Grand Forks herald. [volume] (Grand Forks, N.D.) 1916-1955, 1922-02-07
IN HIS OLD FORM

That A. c. Townley has lost none Of his old
form by being in Jail is shown by the report OF an
address which he delivered last Friday evening in
the Minneapolis Unitarian chuEch at a meeting
BY the American Civil Liberties union.
The address seems to have been as pungent as were
the speeches which the Nonpartisan boss delivered
during the days when he was helping the govern
metit in the war by casting suspicion on the govern
ment of the country and deriding the men who were
conducting it. Some parts OF the address are quite
interesting. For instance, in discussing his recens
Imprisonment Mr.. Townley said:
Some people think I went to Jail because |
wanted to. But that isn't true. Others thought
l went to Jail because / had to go, but that isn't
true. l went to Jail because | thought it was the
best thing to do, and I'll go again under like
conditions and circumstances.
Just how Mr.. Townley would have avoided
going to Jail is not clear. He took advantage Of
every opportunity for delay that the law provides
He applied for a re-hearing: He appealed to the
state supreme court. He used up about two years in
his various motions and appeals. If any other ex.
pedients had been possible he would undoubtedly
have employed them. The only way in which he
could have avoided going to jail was to run away
and forfeit his bond. He thought that going tc
Jail was the best thing he could do when he could
do nothing else.
Mr.. Townley has no very high opinion of the
intelligence of farmers. Long ago he said that they
were queer animals, and he has not changed his
opinion. In his Minneapolis speech he said:
Take the case Of a steer fitched to a pillow.
! suppose the steer has a right to everything
that grows behind him, but he doesn't get it.
He gets just enough to keep him in condition to '
do more work. Then there's the man behind
the steer with a pointed stick. That's you. And
how much do you get for driving the steer?
Just enough to tell the steer when to start and
stop and turn. The steer doesn't get any more
because he hasn't any brains. Why don't you
49, III 3-
swer under the sun. It's because you have
damn few more brains than the steer.
There are people who believe that many farm
es demonstrated their possession of at least some
intelligence by repudiating Townley and his Marx
ian program.
Still further, Mi. Townley paid his respects tc
some of the people who have been associated will
him in the attempt to operate the state of NORTH
Dakota on a Socialism program. He said that the,
had built up a political machine, but, he added
you've got to have men in office who know how t
run things" n
Messrs. Frazier. Lemke, ct al, may put that il
their pipes and smoke it.
GOING THROUGH THE WOODS
A man was talking about hard times. The
more he talked the worse he felt.
"Jim," said a friend, chow far can a dog run II
the woods?'
why, as far as he wants to, l suppose" sale
the pessimist.
can run only to>the middle. After that he is run
ming out of the woods"
That idea is worth remembering. It needs t.
be modified in one particular. The dog is likely tt
remain in the wood forever if he runs around il
circles.
We have been in the wood for some time. Some
parts Of it have been pretty thick. Without any
question we are away past the middle. The thing
to do is to keep on going straight ahead
The public debt decreased fifty million dollars
in January, If we can keep this pace up for a few
hundred years, the treasury will be on its feet again
A Dartmouth zoologist has discovered a blut
caterpillar. We wouldn't drink that mans hons
|hooch for anything.
Egypt seems to be in the way Of getting self de
termination in all matters except those affecting
|Britain's interests in maintaining in communication
with midland Egypt can call that. status indie
|pendencc if she likess-Kansas City Times.
Uncle Sam IS looking toward Genoa, even if h
Edoesf'f intend 10 fakA fhe rn-Cincinnat Times.