Bismarck weekly tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, Dakota [N.D.]) 1884-1943, 1890-02-14

ing the important questions that will come
before them.
The fact that it came out in last even
ing'S investigation that one member of the
legislature was offered a bride of $1,000 to
vote against the lottery bill, gives rise to
some interesting speculations. Who are
these brlbers? Let the light shine.
The Mass Meeting.
Pursuant to a call signed by Mayor Bent
ley, the city hall was filled to OVERLOOKING
Friday evening with people representing
all Interests in this city. The mayor called
the meeting to order, and after stating that
he had called the meeting for the purpose
OF getting an expression of the people re-
garding the practicability of the proposed
lottery legislation, proceeded to give his
W ideas regarding the measure. He said
he did not believe in it, and supposed until
the measure was actually introduced in
the legislature, that there was nothing
really in the rumors. He was surprised
that the proposition should even be enter
tanned. de thought it would be a disgrace
to legalize a lottery when nearly all the
states were opposed to it.
At the conclusion of his remarks, Farmer
Wallace suggested that it would be
proper to have an organization of the
meeting and he moved that Capt. |. P.
Baker be elected chairman. Until this
time it was supposed by those present
that the mayor had called a public
meeting for the purpose of getting an ex-
preston, but the mayors action on this
motion dispelled this illusion. 1t was
Bentley's meeting and he said so.
Although the motion of Farmer Wallace
was seconded by nine-tenths of those pres
ent, the mayor refused to put the question
and fatty said: II called this meeting-it
is my meetin1-I yield to no mani shall
rule this meeting" Objections to this as
sumption were raised on all sides, and the
disgust of the audience at this sally from
our mayor was only equalled by their as
constituent.
The hall was crowded and many could
o get IN. Farmer Wallace raised an OBJ
Jectlon to the mayors action and SAID he
ana every other person who had read his
call supposed it was to be a public meeting
and that there would be free and full eX-
preston had. He denounced the arbitrary
power the mayor had arrogated to himself,
and declared that this audience should
control the meeting. A motion was made
This question the mayor put and, although
overwhelmingly defeated and instead Of
yielding gracefully to the will of the ma
Jorlty, Mr.. Bentley boldly declared the
meeting adjourned. He and six or seven
others then left the hall, but the audience
remained. Farmer Wallace then put the
question on Capt. Bakers nomination for
chairman. 1t was unanimous and in taking
the char, Capt. Baker SAID he had Just
come to the hall and did not know what
proceedings had been had before his ar
rival. He had supposed this was a meeting
Oh the citizens, each on an equality with
the other, and he wanted to hear from all
who desired to speak.
Farmer Wallace being called for took
the floor. He expressed regret at the &C.
ton of Colonel Bently-was surprised that
ne, whom the people of this city had re-
peated!y honOred, should so far forget
himself and appear so ridiculous. He then
discussed the merits OF the measure before
the legislature. 1t was a revenue measure
relief to the people-somethihg that would
place IN the state treasury a large annual
revenue without directly taxing the people
or thls state. A lottery, restricted by proper
legislation, as it would be in this case, was
not Objectionable. 1t was much more legiti-
mate and much less demoralizing than the
grain pit on change. The people from all
parts Of the nation contribute to the Louisi-
ana lottery at New Orleans, why not have
the lottery here and let North Da-
kota reap the benefits that accrue from the
circulation and investment Of vast sums of
money. The lottery was a square deal
nothing concealed. Taking a ticket from
gave for that ticket did no mar
any harm and afforded me some
p~leasure-the pleasure of hope and
and 1 want to tell you, fellow citi-
zens, that the hopeful man-the man who
builds air castles, if you please, is not as
dangerous a man in a community as the
grasping, selfish. holier-than-thou sort of a
man. who will exact usurious rates of in
terest and look with cold indifference on
the poor devils he is assisting to grind
down. | could have spent that dollar for
liquor, crazed my mind and committed
cr!me, but a dollar spent in the lottery,
with a full understanding of the chance
had for getting it back did not operate that
way. He had been in Louisiana and had
visited the charity hospital sustained by
the Louisiana lottery company. 1t was a
grand institution. The company has paid
out a hundred thousand dollars annually
Tor charitable purposes, and now an insti-
tuition wants to pay this sum into our state
treasury for the right to have headquarters
VIZ Wv UuoluCoo LII Il1lS SGdCt. IL IS a good
proposition and he believed the good judg-
mento Of the legislature in passing this law
would be sustained by the people.
The farmer said he had given this SUBJ
Ject some thought all by himself and had
prepared some resolutions which he de-
sired to offer for the consideration of the
meeting. The resolutions were as follows:
Resolved, That we, the citizens of the city of
Bismarck, assembled pursuant to the call Of our
honorable mayor, Vim. A. %tentley, have i'm
pliclt, confidence in the ability, integrity and
good judgemnt of the senators and members of
house of representatives from this, the Twenty
seventh legislative district of the state of North
Dakota.
Resolvsd, That we heartily endorse their con-
duct during this, the first session of the state
legislature.
Resolved, That we endorse the position taken
members of the house of Representatives and
other public spirited citizens throughout North
Dakota, to aecure to the state a large revenue
without direct taxation, which will enable the
state treasury to meet at once our current obi
cations. and in the future relieve the state of the
necessity for heavily bonding and borrowing.
Judge Gray then took the floor and said
ne could not sit still and by his inaction
give sanction to those resolutions, He was
opposed to the lottery and said he would
rather have the brewery and saloon in full
blast than to have this Octupus thrust upon
us. He wanted to know il anyone had fig
ured on how far this $4,000 a year would
60 towards defrayiug the states expenses.
To this Farmer Wa1lacn ran1ipd fhof r. xuoe