The Ordway new era., 1920-10-08

the members or criticism from them.
On the other hand, like the politi-
cal boss, he accepts praise, tribute
1 and honorary mention and publishes
that freely. but the waste basket in
the office CT the "cfficial" papers
holds all the criticism which comes or
may come from the members who
have paid their dues end contributed
to the support of Bcss Townlcy and
his "official'' papers,
TownIey Will Fall
So here let me record the coming
downfall. CT A. c. Townley. the po-
litical boss; the downfall that has al
ready como to Townloy, the promOt-
er, and the nightmare that is in store
for Townley. the drcamer. 1t is not
because A. C. Townloy Is dishonest.
many dishonest politician has ruled
without discovery. 1t is not because
he is insircere: many an insincerc
leader has gone down in history as
great man. 1t is not because no is n
poor leader; many poor leader has
been supported by subordinatec and
has won glory But A. C. Townley
Is meeting his downfall because he
has been given too much autocratic
power.
All history proves this. 1t was Ma
poleon, the great warrior, who met
his Waterloo. 1t was the Gear OF all
the Russians, with all his power and
wealth.. that met such an untimely
defeat. 1t was the Kaiser of Ger
many, with the greatest organization
CT strength in all history, who now is
living in the nightmare of failure.
And A. C. Townley. because of auto
cratic power given him, is fast de-
stroying himself. And here is where
our story begins.
When Townley. the political boss.
saw his perfected organization and
bis power, he forgot his desire. II he
eyer had any. to assist mankind or
remedy evils of which the farmers
complained. He thought only of more
power, more membors, more dues,
more papors and bigger organiza-
tion to promote Industrial organiza-
tions. business enterprises and pro-
motion schemes that would bring
wealth and more power.
Holds Vast Fund
During 1917 the war and tho fight
made upon Townley aud his anti-war
associates. had consumed and lower
ed the reserve of hig political ma
chine. He must have immediate
funds. And so he dreamed He
dreamed of the Consumers United
Stores company. And he organized
it. With q capital of $1.0OO.0O.
seventy percent held by his
personal attorney, William Lemke
fhig bankruptcy proceedings
still prevented Towrley from holding
anything in his own name). he sold
in less than a year over one million
dollars of memberships" at 500
each to League members Thus,
through his attorney. he controlled
million dollars paid him in money
cnd notes. He secured these funds
through League organizers who car
ried credentials signed by Townley,
the promoter, which stated that the
company was organized along the
lines of the League with all tho con
troll in Boss Townley's hands: with
an agreement with each member that
q greater portion of the "membership
fec could he used IN the head offices
of the company. And 1t was used.
Townley, the promoter, had a
financial secretary" young man
who later gave the political boss
more trouble than boy gets into
when he runs amuck in a hornets
nest. This financial secretary" was
one of those young men who would
make Rufus Wallingford turn green
Iand Ponzi wonder in amazement
when 1t came to financial transac-
lions. That's why Townley, the pro-
moter, chose him. He was, IL not
clever. ambitious and daring-as
Townley's Florida transactions will
later show
This NAV was made trustee for
Townloy a3 president of his stores
company, whilc the writer was still
aching as personal representative of
the pei teal loss. Ii a short time
the Financial secretnTy" was. as II
by magic, vice president of a string
OF banks End was organizing others
alta rapid rate. 1t developed that
a financial secretary and president
of the political boss stores company
he had control of the stores company
FUNDS. 1t was but promotion step
to take tho funds and buy bank, a
second bank and a third one. The
political boss refused to buy merch-
andise warehouses or employ merch-
'andise men. That was unimportant
Only small stock was purchased for
each local store while thousands were
FUSED for banks, newspapers and po-
litical campaigns. 1t was then that
tho financial secretary" took charge
Of Townley's sisal plantation.
Before closing this article, and TAX
ing up. the sisal plantation enterprise
In the next, let me record hero de-
fense of Townley, tho boss politician.
This was his greatest mistake, all his
close associates admit 1t and Town
ley. the political boss, now denies the
acts of Townley. the promoter. But
let me say that there yas an excuse
for the Florida venture. Every man
has his weakness, and Townley, the
promoter has his. His activities. lead
ing up to the formation of the Nom
partisan League show that he had
weakness for big .hirgs, for promo
tions, for big Developments, and, as
we related in the preceding article,