The Washburn leader. [volume] (Washburn, McLean County, N.D.) 1890-1986, 1894-06-16
AE!rOE STATE HISTORY.
Secretary.
EV <. y. STEVENS.

AE!vOF STATE HISTORY.
ly 4. n. STEVENS.
If YOU have ever visited the Nation:!
Museum connected with the Smithsonian
Institute at Washington, you have noticed
a large number Of glass cases containing
relies OF past events. Of the once personal
property of soGe distinguished citizens.
In several eases are exhibited Wiishington's
calnn outfit. medicine chest. swords and
other things. Tho large collection OF
swords. firearms. resolutions OF freedom
of cities in gold and icwclled cases; III
fact all the half million dollars worth of
valuable presents presented to our old
commander III his tour around The world
and by him turned over to VIM. III. Van
dertilt in satisfaction Of Il debt OF honor
contracted in connection with the Grant
Ward failure. ard by Vanderbilt in turn
turned over to the National Museum, are
there on exhibition. There are relics from
tine north. the south, the east and the west,
that remind one of stirring events OF other
times. or the sterling worth OF q DIS
tipcuishel citizen. From nine o'clock in
the morning (the opening hour> till four
liz the afternoon ithe closing hour) more
people can be seen viewing them with
admiration. explaining the men or event
they ,ypify, or discussing pro and con
what might have BEEN than in any part
of that immence storehouSe OF curious or
results of scientific research. Dix tine
moth attracted by the light, e1nhiems OF
deeds of yulor or reminders of grateful
remembrance of trua worth. have Il
uevrr-faiiing attraction for the public.
a HISTORIC GAvEL.
7 had occasion Il few days ago To visit
afea. J.. A. Williams at his home. and there
.&w-s,mething that at once set III motion
p Chain of thought connected with our
recent past rs Il territory Or state. 1t was
MOI studded with diamonds nor covered
with costly silks, but was rather IN emblem
of power and authority actually welded
in n cause that was soon to have Il per1Na-
nent and lasting effect upon the then
fnture state of North Dakota and partic-
ulariy so on the city of Bismarck. Lying
III Mr.. Williams bookcase. ! found SIMPLY
a plain walnut gaval, which showed by the
many dents and marred places upon 1t
that it had been vigorously used by a
strong hand. When l asked what it was,
l Was Informed that it was tho speakers
gayel used in the Legislative house i'll the
the old territorial capital. AS some may
have forgotten and others never have
known, the facts connected with the event
of events of that session, L give them as 1
remember them now.
RENOVATED Talk OF.
o., Early in the session there had been a
movement made for a change Of the loca-
ton of the territorial capital. Mitchell,
Huron and Chamberlain each believed it
had in it's corporation limits just the spot
on which should stand the capital build
ing. Late in the session Hon. Alexander
Mckenzie had occasion to visit Yankton
in connection with some matters relating
to some of the counties III the northern
part of the territory. When he arrived all
was confusion us to what should be done
about removal. 1t took such a man as
Mckenzie but an hour to come to the
conclusion that with thorough organiza'
tion results might come out of a removal
bill far beyond the ken of any of the ther
c%ontending factions. The time in which
to work was very limited, but T.. A. Will
Jams, the best p~arliamentarian in the
territory, had at the beginning of the
session been elected speaker of the house
and with this influence as a beginning
these two-McKenzie n Williams-be
gan the work. Every member from NORTH
Dakota loyalty supported the bill as wei
ms some members from the southern par
of the territory. One of the best lawyer
in Sioux City wss employed and drafted
the original bill which. was subsequently,
filtered IN several places so as to meet tn
wishes OF all those who consented to sup