Devils Lake inter-ocean. (Devils Lake, Ramsey Co., Dakota [N.D.]) 1884-1905, 1885-07-04

very depressed feeling among those who
had put their all into lots in what was
then a frontier town.
The INTER-OcEAN was not in q posi-
ton to dispel the gloom that prevailed
in consequence of McGee's conduct. All
we could ddewas to pass an opinion up
on it. This we did in the following
language, which met with the approval
of every citizen then, and which we
e%mphatically believe to be the senti-
ment of the community today:
We regard this new and questionable
''industry"-filing on scripped land
which a few adventurous parties are now
engaged in, as a very disreputable bust
ness, and, under the existing circum-
stances, the individuals who inspire and
participate in it, cannot be counted upon
as the friends and promoters of the COM
munitv's best interests. In fact it is a
cut-throat enterprise, having for its basis
a policy in comparison with which the
methods of the high sea pirate at once
is a shadow of justification for a man
who rigs a ship and employs a crew to
sail the seas and contiscate goods of
other crafts; but there is none for the
man who, under an assumed technicality
of the law, attempts to possess himself
of that which has cost another a high
price, and by such action jeopardizes the
rights and beclouds the property titles of
the entire community in the eyes and
estimation of those unfamiliar with the
fact that such filings are void. The sea
put his enterprise On foot; the land pi-
rate invests not a dollar, but seeks to
deprive his neighbor of well earned pos
sessions, and at the same time compells
| him to spend an additional sum to hold
that for which he has already paid.
It is too frequently the case that such
| filings are made for the express purpose
of bleeding the rightful possessor, and
not with a view to acquiring title to the
property involved.
1t was all the INTER-O OCEAN could dc
in defense of the vested rights of pro
perty holders, and we submit that as a
public journalist we did our duty.
The object of the MCGEE and his as
sistants in making an attack upon the
editor Of this paper at this time il
prompted by a malicious desire to SEE
our official postal head fall into the
Democratic basket on the ground O
"offensive p~artizanship." This must b,
quite clear to the readers of their pro
auctions. They say:
"Previous to and Immediately afte
the election the INTER-OCEAN was
rabid Republican organ"
Yes, and the INTER- OCEAN is a Repub
lican paper today. We had the back
bone to announce our political prefer
euces then; we are not ashamed of then
now.
: Where did the MCGEE and his pliabl
assistants stand then? Where do the
stand now?
The political prefer ences of the assis
tants were unknown prior to MI. Cleve
lands election; now they are striving t
appear us the most offensive of "offer
sive ~partizals."
MCGEE was an independent" befor
! MI. Cleveland's election; now he is wit
, the winning side; but he is neither NOR
3 nor less offensive now than then-fo
: that is an impossibility.
This new phase of McGee's land.gral
D bling scheme in which he has enlisted til
I services of the News-Democrat ma
mean something more than appears VI
= on the surface of their spiteful attac
upon the INTER-OcEAN, and it may no
: 1t may mean a division of the spoils
case MCGEE is successful in his land pi
acy. No doubthe would give the New
Democrat a few corner lots lin case I
. wins) for the services of that Sheet in a
" sisting him to vent his spleen upon tt
" INTER OCEAN for denouncing his attem]
{ to get something for nothing. 1t will
= terest property owners to know that Il
= News Democrat has become the orga
of a man whose purpose it is to Apr
pirate property that other men have pa
for.
ISL Insurance Matters.
I'll Insurance Commissioner Magill,
Minnesota has given notice through Il
press, to the Iowa life associations al
societies to cease transacting busine
e in the state of Minnesota, in accordan
with the provisions of IN act of the le
e i~slature of the state of Minnesota a
q proved March 9, 1885. The list barr
out include the Muscatine Mutual Ii