Bismarck weekly tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, Dakota [N.D.]) 1884-1943, 1899-01-20
CONSTITUTION MAKERS
Twenty-one Members and Officers Of
North Dakota's Constitutional
Convention Meet.
An Informal Standardization of Of
Acknowledgements for an Elk
cursion Next Summer.
An Enjoyable Meeting.
From Thursdays Daily.

~ q easy
The constitutional convention associa-
ton held its biennial meeting yesterday
at the Office of Surveyor General Will
Jams one of its honored and respected
members. In the absence of its secretary
Hon. w. H. Rowe, then of Dickey county
now of LaPort, Texas, J. G. Hamilton
secretary of the constitutional v
ton was elected secretary pro TEN.
The roll was called and the following
members and officers were present:
Messrs. David Bartlett of Griggs, G..
V. Brown of Wells, F. B. Fancher of
Stutsman, Arne P. Haugen of Grand
Forks, W.. S. Lauder of Richland, j. H.
Mathews of Grand Forks, H. F. Miller of
Cass, V. B. Noble of Bottineau, Vim.
Ray of Stark, Andrew Slotten of Rich
Stevens Of Burleigh, A. o. Whipple, of
N. johnson of Nelson, VIM. Budg GO of
w. E. Purcell of Richland. Three Off
Falley sergeant at arms, and r. M. Tut
tie official stenographer.
The following were found to have
passed from earthly cares to the great
beynd: E. W. Chaffee, J. L. Cotton, M.
Scott.
Hon. l.. B. Richardson, who as secre-
tary of the territory called the conven-
ton to order was unanimously elected
an honorary member thereof as we'll as M.
TT 1oxvD11 x,1,<> ,,o, %1,r, ~ n r. nrsrtDo &c
the convention.
The association appointed as a com,
mittee to act with the president and
ing officer, Fred Falley it's sergeant-at-
arms and Congressman Spalding Il mem
Der to arrange for al excursion of the
members of the convention to the Vel
lowstone park in June or for a lake trip
as the committee should determine.
The association directed tho secretary
to send greeting and Godspeed and hopes
for speedy and permanent recovery to
Alex Grigggs, Harvey Harris, Alex Elem
ington, James Clayton and r. NJ. Pol
lock.
In the election of officers w. E. Pur-
cell was chosen president, J. G. Hamil-
ton, secretary, and f.. A. Williams, treas
urer. The executive committee to be
announced later by the president.
The association was in good fettle and
it's session was enlivened by interesting
"reminiscences of it's debates and proceed
ings. Congressman johnson was present
and heartily enjoyed reference to Incl
dents amusing at the time, which are not
ever ~"chestnutty" to those who partici-
pated therein. The press was remem-
bered and all action affecting it's liberty
was expunged-a tribute to Marshall
Mcclure OF the TRIBUNE staff.
The phraseology OF the preamble of
the constitution afforded Bartlett of
Grigggs an opportunity to say that he
was not displeased now that
God was in the constitution be-
cause he has not seemed to be a
potent factor in the legislature since. A
discussion of rates for the summer en-
cursions reminded a member of a
speech made by Hon. r. d. Wallace
who, in referring to passes" on the last
day of the session, when a proposed
clause prohibiting members of the legis-
lature from accepting passes. said ''that
he had found that he was the only mem
Der of the convention who had returned
his pass, but had now concluded that it
was t%omfoolery to throw away a pass
and that members of the legislature
should not refuse favors of that kind"
1t having been intimated by n 10 of
the members that lack of persistency on
the part of former officers in securing
the annual dues of 81 from each mem
Der may have had something to do with
the present stringent condition of the
exchequer brought forth the prophesy
from another momber that the character
of the two new officials-Major Hamil-
ton, secretary, and Hon. E. A. Williams,
treasurer-was sufficient guaranty
against the continuation of an empty
purse. Altogether, it was the pleasant
est and most social gathering of the as
ISOLATION since the convention adjourned,
and the members know that no state in
the union has a constitution which rep
resents the advanced political thought of
the age SO we'll as does the constitution
of the state of North Dakota.
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