells, Townley. the promot-
er, bought engines and macnlnery,
seed and oil. He plowed and ne sowed
hut again he did not reap. His dream
proved nightmare and his promotion
scheme financial failure.
He returned to Beach, North Dako-
ia, and there entered into another pro-
motion with real estate men-thls time
larger than ever-like the promoter
and gambler that he is-doubling his
bet every time he lost. This time
Townley and his new real estate as
sociates planned on a 12,OOO-acre flax
crop. And again Townley plowed and
sowed-and again he failed to reap.
His failure was so great this time that
he was unable to make new attempts
as power-farmer and real estate pro-
moter. Townley, the promoter, for a
short time lost his cunning and his
ability to get new associates. HIS
failures had been too numerous. HIS
activities had attracted attention and
drew pages in the widest-read publ; ps
cations in America plowing and
sowing-not his failures. But he had
not gained his ambition money. So
he turned his failures over to his cred
itors and moved.
It was then that Townley, the
dreamer, became active again. Town
lev. the promoter, had been q failure:
He had for . time lost interest in real
estate promotion. He now dreamed
Of politics and the powers Of the pol.
itician, and, incidentally, no doubt. Of
tie easy money always at the COM
mand Of the political boss. Townley,
the dreamer, forgot his debts. Debts
never worry a politician. They don't
worry Townley.
Following his financial failure he
became candidate for the state leg
islature-on the socialist ticket. In his
early life like many dreamers-he
had read Carl Marx and others Of that
school and was now a pronounced So
c;alist He did mt knnw fhon hit