Bismarck weekly tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, Dakota [N.D.]) 1884-1943, 1890-01-24
House.
The house met at 2 p. m.
Prayer by the chaplain.

Prayer by the chaplain.
All members being present except
Messrs. Unlisted. Nedrud, Walton and
Watt, excused.
MI. STEVENS rising to a question Of
privilege asked the clerk to read the fol.
lowing newspaper clipping, which the
clerk proceeded to do:
man OF the railroad committee of the North a.
kota legislature, spent the holidays interviewing
Thomas +. Oaks, president Of the Northern Pa
journed he went to st. Pa ,l,saw the railroad men
there, came here to see Oass, ran after him tc
New York snd left for home to-day. all in the
Paul Globe.
Come, Mr.. Stevens, here is an oppor.
tunity to spread yourself. Now, explain
to the legislature who furnished you with
transportation on the various roads. What
your mission was in the east and tell the
honest farmers how, by actually testing
the various lines of railroads in the couI:
try, you are now able to discourse intelli
gently upon their comparative usefulness
as concerns the tlllers OF the soil. By inter
viewing the officials of, the roads YOU
have been able to correctly estimate the
caliber OF thos who will oppose you in
your untlrlng efforts to push through such
legislation as will benefit the farmers OF
North Dakota and compel the corporations
ilY, Stevens, thou art a bird.
MI. SrEVENS then woke up the house
with the following remarks, which were
delivered with much emphasis and earnest.
ness:
MR. SPEAKER AND GENTLEMEN OF THE
LEGISLATURE; That is but one of a Sc
ries of articles which has recently ap-
peared in the public press, and is one of the
various charges that has been made against
me by DcrSons-Some of them members OF
this legislature, and others, state Ulcers,
who are not members of this legislature,
and l feel that it is no more than Justice to
myself and justice to the members of this
house, that | answer the questions that
have ben asked. 1t is unpleasant for me
TO be making these personal explanations,
rising to questions of personal privilege,
but feel That every member of this house,
If he has any explanation to make to any
other member. or if any charge is made
against him, the place to make his explain
alton is in this house. In the first place, I
did 80 to st. Paul as is charged there,
and l rode on a pass, and if there is any
member who has not also got n of these
passes, l. would like to know his name. 1t
Is no more OF a crime for me 20 take Il pass
than for other members, and l take
every pass | can get. l don't know
OF any special power that the
chairman OF the railroad committee has.
don't know how. by interviewing rail
road officials. could possibl affect the
Interests OF the farmer or anybody else.
The question is not whether | have been
interviewing anybody. l never saw Mr..
Oaks in my life and never had any rela-
tons with him or any other official of the
Northern Pacific, with the exception of
Mr.. Grover, q think the gentleman's name
was). who furnished me with ~transporta-
ton from 81. Paul to ~Chicago-and Mr..
McCabe. Excep: the gentlemen named, l
road company has ever had any favor of
me or madea any suggestions to me OF any
sort. The question is-What has been my
conduct as chairman of the railroad com
mittee. Mr.. Estabrook, Mr.. Milsted and
others who are memberS-let them say
what my conduct has been. l want to say
to the railroad committee that whenever
they are dissatisfied with my actions in
any particular, let them say so, and |
promise them that | will resign at once. Ii
| have been fair with that committee and
l have done my duty, it is unfair on the
part OF the newspapers to publish these
things: A newspaper is a sourse Of educa-
ton. l believe IL is the greatest educator
to day Of the people. I believe to day there
- AtNAo VAN - L tA4kIloi UnlIlC vi
the newspapers than from any other
source, and properly conducted, the press
is not only a benefit to the
public, but it is something that we are
proud of. But to traduce-to slander-to
scandalize-is beyond the province OF de-
cency, as well in newspapers as in indi-
viduals. What they print IS sent broad.
cast throughout the land, and you have no
answer to make. How can you answer?
You cannot go out and see all the folks
who have read that newspaper and tell
them what the truth is. In all probability
half OF them think it must be true or it
would not have been printed. BY having
been appointed chairman of this commit
tee, l have attracted to myself the eye of a
majority of the farmers Of this state, and /
say 1t is unfair, unjust, unkind and ungen-
tlemanly to attempt III any manner to ira.
duce a man simply because he occupies a
position that you would rather he should
not occupy.
| want to say there are some state officials
who are drawing their $4,000 a year, who
are scattering these reports, and unless
they cease, l give them notice now and
here that L will denounce them by name
Oh this floor. They have said enough about
my conduct, and about my being connected
with railroad lobbies. No man on Gods
green earth can point to one place where l
have been wanting when there was some
Aih Jul Wv vi Vic llCCItSG Ol LllC IdTI1-
ers and against the interest of what you
might call the railroad monopoly. l am in
favor OF railroads. l am opposed to mo-
nOpoly, and | defy you to find in the pages
OF the constitutional journal, or debates of
the constitutional convention, one word or
line which would justify the statement
that l have been opposed to the interest Of
the farmer and in favor of railroad mono
poles. l want the members of this house,
when my conduct is not satisfactory to
them, either to d%enOunce me on this floor,
or to come to me in person and tell me
wherein an wrong.
l believe SANDER and backbitlng are
sins that are denounced not only bv God,
but by every honest man. | believe there
would be more harmony aud less talk
about the railroads, and farmers and
Farmers Alliances, if we would talk to one
another as men and not say s'this man said
so and so about you and that man made
this compliment about YOU" We would
have much better feeling il we would agree
that we are all farmers and business men,
and were all Interested in protecting the
interest OF the state. | say that it is
wrong to get up charges against a man
because he has seen fit to go to Washing
ton, to try and get a few fOurth-cIass' post
masters appointed in his county. | do not
desire to make any further personal rxpIa-
nation, unltst hear of some member or
solne state official saying something d-rog-
a;0ry to me about this railroad business,
and if so. the next time | sllal use names,
Mr.. ESTABROOK SAID he had been
present at every meeting OF the railroad
nhmIn1fttAh and nrInr r., ff, n,., s..-.