Evening star., 1921-01-18
Editorial Digest
Townley Moves to Kansas.


When the so-called Gear" Townley
Of the Non-Partisan League invaded
the Sunflower state and the local
posts of the American Legion pro-
posed to run him out, the American
press refused to consider either event
as marking a crisis in kansan his
tory. Mes Of the newspapers see.-l
TO feel that the ex-service men have
a right to combat the Non Partisan
League. at least. now that their ma
tional commander has decreed that II
cannot be done under the Legion
banner. and q separate organization
has been formed.
The Kansas City Journal (republic-
am. Speaking from the scene of ac-
ton. urges extreme care" to keep
the legion out of anything "partak
ing of partisan politics. but con
cludes thar the public generally viii
very heartily concur in Gov. Aliea s
cordial approval of Kansas legion
naires in opposing The activities o.
the Non Partisan League.
similar view is he'd by the Mem
phis Commercial appeal (demccratic)
VII .cil observes:
1T seems the part of wisdom ant
discretion that the loyalists Of tn
American l., cion should combat tn,
introduction i:,to ,i1a state OF tht
Town!ey brand of Socialism which
under the title ot tile Non Parti:;a; :;
League. has :" o: caused the wreck
of North Dgko,a. The lefionnairc:
are to oppose the lea-uers openly and
we feel sure, tl1 majority OF loya
Kansas WI support those who fought
for rather than against their country
in the reCen. war.
Since the Non Partisan League. as
not true 10 its name, but the out
come of rankest pnrtisansh,p. and has
for its purpose the establishment o.
one class above ali others the Jack
sonvl'e tFia.) Metropolis (dcH
cratic) feels that whole hcArteJ
Americans must naturally respect III,
purpose of the American Legion IL
attacking the CORNER organizalton
What the eS-soldiers have done is
mo more" than the Grand Rapids
Herald (republicar) expects. and tn,
means of "pitiless publicity" is all
the Herald thinks. that s needed. 70;
'the chief trouble with the Nom
Partisan League today is that it is
a failure and 'if every promise OF
great achievements made to Kansas
farmers is met by bona fide proof OF
failure in the North Dakota expert.
mental field. there is no need tc
fear that Mr.. Townley will muster
strength in the Sunfower state"
This feeling that the league is real
" going to pieces is echoed by mum
ber of writers. The Houston Pos
(democratic), for instance, considers
that the chief reason for Tbwnley's
invasion of Kansas is the fact that
unless he can secure a fruitful new
field for his activities he will be ou;
of job soon," since "the end Of his
regime in North Dakota was fore
cast in the priGarie last year" Fron
Montana the Butte Miner G"-no
cratlc) spe+ks. ettrihuting Townley's
move toward Kansas. ra'her than
westward again to the Montana de-
feat of league candidates.
The Fargo Forum reprblicaD minces
no words in expressing the opinion in
North Dakota which it represents
We've been stunr once. Il the Kansas
farmers want to DIG UP the SIS adnis-
sion fee for the ToWnl4y circus, tilai's
their business and nobody is going tG
prevent them d, force from doing IL
Meanwhile North Dakota has The jcb o
left behind when Townley completed hi-
work here"
The question of opposing the lsaruers
IS dealt with varioIsly. William All :
White. in the Emporia Gazette Gnde-
nendenO, fears the danger of maxim
persecution, and hn seems to be sap
ported in this theory by the s-atemen
in the Fargo IN. d. Courier News, The
leagues own organ. which rejo!ces IL
the publicity tha; their leader is getting
from the opposition
The Boston Transcript Gndepcndent
republican, makes an appeal against
any form of Suppression:
kansas fought hard fight fo~ ="
speech in the antisIavery days and 5a.
cannot well give up the idea now Short
of seditious talk Of government -destruc-
tion through communism and anarchism.
the platform should always be free Lei
Mr.. Townley talk. He has already talk =
ed himself out of court in the Dakotas.
The true Kansas. the American and
loyal Kansas. will win this fight as it
won the others
The Montgomery Advertiser demo
craft does not worry over the situa ton,
but believes that the safety of Kansa S
lies in it's prosperity rather than in its
dissertation.