The Washburn leader. [volume] (Washburn, McLean County, N.D.) 1890-1986, 1894-06-16

XIV Wv" ~ ~ ullu AlcA. IlCNSItZlc
After the provisions of the bill had beer
agreed upon it was taken by Mckenzie
to MARCUS (Bud) Taylor, who was ther
the editor Of the paper and who has since
been surveyor-gcncral of thcterritory, and
was two years ago the democratic candi
date fo: governor in South Dakota, and
democrat and a capable man.
CAss COUNTY HELPED.
The time for the introduction of bills,
their reading the first, second and third
time. and final passage. had expired, OK.
cept the right be granted by unanimous
coucent. John Gamble, ex-senator Moody
and others, then Y~anktOnians, were keenly
alive to the situation and on the lookout
for the first indication of danger. But
one day remained in which to pass the bill
SO it could reach the council in time for
passage by that body. What was to
be done? at the election in the fall of
1852, Major A. W. Edwards, then editor
of the Fargo Argus, now OF the Forum,
and then as now, recognized as the best
editorial writer in the territory, had been
Il candidate for member of the territorial
house of representatives,. and so certain
were the people of his election that one
adiniring friend presented him with a
chair of proper proportions to suitably
accommodate the majors $50 pounds avolr-
dupois. Had he been elected I doubt not
he would nave welded with that consum-
mate skill and grace of which he is capa,. lie.
the very savel of which / speak. But the
fates decrced it otherwise. BY a combin-
alton OF the majors personal enemies
dissatisfaction and jealousy, engendered
by his vigorous newspaper articles and poll ,
teal nggresslvcness, he was defeated. and
one AlIHrd elected in his stead. This
gentleman had quietly occupied his seat
aud presumably drawn his pay. Other
Wise than tho doing of these things, you
would have had to resort to the roll call IN
the journal to ascertain who was the mem
Der from Cass who had defeated Major Ed
wards. AT a conference held by the sup
porters of removal. it was suggested by
either Williams or Mckenzie that as the
gentlemen had not been heard from during
the session he would b. both the least
offensive to and least suspected by the
/ wary Yanktonians. The morning of the
day on which the bill Was to b. passed
having arrived, Mr.. Williams the speaker,
with the gaval as an emblem Of his author
ity, raped the house to order and business
began with a rush. Every member was
i'll his seat and on every face but one was
visible evidence that something out of the
ordinary was liable to happen at II
moment. That one face was Mr.. Allard's.
He sat in his scat as unmoved as If presid-
ing at tho head of the breakfast table in
his own family circle.
SOMETHING WAS MIN
When the speaker mounted tho stand
that morning he carried more with him
than the gavcl Of which I write-he car
ricd with him knowledge that at the first
man from Cass would throw a bomb that
when it exploded would create consterna-
ton if not havoc. All depended upon q clear
head and steady voice. The speaker was
equal to the OCCASION, as had he and Nc
Kellzie been in organizing the scheme.
The different orders of business were
res!ed OF as only those who have seen him
in his harness know Williams can do, until
the order for the introduction of bills was
reached. With all the elaboration of ar
actor who had thoroughly mastered his
part. the gentleman from Cass arose from
bis seat and drawled out: "Mr. Speak
err I ask u-n-a-n-i-m-o u S consent to in
tro-duce Il bill, have it read a first, second
and third time, and placed on it's final pass
age" Those of the members who were
posted as to what was to happen, at once
busted themselves with work upon their
desks. Those innocent of what was to
CONT craned their necks to get a good look
at "Old Silence as he was called, wonder
ing if he had conceived the idea of stand
ing for reelection and desiring to say in
the canvas that he had at least introduced
one bill.
Scarcely had the last word left the gentle
man from Cass' lips till the announce
ment was made from the speaker with
almost lightning rapidlty. "The gentle
man from Cass asks unanimous consent
to introduce a bill; that it may be read a
first, second and third time and be placed
upon it's final passage. Is there any OBJ
lection? Hearing none, consent is grant
ed" The emphasis with which the speaker
struck the desk before him with the en-
blem of his authority, vibrated the last
hope of Yankton to retain the capital of
Dakota territory. Quickly a page carried
the precious document to the clerks desk
(Ted Kingman) who read: An Act to pro-
vide for the location of the seat of govern
ment of tho territory of Dakota and for
the erection of public buildings thereat. .
NDEMOnIUM