The Dickinson press., 1885-01-24

, gAS soASA GOSCC4SI LuSY 6DO08T 10
requfre the governor to call upon the United
states authorities only after exhausrinp the
power OF the county or counties. Inasmuch.
however, as the militia of the territory were
newly organized and had not yet been fur
nlshed with ammunition and supplies and
there was some doubt as to their ability to
move promptly, 1 took the p%recaution to ask
Lne general commanding the department. of
DAKOTA II ne could send a company of regu-
iars 70 Redneld. At the same time 1 directed
COL ID. N. Iyner, Of the governors staff. ia
notify the militia at Fargoto hold themselves
IN readiness to proceed to the scene of dis
turbance, and sent a like order to the Gov
ernor,s Guard, of Bismarck, and the Edger-
ION duafds, or In answer to my
call upon Gen Terry, I received q reply saw.
ing that my inquiry had been t%elegraphed to
the headquarters division of the Missouri 70,
instruction. and that the answer would b,
sent as soon as received. Meantime. 1 sent
to the mayorof Ashton, Sphinx county, whose
citizens were reported to be much excited
the following dispatch:
Will not the citizens of Ashton retire to their
homes and permit the law to take its course? It
ancc. ~
1 also asked the a of Redield to tele.
graph the exact situation. After waiting six
hours and receiving no reply to these tele-
grams ana no further answer to my call upon
Gen. Terry, | directed the Fargo Companies
70 70 eaKe 2 tram for Iedtield. The next day
"a u UClcSIum nom the
mayor of Ashton declaring the people of that
city were not armed, and had not been, and
though Indignant over the remova of the
records, contemplated nc hostile moyement
l also received word from Redtield that all
was quiet, though an attack was momen-
tarily expected. In view OF all the facts /
ordered Col. Tyner and his command to halt
at ~Ortonville, and sent the following to the
mayor of Redfeld:
lam assured by the mayor of Ashton that the
people OF that place are not armed, and have not
been. and that they no act Of law
lessness. Unless 1 receive further demands from
yourself and the sheriff, I shall stop the troops
now en- route. and direct them to return home in
the morning.
In answer to this 1 received the following:
We believe that the only sure way to prevent
loss OF NE Is to send troops at once. We are
receiving reports from reliable sources that the
Will harm no one and will prevent bloodshed.
lSlgnedl D.. Fl. HUNT, Mayor.
ARTHUR LAWRENCE, Sheriff.
In view of this renewed appeal 1 directed
Col Tyner to proceed to Redtield and report
to the sheriff. Believing that the militia
thus sent would prove sufficient, and ascer-
tanning that could promptly reinforce them.
! also t%elegraphed Gen. Terry that no regu.
lars would be required. Later in the day 1
received a telegram from Adjt. Gen. Breck,
saying that Gen. Terry, temporarily absent
from department headquarters, instructed
him to say that he could not furnish troops,
lnasmuch as the prompt movement of the
militia seemed TO obviate all necessity for
calling further upon the federal authorities.
and as l had already recalled my first appli-
cation, or inquiry, l did not pursue the mat
ter. The companies arrived in Redteld Sat
day evening and remained there until a set
Element was effected under the order of the
court Monday noon. nave heard nothing
but praise of their conduct and the inn.
partlality of their bearing is evidenced by
the TACT that While in the city of Redfield
the citizens thanked them, and the citizens
OF Ashton rendered them special hospitali-
ties on the eve of their departure home. 1t
is very difficult to know exactly what to do
under calls like that received. The governor
must depend for information as to the
emergency upon those more or less excited
and who are apt to inadvertently magnify
steps Which the sequel proves to
other hand, to leave such a call
UNDECIDED would be to assume a grave and
perhaps unjustitiable responsibility and rem
DER him liable to deserved censure should
loss OF life and property result from his neg
lect, when the danger appeared imminent
In any case, 1 could scarcely have refused
assistance in view Of the reports which
reached me from unofficial sources and the
call made upon me by duly constituted OIL
Gals. l feel some measure OF pride that the
necessary force was furnished without as
slstance from the general government, and
that even had the emergency been much
greater the organized militia of the territory
would have proven sufficient. The bills in
Cured on this expedition will be presented
to you, and I respectfully ask that an appro-
prlation be made to cover the expense. and
that the auditor be instructed to draw his
warrant for such demands as appeariust and
reasonable. The men composing the Fargo
militia are persons engaged in business, and
could only leave their homes at a %pecuniary
sacrifice. 1 trust the legislature will see the
justice of paying the officers and men for
the time necessarily spent on the eXpedi-
tion. l transmit in this connection the
names of those serving. the report of Col.
Tyner, in charge of the detachment, and a
full record OF the correspondence relative to
the affair. Perhaps the general government,
in view of the fact that territories are hardly
expected to take care of themselves. may
feel disposed to assume these Obligations and
relieve the legislature.
H ROBERTS COUNTY DISTURBANCE.
Hardly had the militia returned home
when a difficulty of the same general charac-
ter arose in Roberts county. 1 received calls
for assistance, but believing the danger mag
niied. l declined to incur the expense in
volved in the sending OF troops until first
satisfied that the power of the county" was
insufficient to maintain order. requested
Adjt Gen. Free. however, to proceed to
Travare and Wilmot, the rival towns, and
while ascertaining the necessity, it any, for
assistance, to use his good offices to preserve
the peace and secure q quiet settlement of
the question i'll dispute. AS a result tho
sheriff's posse and those confronting or de-
flying it were disbanded, and quiet has since
been maintained. The origin of these quar-
rels, or the manner i'll which they shall be
determined, are questions which do not come
before me for Judgment; but it may not be
uninteresting, in case the legislature desires
to investigate the matter. to read the report
OF the adjutant general, which is herewith
transmitted. The correspondence in the case
will also be fonnd with Gen. Free's report.
lature that in the organization of SO many
new counties such outbreaks as these
are liable, and even likely, to occur
frequently unless decided measures are
taken to put q stop to them. TIL trouble in
almost every instance grows out OF the
is determined to become the county seat
The passions of men are aroused, they in
volve a county in debt, excite animosities
that will long outlive the trouble which
lawlessness which disgrace the territory and
lay the promoters and participants liable to
Indictment for felony. The law is stringent
enough. Its energetic and even merciless
enforcement in one or two cases, as an ex-
ample, is what seems to be required. Men
must be taught that it is not an ordinary
crime to break down the doors of buildings
wherein public records are stored, and plum
der the safes of county officers. 1t might
seem severe to enforce such a penalty
against men provoked by great aggravation
to a forcible removal of public property, but
severity is needed to put a stop to what has
grown to be q dangerous defiance of law,
and to what, If longer tolerated, will assume
dimensions difficult to curb OF manage. 1t
is better that a majority of voters in a county
should wait even the slowest action of the
courts than that the laws should be defed
and the official records endangered. Not
alone The county engaging in these sense