The mirror. (Stillwater, Minn.) 1894-1925, 1900-10-25
Written for The Prison Mirror.
Hon. Oleson takes the Stump.

Hon. Oleson takes the Stump.
Wayoack, N. D., Oct. 21.-Hon.
Ola Oleson opened his campaign at
the opera house here last night. Mr..
Oleson, who is an independent candi-
date for the legislature, is brilliant
speaker. His forceful but polished de-
livery as we'll as logical reasoning, will
probably win for him the place he so
earnestly desires. He spoke as follows:
"Mr. Chairman, Ladies and Gentlemen,
l think I can say without being &C.
cused with exaggeration that the eye of
the nation is riveted on Wayback during
this campaign. And we'll it may. The
result of this struggle here will show
if the money poured in here by Hanna
and Jones can triumph over common
and patriotic spirits. If it can, then
American politics has degenerated un-
til we are beyond redemption.
"What has the law making bodies of
this and other states been doing in the
past? We know they met often
enough and they passed laws and reso-
lutions enough to last for 81 genera
tlons to come. Let not, however, our
iniquities be visited upon our poster
ity for so many generations. Who
understands our laws? Nobody ex-
cept the supreme court, aud even the
supreme court stands three to two
every time it hands down decision.
1t is fortunate that the number of
judges are uneven or we should have a
perpetual deadlock in our higher
courts. We have laws for everything:
laws for fencing the farm, for digging
ditch. If my chickens or turkeys
happen to feel indisposed, L must
forthwith squander half my fortune in
disinfectants for the chicken coop.
"Last fall my wife made arrange
ments to entertain some of our friends
in memory of 25 years of happy and
blissful married life. But picture our
surprise; we received an official note
from certain authorities stating that
it was against law and order to carry
out our plans, as it was reported that
my hogs had shown unmistakable
signs of being afflicted with the dread
full contagion called 'choleranus NOR
bus pignus.' When my wife read the
awful charge, she tainted and had
spells for week when rag peddler
CHANGED to come along who explained
it was the old Roman name for hog
cholera. 1t was a relief to know that
even the old Romans had had their
troubles. I protested; L obtained a
certificate of health for my entire
family. 1 also produced clean bill of
health dated Bergen, Norway, May 8,
1865. That paper set forth that was
known by the authorities and to be
man of good morals, that was not a
fugitive from justice, that my political
views were conservative and, that
took nothing dangerous with me to
my new home, nothing more danger
GUS than the ordinary ration of Lude-
fisk K. K. K. herring and several reams
of sheepskin bread. With a passport
like this I could have travelled in peace
through America. Yes, L could have
gone through camp of Boxers with
impunity and safety, but it avaiIed
naught in this case. The authorities
cited court decisions ad infinitum.
They sent me copy of some 1900 sylla-
buses covering every aspect of the
case and embracing period of $3.50
years, from the time old man Noah
stepped out of the ark till Mayor Gen
eral Coxey reached Washington with
his army.
II had to give up in the face of such
overwhelming proofs. However, it did
not end my trouble. I wrote a letter
to my son who was attending busi-
ness college at Crosscut Junction,
Mimi. [ came very near being arrest
ed for spreading or trying to spread
contagion among hogs through the U.
5. Mail. I consulted an attorney who
shook his head for thirty seconds,
looked wise for thirty more and said