Fergus County argus. [volume] (Lewistown, Mont.) 1886-1946, 1905-01-18
OLD PARTNER
OFROOSEVELT
A. W. Merrifieid Selected to Convey
Montana's Electoral Vote to
Washington.
PUNCHED cows WITH PRESIDENT
Each Of the Electors Wished to Carry
Returns and Merrifieid Won
BY Chance.

Helena. Jan. 1O.-The Montana
presidential electors being unable to
agree among themselves as to who
would carry the returns to Washing.
ton, drew lots to decide, and A. W.
Merrifield, of Flathead county, won.
Helena independently.
There Is a deal of interest in the
selection by the Montana electoral
commission, which is to meet in Hell.
ena this afternoon. of a messenger
whose duty 1t shall be to convey the
vote Of the commission to Washing
ton. Incidentally. there are some
facts in connection with one of the
electors that doubtless are not parail.
eled In the case of another elector in
the United States.
1t is known OF all men acquainted
with the life history of Theodore
Roosevelt that in the early eighties
ne lived the slightly modified life of
cowboy in western North Dakota.
near the noted and now dead town of
Medora. once the home of the ill.fated
Marquis de Mores. When Mr.. Roose.
velt came to North Dakota he was In
Ill health. He suffered with q stom.
ach trouble that threatened to impair
his usefulness for all time, and 1t was
largely for the purpose of living the
strenuous life and fighting down the
a11ment that he came west
Soon after his arrival he became ac.
Quainted with Arthur w. Merrifeld.
then a cowboy just beginning to make
mis- WAY in the world, and there was
that about the young man that at
tracfed the future president to him
They became warm friends. Roosevelt
believed thoroughly In him, and when
Merriheld proposed that they should
make an investment in a buch of cat
Tie, Roosevelt got together $50, 600 and
they became full-fedged "cowmeu"
on the Little Missouri.
For years Roosevelt spent every
sp17ng and fall on the ranch near Me-
dora. He and Merrifield-'Merri" :"
roosevelt called him then occupied
adjoining hunks In their little cabin,
and they ate OF the same old pine
table the grub" that played no small
part in bringing the president back
to rugged health. They were chums.
and 1t is known of those who are nc.
Quainted with this part of the presi.
dents life that "Merri" was as ten.
der and watchful in his care Of the
partner from the. effete east as IL
"Merri" had been his brother.
Partners For Four Years.
For four years the partners were
TN the stock business. but hard luck
followed them through the latter years
Of the partnership. There were bad
seasons. and all the adverse condi.
tons that can sometimes confront the
stockman, and finally they decided 10
give up stockraising. But the friend.
ship was never permitted by the pres
ident or his cowboy friend to cool in
the slightest degree.
One year-it was in 1885, If mem.
Dry be not at fault-RoOsevelt and
'Merri" made seven weeks trip to
the Big Horn mountains. One night
they camped about a mile and a half
from Fort Mckinney. near the wy.
Dming line. "Merri" remained at the
camp while Roosevelt went for a call
On the officers at the fort. About
half past nine he began preparations
for returning to the camp, but was
pressed to spend the night with them.
This Roosevelt declined to do. It
may be easily imagined that what he
said to the officers was something like
This:
"Merri" Would Worry.
Il should be delighted, but for the
TACT that 'Merri is expecting me back
At camp tonight. and il l did not show
up he would pretty soon be up here
after me-"
Roosevelt had already stayed longer |
han he intended, and he made a |
luick ride back to camp. When he |
'eached there he found "Merri" In the
lct OF saddling a cayuse for the pur.
)Ose OF riding up to the fort and in.
luiring after his partner.
On this trip another incident oc.
'urred that shows how close the two
nen stood in their ranch life. They
we're spending their last night out, af-
er seven weeks trip. They had
raveled 80 miles that day and were
amped 20 miles from the home ranch.
About 9 o'clock Merrifield remarked
hat II he were alone he would leave
he men in camp and ride over to
he ranch and wake the men for
reakfast"
$50 that's what you would do IL
ou were alone, 'Merri?'" laughed
Roosevelt. well, you're not alone,
ut we'll go together and wake the
oys in time for breakfast"
Carried His Point.
He would not take no for an an
wer. SO the horses were saddled, and
ne partners rode the 20 miles and
O'Clock next morning the bark
lg OF their revolvers told the men
the ranch that the bosses were at
ONE.
Time passed-as the story books say
and a continent separated the two
len who had grown to love one an.
ther on the ranch in North Dakota.
oosevelt, now a strong. vigorous and
Irenuous character. and fast becom-
lg q prominent figure in the affairs
the country. spent most of his time
New York. while his one time part.
er came to Montana and. seeking