The Ordway new era., 1920-10-01
who Is Brinton, the Author?

j. w. Brinton was one of the
most active men in the organiza-
tion of the Nonpartisan league,
and the man who laid the found
: w-ion upon which the league was
built. He was at one time priv
. nte and personal representative
of A. c. Townley and his political
advisor. He was mayor Of Beach
and fellow townsmen of Town
ley when the latter was engaged
in his ten-thousand acre fax en-
tOrprise.
Mr.. Brinton was organizer of
the first farmers political organ:
!zation in North Dakota which
swept out of office every office
holder in the largest county in
the state-three years before the
league was organized. He was
the first Republican to take the
platform for the NonpartiGan
league and was mayor of Beach
where he served four years as
postmaster under President Taft.
Mr. Brinton was the first white
boy born in Wells County. N. Da-
kota. where his father settled 20
miles from a railroad. He earn
ed his own living at nine years of
age and entered a printshop
when ID. In 1907 ho started
campaign against graft and en-
bezzelment in Billings county in
cooperation with j. w. Foley,
father of the N Oak, poet of that
name. exposing over $50 100000
embezzelment and misappropri-
alton of funds in that county. At
this timo A. C. Townley was run
ming for state office on the Social
ist Ticket.
In January. 1915, as mayor of
Beach, took the platform and
stumped the state for three mon
this. being the first Republican to
take the platform in support of
the Nonpartisan League and the
farmers original program; he
secured more members than any
other speaker and held the rec
ord for the most members secur-
ed at any one meeting. In the
following campaign held more
meetings than any other speak
er. debating opposition speakers
and was selected by Laugue offic-
er Governor, who opposed Fraz-
ier.
In 1917 Brinton and Townley
went to st. Paul and opened Of
fees for National Nonpartisan
League; opened Office in st Paul
headquarters as personal repre-
sentative CT League president.
and made trips to other states to
enlist support of Equity and 9TH
er farm organizations.
During the Legislative session
Of 1917 had charge of Townley's
headquarters in the old North
west Hotel at Bismarck, N. Oak.
Started the Consumers United
Stores Company, an independent
concern, and secured 81 100000,
IN memberships at total expenses
, OF eight per cent. Stores COM
: pany was taken over by Townley
against Brinton's protest and fin
: al resignation; stores company
: funds used to play politics and
stores not opened; Brinton
breaks with high League officials
; over store company, war attitude
of League leaders and dishonesty
: of League financial agents; Brin-
ton quits League and Arthur Le-
: Suer becomes Townley's execu-
E tive secretary.
: From 1916 to 1920, Brinton
: protested against importing So
: cialists into the state as League
: workers. and against Socialists
. and non-residents state employ
: ment; protested against turning
: state administration over to So
: cialists and against affiliation
: with National and International
+: Socialists in management of
: League and state government;
-: protests against putting notes of
(: league employees in Bank of
{: North Dakota; protests against
{; activity of League leaders to de-
{: fend Kate Richards O'Hare, and
/: finally
On May 18th, 1920. writes \
letter to Governor Frazier and
=: President Townley making de-
mands on them to correct the
situation within tho League, and
: the stopping of graft and Grim
inal acts in the state bank end
the League bank at Fargo; he
registered this ten page commun-
&: ication to both Mr.. Townley and
Governor Frazier: both were ig-
nored. and now Brinton will ap-
peal direct to the League mem
bership and demand the ousting
of certain high officials in the
League, and a reorganization of
management within the League