THE LEAGUE AND THE WAR 



membership, taken as a whole, gave America faithful 

 and ungrudging support in the hour of need. 



There is no question, however, but that the Non- 

 partisan League in the beginning was poisoned by many 

 misunderstandings. Particularly was this true in the 

 matter of the lie that Wall Street was the cause of 

 America's entrance, and that the war was nothing more 

 nor less than the effort of rich men to increase and pro- 

 tect their profits. These beliefs, however, were not pe- 

 culiar to the Nonpartisan League, but were held by great 

 groups of workers and farmers of the Western States. 



It was not a condition that should have caused any 

 wonder. During the long period of America's neu- 

 trality, press and politicians alike were divided on the 

 issues involved, so that April 6, 1917, found the people 

 of the United States mentally confused and emotionally 

 dulled. Nothing stood clear as a result of accusation 

 and counter-accusation, charges and denials, shouting 

 and abuse. 



I sent for the heads of various agricultural bodies 

 and unions, and among those that came to Washington 

 in response to the call was Mr. Townley, head of the 

 Nonpartisan League. I found him, just as I found the 

 others, full of distrusts and suspicions born of the 

 many lies that he had read and heard. I took him, as 

 I took others, to the President himself, and the inter- 

 view removed every doubt as to the necessity of the 

 war and the high purpose of America. And after that 

 I took Mr. Townley to the office of Mr. Herbert 

 Hoover, and for three hours the two men fought out 

 disputed points. When Mr. Townley left Washington 

 he had not only pledged the full support of his organiza- 

 tion to the war, but he had struck hands with Mr. 

 Hoover and promised every co-operative effort. These 

 pledges were kept. 



It was at Mr. Townley's request that I prepared to 

 245 



