The weekly times-record. (Valley City, N.D.) 1912-1922, 1922-02-23
THE FORK IN THE ROAD
When the story Of the meeting hele

When the story Of the meeting held
in Bismarck yesterday reaches the
League members of the state, most
of them will begin to understand what
many of them already are aware of,
and that is that the organization has
reached a fork in the road.
A division of the League seems not
only imminent but may actually said
to be here. 1t is no mere struggle of
conflicting ambitions of those who
have been leaders against others who
aspire to be leaders. The differences
| go far beyond that. . .,
Neither is it a mere question Of
methods of policy that confronts the
membership. It can not be assumed
that the decision will be easily arriv-
ed at and that, once the decision IS
made, the differences will be COM
posed and the body united for the
struggle against it's opponents of for
mer years. -..-
The differences which are now aris-
ing and the alignments which are now
taking place, as indicated by the Bis
marck meeting, portend schism and
a split much greater than anything
vet encountered. The cause for this
spit, if it comes, lies far deeper than
any mere policy, plan or personal am
bition. 1t goes down to the bedrock
of principle.
AS we understand the facts they
are, briefly stated: Mr.. Townley has
come into the state and gathered
about him some of the old company
that used to sail with him. In addit-
ion there has been gathered to him
great part of the element which Mr..
Lemke surrounded himself, when ne
was in the short heyday of his pow
err.
To these, Mr.. Townley and his Min
neapolis agent, Mr.. Paddock, have Of
fered the "balance of power" plan,
which includes the abandonment OF
the idea of nominating state ticket.
It also includes the proposal that, II
the plan is accepted, Mr.. Townley
agrees to secure the money needed to
paw up the debts of the Nonpartlsan
League and reimburse those numer-
Gus farmers who were induced to lend
their credit to the failing financial
fortunes of the League by singing
Accommodation" notes.
Such an inducement, at time like
this is very powerful. Many farmers
stand the chance of losing all they
have, through lending their signatures
| to notes of that description. A chance
to retrieve their lost finances, even
though it mean the return of Mr..
| Townley as imperial master Of the
League, must and does have its at
fractions.
* *
It is perfectly proper to inquire in
to the source of Mr.. Townley's money
It is we'll known that he has been un-
able, so far, to get ~money-else his
organization would not have been left
to remain in debt, is they now are.
1t is also not only proper but the part
of prudence to look at what is hap
pening.
Mr.. Townley was reported to be in
Washington, i. c. this week, -altho
he gave out to the press that ne was
leaving Fargo for Nebraska, where he
| would resume organization work. 1t is
known, too, that in the campaign of
1916, when McCumber ran against
Burke, that the League leaders-par-
ticularly Mr.. Lemke through letters
which are still extant-urged the vot-
ers of the League to support Mr.. Nc
Cumber. It is known that the Nc
Cumber faction managed to secure
the retention Of the name Of Major
Frank White of Valley City, on the
ballot, thus securing the election Of
DR.. E. F. Ladd, and that Major White
was afterwards given the position OF
! Treasurer of the United States.
1t may we'll be asked where would
all the money come from to meet the
debts and accommodation notes. Nc
Cumber is now chairman of the Fin
ance Committee of the U. S. Senate.
His retention means a great deal to
the financial interests. If he is de-.
feated the craftsmanship goes to SEN
ator Smoot, of Utah, who is not as
acceptable to the interests in some
ways as McCumber. Next to Smoot,
therefore, in case of McCumber's de-
feat, would stand Robert M. LaFol-
lette. Rather than see him in control
of the Senate's most powerful and i'm
portant committee, millions will be