New-York tribune., 1921-01-03
Nonpartisan
League Opens
Nebraska Drive
1000 Trained Workers I'm
der A. G. Townley Begin
Campaign To-day TO Win
State to Their Policies
Aim to Scare Legislature
Initiation Fee SIG a Head;
Mass Meetings for Men
and Women Voters Called
SncciQ! DISPATCH TO The Tribune


OMAHA, Neb., Jan. "A thousand
Nonpart;San Leaguers, undert he per-
Sonal direction of A. c. Townley, or
ganizer and head of the league. to-mor-
row will begin drive to win Nebraska
and make of this state a second North
Dakota. One hundred, CIR more. of
these organizers have been trained in
the Nonpartisan League School in
North Dakota. while others are volun-
seer workers from the leagues men,
hership in Nebraska.
In addition to the state of Nebraska
being the object of the crusade. the
national leadership of the league itself
is in the balance. President Townley
is in bad with MS organization and has
been practically ousted from North Da--
kota. If he can succeed in winning
Nebraska to the league his prestige
will have been rehabilitated and he will
again be the big power in the National
Nonpartisan League. Should he fail
in Nebraska he will be down and out
of the affairs of the league.
Claim 10000 Gain
A month ago Townley moved his
headquarters to Nebraska in prepara-
tionf ort he campaign, which opens to-
morrow. Every Nonpartisan county
county manager in North Dakota was
ordered to come to Nebraska for the
big fght and to bring with him as
many trained workers as possible. If
the weather was propitious the work
ers were to come in automobiles
Others, by rail. A deep snow over
the Missouri valley prevented the use
of automobiles, and the entire party
came down by rail.
But the organization department Of
l1nc hnnn n
while preparing for the big campaign
in Nebraska The fall campaign for
members closed on December Is with
the announcement that the league had
gained 10000 members in Nebraska
since September. Already the league
is said to have 10000 members in this
state.
In addition to working among the
farmers the league is invading Omaha
and the other cities of the state. Its
city branch is known as the lnde-
pendent Voters League. Organizers
fort he Nonpartisan League have not
been able to make headway in the
cities because of the initiation fee of
SIG, which the city workmen refuse to
pay For that reason the Independent
Voters Leagues has been organized for
the purpose CT enl sting union labor in
the camnaigr to further the demands of
the Nonpartisan League.
Mass Meeting Called
The league last night called mass
meeting of voters both men and wom-
en-. for January 19 and 20 for the pur-
nose of making demands upon the State
Legislature. which convenes Tuesday,
for e "constructive program of eco.
nomic, political and social progress"
Seventeen topics for discussion are
enumerated in the call, all regulation
Nonpartsen League demands. The
mass meeting is part of the league
propaganda for membership.
The Nebrask Chamber of Commerce,
an organization recently formed, has
issued a statement that it intends fight
ing the policies of the Nonpartisan
League, without having named the
league itself as its object. The Ne
braska Chamber OF Commerce is an or
ranization of business and professional
men in all parts Of the state. and al
ready has large membership. One
of its policies is TO fight state owner
ship OF those lines which the Nom
partisan League advocates. The cham
ber will carry on a fight for member
shin at the same time that the Non
partisan League is making its big drive.