The Bismarck tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, N.D.) 1916-current, 1922-11-04
Not Invited to Own Party He
Was Called Socialist for
Starting Six Years Ago
ALL IN ONE BOAT
Former League Chief in New
Role-Says Bankers, Busi-
ness Men, Farmer in Same
Boat

II don't care whether Rangvald
Nestos or Bill Lcmke puts the league
program into effect" declared A. C:
Townley, speaking at the Auditorium
here last night. "But it must 20 in.
to effect. 1t is going into effect. And
the bankers and business men of
Grand Forks arc now praising the
mill and elevator association as a
great thing for the farmers-the very
thing was called socialist six
years ago for suggesting"
1t was Townley in a new role last
night, one perhaps never before seen
in Bismarck. He was not making the
fire-eating speech of old, but spoke
as polished and clever orator, skill
fully driving home his points by ana
logy. He was not attacking business
men as in the boycott days, but be.
cause the business men and farm
ers Of North Dakota were in the
same boat-they divided what the
Minneapolis Chamber of Commerce
and the big fellows left in North
Dakota.
Townley appeared with Congress-
man Sinclair. The Auditorium was
we'll filled. Stating when he started
that he was in good humor, Townley,
while he may or may not have made
votes, did prove to be as entertain
ing as professional platform lee
turer. The audience included several
anti-league officials and employees
from the state capitol.
Talks on Economic Situation
Mentioning the candidates but Il
few times Townley devoted most of
his speech to his version of the
economic situation of North Dakota
and to the league. program, and to
satire of the opening of the Grand
Forks mill and elevator. :,
II was in league headquarters the
other day at Fargo" he said, "and
glanced at an item in a newspaper
which said that banquet was to be
given in Grand Forks by the Com
mercial club at the opening of the
Grand Forks mill, with Rangvald
Nestos, Sveinbiorn Johnson, J. F. 7.
O'Connor, Fred Irish and few more
present. And then I took up a hand
some envelope and opened it and
saw finely engraved invitation
from the Grand Forks club telling
what wonderful thing the Grand
Forks mill and elevator was for the
business men and farmers. And I
smiled. was invited to my own
party. But no, looked at the en-
velope again and the invitation had
been delivered to the League head
Quarters by mistake. And l had not
been invited to my own party--a
party was called a socialist for
issuing invitations to at Sc each six
years ago."
Leans on Wheat
He said he also read in The Far
go Forum an announcement that the
Industrial Commission was making a
plan to advance farmers 70 percent en-
their wheat stored in the mill and
elevator, and the article added that
because of the low price of graf,
and the depression in business the
plan was expected to have far-reaci-
ing effect. He said he burst out
laughing in railroad car on real
ing this.
II was called socialist for advo-
eating this six years ago." he said,
but added that the article said the
plan was devised so that it was
"hoped" the farmers could borrow
and it never said anything about the
state bank or the industrial commits
sion devised to carry out the plan.
The announcement he declared, was
made to get votes for Mr.. Nestos.
A few weeks ago, he said, Mr..
Nestos and some other eminent gen.
tlemen met in Fargo to discuss the
situation with respect to the price
of wheat. 1t was too low and it was
hurting business, he said. And after
deliberating very seriously on the
matter, he said, they came to the
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