The Monte Vista journal., 1920-10-02

promo,ion with real cs,atc mea-
this time larger than evsr--like tho
promoter and gambler he is--doue-
ling his bet cvcry time he lost. Thls
time Townlcy and hia new real e.
tate associates planned on a 1900
aero naxcrup. Aad seaia rownl~y
plowcd and sowcd-and again ~
failed to reap. His failure was 10
great this time that hc was unable
TO make now attempts ~ n power
farmer and real estate promoter.
Townley. the promoter. for . short
time lost his cunning and his ability
to get new associates. Ills failures
had been too Numerous. His activi-
ties had attracted attention aud drew
pages In the widcst-read publica-
lions In America-hia plowins and
sowinK--noi his failures. But hc
had not gained his ambitlou-mon-
ey. 81 he turned his failures over to
his creditors and moved.
Il was than that Townisy. the
dreamer. became active asain.
Towniey. the promoter. had eeen
failure. He had for = time lost IN
ierest In real estate promotion. He
now dreamed Of politics and tho
powers OF the politician. and. inci-
dcntaiiy no doubt. OF the easy mon
ey always At the command Of the
political boss. Townley. the
dreamer. forgot his debts. Debts
never worry . politician. They did
Mt worry Tovnlsy.
Following his financial failure he
became . candidate for the state
leGislaturc-on tho socialist ticket,
In his early life--like many dream
ers-he had road Carl Marx and
others Of that school and was now u
pronounced socialist. He did not
know then. but later realised he
could never be boss politician fol-
lowing the Carl Marx school OF pol
itics. He was defeated bat his ambi-
tion to enter political life was only
sharpened He dreamed not only OF
being elected to the legislature but
OF controlling the legislature Of
North Dakota.
In January. 1915. he went to Bis
marck and attended the Legislature
session as a Visitor. There Q bitter
fight was being waEed between two
factions of the Legislature. one de-
handing the passage Of law. and
the appropriatink Of money. to build
u state-owned terminal elevator.
similar to the terminal at New Or
leans-and those In Canada II had
been voted upon by the people. but
the legislature as II often happens.
did not heed the wishes and do
mands OF their constituents. The
Equity society leaders had called a
maas meeting In protest against the
legislature. This meeting was held
at Bismarck while the session was
| on-snd while Townley. the dream
err. looked on. and dreamed.
Here was his opportunity to be-
gin his career AS 4 politician. He
I W0b = bOCidtibt. no Ut&t6-OW000 eIe-
vator appealed to him. Here was n
chance to work for 4 socialistic po-
litical enterprise and at the same
time join hands with republicans
and democrats. Here was . chance
to promote. not real estate saies.
but political action and political
organization. True. he had never
been interested in the welfare OF
farmers and their problems. but he
had taught school, had debated on
socialism with its opponents and was
we'll posted on state Ownership.
Was not q state-owned terminal =
part OF the socialist program?
L So Townley secured permission
from the Equity meeting to address
the gathering. but not being q Dol.
ishsd speaker then no engaged q
brother socialist to address the farm
ers assembled. and there A. E. Bow.
J en-. Townley's friend and at one
time . candidate for governor ON ths
socialist ticket in North Dakota, out.