Grand Forks herald. [volume] (Grand Forks, N.D.) 1916-1955, 1922-03-18
POLICY AND

1t appears that the Nonpartisan league county
conventions throughout the state arc either going
on record against Mr.. Townley's proposed balance
|of power policy or are leaving tho whole question
open tor decision at the state convention, the county
delegates being uninstructed. In several cases those
in favor of the balance of power plan have accepted
the policy OF sending uninstructed delegations as
the only means Of avoiding positive instructions to
support the policy of naming a full ticket.
TO the casual observer that would seem to be
an indication that the state convention will repudi-
ate the leadership of Mr.. TownIey and entrust the
management of it's affairs to other hands. But tl1is
does not necessarily follow. Mr.. <Townley is on
record as saying that farmers are queer animals, and
Wien he made that statement he described in a pic
|turesque manner the need Of the farmers for organ
ization, their inability to organize themselves, and
the manner in which they woke up one morning to
find themselves organized.
1t is certain that Mr.. Towniey did a very thor
iugh job OF organizing. He not only organized
many thousands Of North Dakota farmers, but he
made OF the several units of his general organization
compact bodies into Which it was exceedingly diff
cult for an outsider to break and before which it was
next to impossible for an outsider to get a hearing.
lie was successful, too, in inspiring a very large
proportion OF the members Of these groups With a
feeling of personal loyalty for himself, a LOYALTY
which, in a most remarkable manner, has persisted
in spite Of a multitude of proven facts which might
have been expected to destroy it, and even in spite
Of the rejection by these members of plans proposed
by the leader himself.
IlS lSiitdl dlIluNC was SHOWN COnSD1CuOuSly
when Mr.. Townley presented to the farmers Of the
state the plan Of cooperation with the /. w. w
which he had formulated with great care and in
elaborate detail. The plan was laid before gather
lngs OF league members in various sections Of the
state and. as with onelvoice. A1ey rejected it. The
farmers wanted no truck with the !. w w. and
said SO squarely and fatty. But in repudiatinS Mr..
Iownley,s plan they did not r~epudiate Mr.. Townley
himself,
The incident has its bearing on the present sit
%uation. The balance~of power plan as they under
stand it is not popular with the rank and file Of the
league members. But Mr.. Town1ey is popular
among them. 1t will be a grave mistake for his OPP
ponents to overlook that fact. And when the state
convention assemblies Mr.. Townley may succeed in
convincing the delegates that the plan which they
are opposing is not the plan which he has<in mind
at all; that he has been misrepresented BY. the indie
pendent press and by a few misguided souls within
the league camp, such as Liederbach, Levang. Kal.
dor and a few others that he has merely been seek.
ing to ascertain what is the real will of the members
and is prepared to carry out their purpose to the
letter that Under the circumstances it will be better
TO postpone action with reference to the namins oi
a ticket, and that in the meantime the rebcllious
members should be forgiven, their ~offenses forget.
ten, and themselves restored to full fellow ship pro-
y1ded they show proper signs Of repentance: Mr.
IoWnley's performance at the forthcoming conven.
ton will be something that some Of the old-time ma.
nipulators Of conventions who arc dead and gone
would have given a lot to see.
In the meantime let not him that girdeth on his
harness boast himself as he that putteth it off.
A..C. Townley's hearing on the charge Of EN-.
bezzlcment has been set for next Tuesday, and thu
/ Nonpartisan league convention is to be held mex
Thursday. So il the hearing, IS held as scheduled the
|Nonpartisan leagucrs may have some other infor
nation in regard To MI. Townley tosthink about a.
ylWell as his balance 5of power plai1.