Emmons County record. [volume] (Williamsport, D.T. [i.e. N.D.]) 1884-current, 1891-01-09
VANS ttSheme."

Vans ssSheme."
For several reasons the writer last
week accepted position on the Bismarck
Tribune. Such engagement was for
sixty days, and it included the printing
of the paper there for the few weeks, as
there was no practical printer in the
county to be hired for the work. The
changed from the town where for seven
years, through good times and bad, it
had been issued, and where it had been
regularly entered at the pestottice as
local publication. Tne chief reason for
going to Bismarck was that the scenes Of
activity there might better fit for con-
tinued work, after the visit. one who has
put In nearly seven years of hard, cons
finlng and incessant labor in order to
build up weekly paper that might be a
credit to the settlers of the county. An.
other reason was the almost absolute i'm.
possibility of collecting on subscriptions
during the present hard times, as it is ut-
terly impossible for many honest people
to pay. A third cause was wish to be
near a physician, as tho writer had lost
was not well, and sickness in winter
a days drive from physician was
not again wanted. That there was no
intention to desert was shown by the fact
that part of the writer's family and
most Of his printing material were left
behind. The paper would have appeared
regularly, and would have reached all
parts of the county promptly. No one
| weuld have been injured IN the least, and
l we could have published better paper,
because one sees people from all parts Of
| Emm0ns county every week, with later
| news from the legislature. Nobody was
harmed, and it was even thought by the
writer that some might be pleased when
it was known that their pioneer editor--a
man who had invested in the county
every cent he had made--had been asked
to assist temporarily on a prominent
daily.
So, after getting out last weeks paper,
we went to the Capital City.
Monday the board of county commits
sioners convened at Williamsport. Mr..
George j. Douglas, of Fort Yates, was
present, the guest of Auditor Herrick
A scheme was formed to, as was sup-
posed, do up" the RECORD. Douglas
raised the point that the RECORD was not
printed in the county, and was not eli
gible to do county printing. Mr.. Cell
spoke for the RECORD, claiming that the
last issue Of this paper was printed here,
and that the next was not yet due. The
matter was referred to the state attorney
and that gentleman decided either paper
eligible. Then a new tack was taken,
showing plainly that the decision asked
for from the states attorney was only a
subterfuge, and that the RECORD was to
be knitted any way. A motion was
made by somebody-who, is not known,
as the minutes of the board do not give,
a. they should, the name of mover and
seconder of every motion made-that the
Winona Times be made the Official
paper, and Messrs. Van Beck and Nc
Lain voted for it.
It is tho opinion that. although Mr.. Van
Beck at all times processes to be leary of
"shemes," the original move was by Van
Beck and George, the latter of whom it
will be remembered was once referred to
as "a candle.legged, pin-headed dude" in
these columns by sheriff of Emmons
county. As there was very little talk by
the majority when the scheme carried, It
is likely that the matter was fixed before
hand.
1t is said that at first Commissioner
MaLain was disposed to favor this paper.
There is no reason to believe that he,
like some others, damns newspaper be-
cause it is published at enc point instead
of another, for it must be published
somewhere. Furthermore, the gentleman
from the First district certainly should
not have q dislike for Williamsport, be.
cause he is the representative Of some
twenty-five voters in this township. He
is, withal, q gentleman Of good private
and political character.
| As to Van Beeh, his action was NO moro
than 10 to be expected from him at all
times. He Is noted from one end of his
district to the other for dupliclty and de-
ceit in politics. His attempts to peddle
his "infoeence" to this and that candi.
date at the recent election were especially
| notorious. he got through "by the
skin Of his teeth" at the recent election
because the people of Wlnoha and Clan.
avon had NO other English.speaking per-
sen to vote for. A popular Hollander or
American would have beaten him out Of
his boots. Ask the first Glanayon or
Winona man you meet II this isn't true.
| A tobacco sign would better represent the
people Of the Third district In the
county board
AS matter of fact, the slap at this pa
per amounts to very little in dollars and
cents. There IS ITO such thing as IAN"
official newspaper. The law provides
that three papers, if there are that many
in the county, shall print board proceed
ings and election notices. The tax list
goes to the lowest bidder. The treasurer 8
work is to be printed in one Of the official
paperss-that's the law. The board has no
control of it whatever. Even under the
old law, ''the official newspaper" (only
one then) could not demand it. This was
discovered when the Steele Herald, ON.
c;ni nevst,aner of Kif1flar cntlntv. tackled