The pioneer express. [volume] (Pembina, Dakota [N.D.]) 1883-1928, 1921-11-04
THE VERDICT REND - ED

LIZ n ENOlCI fsGCS DEhED
q Last Friday the curtain was
wrung down il the last act Of the
Townley political farce comedy in
this state. For nearly six years
the organization has held sway and
the performances have been watch
ed with interest by the people in
adjoining states as well as our own.
When 4 one reviews what has trans
pired in that short time it is anna
zing. 1t reminds US Of the Nick
Carter stories we used to read long.
ago. ...s. 6 @ @5.s.3
Six years ago Mr.. Townley con-
ceived the idea that the time was
ripe for political upheaval. The
world war was on, prices for every
thing went sky high and money
was quite plentiful. He called his.
associates together, and through
manipulations got hold Of the state
organization of the Republican par
ty. There was not one Of the lead
ers who had affiliate with that par.
ty in the past. But they had been
associated with Mr.. Townley on the
Socialist ticket at different times.
He made up his mind that by get
ting hold of the Republican party,
and organizing the farmers against
the rest of the people he would be
able to get laws enacted according
to his own ideas, and he was right.
! He conceived the idea that by
charging membership fee to be-
long to his party he would not only
receive large sum Of money but
he would also make. the members
"stick" together, for they had paid
for something and would be looking
for some benefit for themselves.
His scheme worked we'll. Automo-
biles were bought fifty at a time.
Emissaries proclaiming the dawn
of a new day for the farmers were
sent all over the state to organize,
and collect $500 membership fee,
which was gradually raised to. $18.
Money rolled in faster than it
could be taken care Of conveniently
and deposits in their own banks
grew like mushrooms. Those who
did not believe as the League men,
bers did were told to join or the
"grass would grow in the streets of
their town."
The ticket that Townleyism stood
for was elected by about $4,000 and
the legislature was erwhelmingly
Nonpartisan. Next thing in order
was to amend the constitution SO
that the state finances could be av-
ailable Il so that it could be used for
whatever they saw fit. An "Indus-
trial Commission" was appointed
consisting of three who had full
power to expend the state funds to
please themselves without being
mandatory to any one. When the
legislature met in 1918 was the
time the bosses got in their work
in earnest. That was the time the
"secret caucus" was formed and no
one knew what was on the programs
for the next day save those who
had signed up to do as they were
told. 7.
It was important that they
should have the courts on their side
SO they gerrymanded the judicial
districts so they could elect what
judges they wanted. They passed
q law legalizing their own news
papers appointed by the commis-
sion as official publications. They
created q law putting all the state
funds in one jack pot SO the money
could be spent for anything they
saw fit.
They created q law compelling
all the public funds to be deposited
in the Bank Of North Dakota. at 2
per cent and that institution lend
ing it out to other banks at 4 per
cent. They raised the automobile
license four times as high as it was
and made the state bank custodi-
an of that fund to do with as they
saw At. Over a million dollars an
nually has been created through
the license fund alone.
The same aggregation organized
a chain Of thirty-seven farmers "
stores, collecting over a million