The Washburn leader. [volume] (Washburn, McLean County, N.D.) 1890-1986, 1896-12-19
A Logical Candidate.
Is THE HON. =. A. WILLIAMS FOX
SPEAkERSHIP OF THE LEGIsLA-.
TIVE HOUSE
From The Record for November. I

candidate for sp. axe: of the House at the
coming session Of the Legislature. He is
probably the the best equipped man III
the State for thi. position. His education
as parlimentArian has been Thorough
and complots. Scarcely question as TO
parliamentary law can come up that he
can not readily turn to authorities. Com
ing to the State ms a young lawyer. just
admitted to practice in the courts of Hi
nois, he did not wait for the development
! of the country and fat fees as corporation
counsel, but took Z pick ,nd shovel and
went to work on the grade of the North
ern Pacific railroad az a common laborer.
That fall he was elected representative
from the Charles MIX and Buffalo county
district. taking in all Of North Dakota.
west of the James river. and extending
down into South Dakota within n few
miles of Yankton, embracing qnite as
much territory rs the present State of
North Dakota. He took leading part
in the deliberations of that session which
Barnes. Srutsmhn. Burielgh. RichInnd and
other North Dakota cennties. Tn 1874. he
was elested to the Territorial council.
In 1882. he was elected to Che hOnse from
the Bnrleigh county district. and was
CHOSEN speaker and, and old members in
sist there has been no miller speaker. or
yna more conscientious and faithful! in
the history of Dakota. He was elected
to the legislature again in 1884. aud was
the unanimous choice of North Dakota
members for speaker. but the controvars.
being one IN which South Dakpta was
pit'ed agninst North Dakota, South Da-
kota being the strongest numerically,
George B. Rice was elected. Williams
however, becnm, the leading member OF
the house, and Whatever victories were
galned IN that legisla' ure ware gained by
North Dakota under his able leadership.
He was again elected in 1885. and waa
again the unanimous c:lnce of North d.
kota for speaker. but the sectional con-
troversy continueing, George D. Gross was
elected. and Mr.. Williams again becom,
the leading member of the hnnse. Hs
was also a leading member Of tha Moth
Dakota constitutional convention and
many of the best provisions OF the SS,ta
contribution we're introduced by him. rs
ture aud again TOOK high rank as legis-
Iator and at the close Of the session was
appointed surveyor general by President
Harri.on. He made a good officer, and
and has proven himself always faithful
and trusted servant of the peopl, in what
ever position lie has been placed. He has
never been in the employ of corporations
and can be relied upon to stand by TIL,
people and do exactly right if chosen
speaker Mt the cominy session.
Assuming that reform in taxation will
bs the paramount question before the lag
stature, MIR. Williams holds that the cor
porate interests of the State are not ta1el
equally with other property aud proposes
tn stand with tn, rofurm~elensnts in this
! ert. is I've: valued III comparison win
the assessment of the sauna class of prop
ertv in other Suites, while railroad prop
ertv. especially. is undervalued.
illustrate. In Iowa cattle were as
.es.rd for 1895 ut an average value of
81 sc: hortes. s SO. In Wyoming, cattle,
X in, los
1913; horses. $ll.06, with mules and as
es, S1o.0G. In North Dakota cattle we're
ussessed 1880: horses 1913: mules and
asses &5O For the same year this North.
Pacific railroad main line was as
sessed in S2.5OO, and the side tracts not
at ali; while in Wyoming the Union Pa
cifc main tine was assessed at $500; in
Nebraska $4,000 Colorado. 1886; Utah,
$3.50; III Karsas $1,000 to $4,000. The
Ore .ou short line was assessed Ill Wyo-
ming at 5000; in Idaho. $4,000: in
Utah, $1,000; in Oregon, $4,000; in Mon
tsna, $4,000. The side tracks OF the
Northern Pacific were assessed af $4,000
per mile.
In North Dakota in 1896 very grea.
improvement was made, the assessment
ranging from $4,000 to $500, with $3.50
on side traks and yet, comparatively ex-
ists, Mr.. Williams believes remedy eau
be found and applied that will not cinch
corporations will put upon all property
eqaa! burdens. He holds that the const.-
sutton does provide for the regulation,
control and equal taxation of all corpor-
atoms in this State. whether doing an ex-
press, telegraph, transportation or other
business.
These we're the issues in the Burleigh
county campaign aud Williams was elect.
I'd on them.
Erastus A. Williams was born at Mystic,
New London county, Conneoticutt,. and
removed with his parents when mere
boy to Werner, Juno county, Wisconsin,
whore he resided with h's parent until
1865. The family then removed to Fret
port, Illinois. where Mr.. Williams lived
until coming 20 the Territory of Dakotap
which he did arriving at Yankton. in May
1871. Before coming to Dakota Territory