The Glasgow courier. [volume] (Glasgow, Mont.) 1913-current, 1920-10-22
TOWNLEY. A DREAMER
and BOSS POLITICIAN

When Townley the boss politician,
realized that he must have a news
paper organization to support him
and rcpel his political opponents, he
was forced to follow a program OF
deception. For Townley did not pro-
pose TO have the members of the
League own the "official" paper of the
organization. He had perfected the
organization. He had made himself
president and his salaried attorney
William Lemke, vice president, on the
executive committee of three. 1t was
his organization and he was to be its
perpetual "~president." He never in
tended that the "official" paper Of the
organization should get into the hands
of the League members so that they
could criticise his acts as "president".
That might endanger his power. He
must have control of the organiza-
TONS paper so that criticism Of Boss
Townley and his attorney could be
abolished-and only praise of the
president" and Lemke printed. He
did not build the organization for
others. He built it for A. C. Townley
and for A. C. Townley's benefit. He
had become a real boss politician, and
he now moved with the instinct and
cunning of a New York Tammany
leader.
So when Townley, the boss politi-
clan, established the "Nonpartisan
Leader" at Fargo, North Dakota, in
September 1915, he formed an indie
pendent company, or co-partnershlp
with Edward Wood Of Deering,
North Dakota, and Albert Fox Of
Minneapolis, two Townley employees,
These men acted as trustees for
Townley. This was necessary. Town
ley had failed at Beach, North Da-
kota. He had several hundred thou
sand dollars of debt recorded against
him in that county. He could not
establish a paper in his own name.
His creditors would seize it. So Pro-
moter Townley became the employee
Of Boss Townley's employees. (Town-
ley wore in his bankruptcy proceed
ing that Wood and Fox owned the
N%onpartisan publishing company and
that he was employed by them to
manage it. Fox and Wood swore they
didn't know anything about the pub
fishing business and were hired by
Townley as organizers for the
League. In fact, Townley owned it,
He now had the "official" paper Of
the organization. He controlled it.
He could now praise himself at will,
denounce his enemies or read out Of
the organization anyone if he so de-
sired. AS a boss politician he had
proved his ability and cunning to
keep control Of his organization.
But Townley, the promoter, as we
related in the preceding article, hat
other dreams aside from political
He wanted control of the funds to us,
for any purpose he might wish. BY
personally owning the "official'
paper of his organization he not only
controlled its policy, but through its
ownership, could levy an assessment
on every member enrolled as Sub
scription' to the paper. And con-
trolling the organization he could set
the price Of not only the paper but
the membership dues as we'll, and see
that the Subscription" was paid out
of the first money received by the
League. Thus, as we already stated,
the transcription" or assessment was
compulsory and the publishing COM
pany's income automatic.
Boss Townley's position was now
secure. 1t was his organization. 1t
was his paper. He raised the League
dues and subscription price of the
paper arbitrarily and repeatedly. He
was secure from criticism from his
members. No matter how large the
membership grew he was secure in
his ~'prcsidency.' No League mem
Der could talk to another through the
"official' paper unless he praised the
political boss and paid tribute to him,
If criticism was directed at him by
members 1t must come through out
side publications, and i'm that event
the member who showed such dis
respect of the president" was
promptly branded a TRAITOR" and reas
out of the organization by the "of
fetal publications" of the League
his publishing company having es
tabiishsd "official" papers in eacl