, 1922-01-04
SOCIALISTS ARE
BACK OF LEAGUE
MOVEMENT IS NOT DEMOCRATIC,
SAYS MAN WHO WRITES
ITS ARTICLES.

iCtttI Nd6 recently re-
ceiyed by a Wyoming paper from one
Of Its readers
L am one of those who have been
urged to join the Nonpartisan League
n give up my SIS. l am told by The
organizers this is a movement directed
by farmers and wholly In the interest
OF armers by others I am told quite
the opposite. l would like correct in
formation as to just who controls the
league, who formed II. who Is now run
cling II, and whether or not 1t has
aved the farmers OF North Dakota
the money the organizers claim"
one can not, In limited space, answer
these questions fully, giving complete
data, hui here are a few well-known
facts:
Inc Sonpartisan League was formed
In North Dakota by a lot OF Socialists,
among them being A. c. TownIey. Ar
thur LeSueur (also attorney for the |.
w. W., d.. c. Durman, Leon Deutcher.
and a number of others then all prom
inently connected with the "Organiza-
lions Department, Socialist Party of
North Dakota" The reason for chang
Ing the name from Socialist TO Nom
partisan League is best expressed by
THE Appeal to Reason" a Socialist
paper which says it was ito bring So
cialism to the farmers and the farm
ers TO Socialism"
Perpetual Executive COMMITTEES.
The articles of association of the Ma
uonal ~Nonpartisan L-eague--and all
activities and In all states is under the
direction of this national body-were
written by Walter Thomas Mills, So
ciaiist lecturer and writer and for some
time an editorial writer on the "The
Appeal 70 Reason" Section 8 of these
articles names three men on he M
tionai executive committee, and the
same section provides their successors
are not nominated by members but by
this committee. so that as long az the
three stick together all the members
In the United States who have paid In
their SIS could not make a change.
The three men named In the original
articles, and still members of the COM
mittee, are A. c. Townley, now In jail
at Jackson, MINI. William Lemke, re-
Gently recalled as attorney general of
North Dakota, and f. b. Wood. now In
the limelight through matters being
brought to light In connection with
the failure of the Scandinavian Amer
lean Bank, Fargo, North Dakota, a
Nonpartlsan League institution.
Not Democratic Organization.
The articles of association do not
pretend the organization is a demo
GT0flH nnA-fhaf Z. A~.- r. -.
members have any expression OF opin-
Ion. Walter Thomas Mills, the n.Ihor
OF these articles of incorporation, in a
booklet defending the league, asks this
question:
is the Nonpartisan League now a
democratic organization In the se..sa
that the selection of its officers. i'm
the writing of its program. and in the
carrying on of its work. 1t is now gov
erned by its membership
Then Mr.. Mills proceeds 10 answer
his W question in this language:
"The answer is that II Is not. !.
The battle car be fought only with
some maj in command. Townley is in
command"
Under h articles of association.
Townley can not be removed. Mills.
the Socialist, wanted 1t certain that the
farmers could not get in command.
The organization was to bring So
cialism to the farmers and the farmers
to Socialism," and so great a Social
list leader as Mills was clever enough
In drawing the articles to prevent the
organization eve passing into the
nanN[ nE Ito n1nnlhnra