Wessington Springs herald. (Wessington Springs, Aurora County, Dakota [S.D.]) 1883-1891, 1890-06-13
North pakota's Lottery scheme.

written by MAJ. ocott, manager W VIC
company.
North Dakota's Lottery Scheme.
The lottery bill is not dead, but Sleep
ing"
Those we're the parting words of proph-
ecy tina ex-senator Spencer, once famous
for his connection with the star route
scandal, now notorious Us the prime con-
spirator in the plot to steal the political
power of a state and debauch the political
conscience of its people, left behind him
as he stepped on board a Northern Pacific
train a little more than a month ago and
sped southwark, whittier no one knows,
but certainly to some place where.he could
safely plot new schemes for the political
enslavemsnt of the people.
Those words were prophetic. But even
more significant were the words of Alexan-
der Mckenzie, Spencer's co-consplrator,
uttered not long before that.
IF this thing goes We'll control the po-
litical power Of this state for all time to
come"
There is now no doubt In the minds of
many OF the most reputable people of this
state that the lottery scheme is not dead,
and that the whole plan as it was fore
Swallowed in the bill, which was ali but
passed at the last legislature, was and still
is one of the most gigantic schemes to
secure possession of the political power of
n state and WELD it fol the private gam Of
a few individuals that has ever been pro-
jected by the most daring political schem-
ers in their widest dreams. The scheme
not only provided for the establishment
of a lottery such as has been the curse of
every country in which they have been
fastened, but went further and contem-
plated the disposition and sale of lands.
AS every one knows, Mckenzie. Haggart.
LaMoure and the rest have immense guam
titles of land in this state. If they could
put these lands of theirs IN a gigantic pool,
sell them by lottery-thess lands that have
cost them next to n~othing-the money they
would make could scarce be counted in
millions.
Something like that the thinking people
Of this state are beeinng to believe was the
PROJECT OF those daring spectators. What
is more. from all sides come the whispered
reports that the lottery measure is still
living and quietly, but ef%ectually stretch
ing out its tendrils of political intrigue
over the franchises of the state and the
consciences of the people.
The indications which lead the people of
this state to believe that this is so come
from many various sources. In the first
place circulars Offering advertisements
have been cent out from the great Euro
peau lottery at Hamburg, from the Louisi-
ana lottery and from the lottery of Zaca-
tecas in Mexico. to every paper in the state
and in many of them they are now being
printed under yearly contracts.
This is believed to be a systematic effort
to s.ife the conscience of the people of the
state through the only means of express
sion of public sentiment. These adver-
tisements offer a constant and almost ire
sistible temptation to the struggling editor
to betray his trust to the people, aud nc
longer PRINT the facts in regard to this
great political crime that has been once at.
tempted, aud is still believed to be secret,
cherished.
REPORTS from all over the state indicate
that the same men who furthered the lot.
terry scheme last winter are making til,
most industrious preparation to obtair
possession OF the primaries this fall. 1t il
generally understood in this city that Mai
Edwards wants TO go himself to the seuat
this fall.
"a correspondent talked with a numbe
OF prominent antl-lottery people Of Fargo
and they sre all convinced that an attemp
IS how being made to get possession Of tn,
Legislature ju the interests of the lotter
bill. They say also that the attempt viii
not succeed, not even if it be necessar
that the state should go democratic i,
order to prevent it.
Said q prominent citizen Of Fargo
Well clean the garg out first and nam
the party that does it aVterward."
Secretary of State Fl. Vtie, speaking o
the political situation in North Dakota
denied Indignantly that he was the letter
rings candidate for govern, W. but though
they might secure the nomin staon of som
such man as Bulge, of Gran, Forks. II,
thought that failing in that they NIGH
bolt and support Mccormack 70. governor
MIR. Fllttle hoped, however, that abe lot
terry crowd would not be strong Ell Vugh te
disrupt the republican party.
Denny Hannatin, who is alway . vel
posted III politics and is proud of his rela.
tons to the lottery scheme as one OF it,
most active supporters, seid to a repor Vel.
The next governor Of North Dakota " III
be just whoever the lottery people want.
The mine is laid and they are putti, Q in
the fuse now that is to be touched off next
fall, and then the opposition to the North
Dakota lottery people will be blown so
high toward heaven that they can hear the
angels whistle. North Dakota is going to
stand by Alex Mckenzie and Spencer and
and the rest of the only friends she evar
had. We amt going to make any mistake
this time, and after the next lep,slo-
sure is elected the Louisiana state lottery
can have a charter in North Dakota if i
wants it,"
Hnrrihrn S4ofo DT A a. g.. :: s