The Ward County independent. [volume] (Minot, Ward County, N.D.) 1902-1965, 1922-03-09

both political factions will oppose
them, and see that they will not
| get on the ballot. If once placed on
The ballot, they will cause confusion
with worthy bills and as result
jonle worthy measure may be killed
or one of the vicious ones might slip
thru. Keep your eyes open. Watch
for the petitions of the judges mea-
sures and then be sure that you do
not sign them. ..
Rugby Tribune: The Tribune is
publishing brief synopsis of Mr..
Townley's Minot address, made this
week, for the reason that we believe
it to be one of the most interesting
speeches ever made by Mr.. Townley.
1t shows him up in a new light to
most North Dakotans, and indicates
how quickly and easily he can change
front on big propositions. His atti-
tude on the putting up of league
ticket is SO unusual for Townley,
that it is hard to believe he is the
same Townley who swept North Da-
'lota with his golden promises, for
three or four years, always militant
and aggressive and ready to die if
needs be, in the very front line trench
And now he is as meek as a new born
babe and exhibits wonderfully for
giving trait of character that few of
us suspected him Of possessing. He
assured his hearers that the league
had not lost anything in North Da-
kota-except merely the offices, and
hat {N Dlr +
is quite safe to assume, however, that
that loss more keenly than Mr.. Town
ley appears to, and do not feel so
kindly disposed toward those who
ousted them. Of course, as Mr..
Townley says, they "still have the
program" which we will admit is
quite lot, but probably not sufficient
for some of the more avaricious ones
who have been holding down soft and
downy berths since the league got
we'll under way. And then he wants
the people to forget about Hagan's
loan and Lemke's house and talk
about the program. Well, one could
hardly blame him for feeling that
way about it. He also admits that
when the league was organized the
"leaders went out and picked green
timber" for state officials Which
statement is contrary to what VIE
have been told time and again by
such men as Senator Oksendahl, and
others, to the effect that "the dele
gates themselves selected the officials
and no one else." It is therefore
surprising and Illuminating to have
it right from Mr.. Towley's own lips,
that these men lied, and that the
"leaders" picked the officials. How
ever, we suspected as much all the
time. Mr.. Townley also told those
present that "you famers are broke
and can't afford to carry on another
big fight" Well, what's the matter
with postdated checks? Aren't they
as "good collateral" as they were a
few short months ago, when the su-
preme court, at the request of Mr..
Lemke, presumably, put their august
o. k. upon that form of currency? 1t
surely would be possible to find
few thousand good @leaguers who will
be proud and glad to attack their sig
natures to a few more postdated in
struments Of that kind. And then
look at the cream checks and butter
money and egg returns, to say moth
ing of the fox trot parties that could
be given to finance another campaign.
Of course, the kids, some Of them,
may have to 60 without shoes, but
think what that will mean to them as
they grow older, when they can re-
count to their children and their child
ren's children, how they went bare
foot in North Dakota to help Mr..
Townley liberate the slaves in this
great state! Wouldn't that be glor-
ious? But the real crux of the talk
made by Mr.. Townley, and the one
that causes us to fear that rything
is not just as it should be, is his
Suggestion" (merely a suggestion,
mid you) that no candidates be put
up by the league for governor, attor-
ney general, and incidentally, United
States Senator! That doesn't sound
like Mr.. Townley at all, and we fear
that this suggestion may cause some
of his erstwhile followers to doubt
his sincerity. But, of course, this
program would have its advantages,
too. Besides meeting with the I'M
qualified approval of Alexander Nc
Kenzie, Porter j. McCumber and a
| few others, would enable Mr.. Town
ley to take up all Of the outstanding
obligations of league members to that
organization, in the shape of notes
and postdated checks. Yes, Mr..
Townley, has us all guessing now
perhaps?
Crosby journal: Miss Elizabeth
| Ehr is confined to her bed this week
with serious attack of the LaGrippe,
which appears to be raging in an
epidemic form in this community, and
as result, the Social and Personal
column, which is so ably edited by
her, is missing from this issue Of
The Journal.
! Glenburn Advance: Editor Col
cord, Of the Ward County Independ-
ent, thinks we have altogether too
many special weeks" for special OBJ
servation. He is looking for rift
in the enrolling specials so that he
may enjoy the comforts Of home for
week. Righto, BRO. Colcord. In