Bismarck daily tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, Dakota [N.D.]) 1881-1916, 1900-06-22
HOT TIME IN L'MoURE

HOT TIME IN L'MOURE.
GOVERNOR JOE DEVINE5 AND THE
PEOPLE HAVE AIITTLE HEART
/. TOSHEARTe TALK AT .A PIONEER
PICNIC. . b. .s4 s3. M
st5 The La Moure county pioneers pic
mic was relieved of monotony by a
speech from Governor tDevine, of which
the Chronicle says: III 5$ss ss 81 B 5.
4 There was one incident sufficiently;
dramatic and unexpected to- give un-s
usual .zest to the occasion and made it
memorable in the annals of Pioneer
uicnics. Joseph Blatchford announced
that Lieut-Gov.. Devine was present
and would deliver an address. For
many years past Mr.. Devine has per-
formed this function, and heretofore
his remarks have been in harmony
with the occasion. On this day, how
ever, he mounted the stump and al
most Immediately launched into an i'm
passioned political speech, pleading
his personal cause with such yigor and
earnestness as to leave no doubt that
he was thoroughly in sympathy with
it. He inveighed against those ,malign
forces. that were seeking to- rob him
Of the fruits of years of toll and self
sacrifice. He said that things had
come to such a pass that he actually
had to fight to maintain his political
standing in his own home. He called
attention to his record while acting
governor. He said chat he was re-
sponsible for the increased railroad
assessment in North Dakota; he drew
the bill, placed it in the hands of SEN
ator Twitchell, Of Cass county, and
forced it to legislative enactm ent. 1t
increased the railroad assessment from
twelve million to seventeen million
dollars fact that was of vital i'm
portance& to the cvertaxed citizens of
the commonwealth. He said he was
the only governor the state ever had
who had the moral courage to deal
with the prohibition question. He
knew what twas to champion Just
but forlorn causeto battle for the
rights of the common people as
against the might of corporate greed
He could have been governor ere this
had he agreed to do the bidding Of po-
litical highwaymen and become the
subservient tool OF corporate interests.
But he had stood firm for the people.
and the people had not failed to ex-1
press their approbatio witness the
fact that he had received the largest
popular vote in every election in which
he had participated as a candidate;
two years ago he led the procession
with a majority over his colleagues of
100 votes. The politicians, however,
were against him, ana ehe was handi-
capped by the fact that they controlled
and manipulated the conventions.
Some day the people would take things
in their own hands, nominate and
elect him governor, and then he would
fght-fght not only until the wrongs
not only OF the state, but of the nation
were wrighted. AT the close of his
remarks the speaker was given three
49, !.
cheers. No doubt greater enthusiasm
would have been manifested had the
speech been made under appropriate
auspices. N. S. French, the populis-
tic Moses of the Gopher Divide, then
threw a boom shell into the ranks of
the opposing forces. He mounted the
stump and gravely announced that if
the republicans of LaMoure county
permitted a corporation attorney to de-
feat Joe tDevine ''us populists will snow
you under next fall. !" At this several
ladies and gentlemen tainted and had
to be dipped in the river. To relieve
the tension the band played 'sOn the
Banks of the Wabash and the crowd
adjourned to the ball grounds. :