Bismarck daily tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, Dakota [N.D.]) 1881-1916, 1906-06-12
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THE PRICE OF POLITICAL PEACE
IN BURLEIGH COUNTY.

NV SOnIGlST1 ~OON r.
The price Of political peace in Bis
marck and Burleigh county is now,
and has been for years, unjust and un-
fair concessions to E. G. Patterson.
Concessions that have brought fire.
quent disgrace to the city, financial
disaster to the taxpayers and a mis-
Judgment of the moral integrity of the
people of the Capital Cityeby outsiders
whose good will we have needed and
ought to have courted. On several
occasions, the entire press of the
state has been arrayed against the
city Of Bismarck and at one time
while MIR. Patterson was mayor, for
boldly proelaiming the federation of
unlawful practices and the issuing
from the Office of chief magistrate of
the city Of open defies of public opin-
ion and boasts of Iaw-breaking,
brought the Capital City into such
disrepute that our most vital inter
ests, the location of the public inssitu-
tions. the favor, support and CO.
operation of the railroads and the
government were threatened.
The *.price of political peace came
very near costing Bismarck the hand
some new Northern Pacific depot that
has done SO much to change and dis
pei outside unfavorable opinion Of Bis
march ALL old citizens will remem-
ber-and the Bismarck Tribune has the
documentary proof-that but for the
arrousing of public opinion, through
The columns of the Tribune, the old
Sheridan House, now the Northwest,
would not have been moved ait the
time it was to make way for the new
depot and the railroad officials will
bear out. the statement that in all
human probabilities if the depot had
not been built when it was the old
shack that had So loag: and so profit
ably sheltered Mr.. Patterson's booze
Joint, and gambling rooms the old
Sheridan House with its trap doors
its speak holes" and removable base
boards TO permit Of the jobbery that
its proprietor boosted and INDUCED il
during the years gone BY, would still
be standing as a MONUMENT to the
moral degradation of the Capital City
and the nerveless spine of its citizens
Mr.. Patterson had succeeded In seeur
ing the signatures of nearly every per
son in the city to a petition to The
Northern Pacific management to leave
the old Sheridan House and POSTPONE
the building Of the depot until afte
tire session of the legislature of 1899
The Tribune opposed this moyemen
and its editor has been the subject O
MIR. Patterson's wrath ever since. A
the time Mr.. Patterson charged IIla
It was taking bread and butter out o
his mouth to the extent of $15, 900 t,
$4,000 contemplated hotel earnings
This was the selfish view that cam
near defeating the depot project. How
! ever the Northern Pacific wa
finally induced to dnancier the hote
proposition and build the depot a
originally contemplated, regardless o
The petition to the contrary, but tn,
price OF political peace with Patte1
son had to be paid then as at othe
times. 1t must be arranged so that b,
could secure the lease OF the new hotel
That was the price OF political peae,
then, and coupled NTH the postofhc,
appointment and other concession
from time to time we all know wha
the @price Of political peace .shas beef
ever since. e.. y 515 4
There is not the least doubt tina
PaItersonism has been pail upon til,
Capital City and a direct impedimen
a It's growth and development from
the time he left the BARRIERS chair t.
the present day. II is true he ii nov
arecting fine buildings and making
substantial improvements ia the city
B Hor all OF this he Isl given due credit
The beneficiary for years of gamblint
alad unlawful practices in this city
the hoppe. into which was poured thu
earnings OF the artizan, the wages o1
\ The clerk Of the legislator and thu
strang ers within our gates, 1t is vel
That now some Of that wealth be III
vested II the city TO pay back slight
interest on the burden Of debt Thal
+ fattersenisn has heaped npon Ellis
city and county IN court expenses ii
srnothered enterprise, id bad name
Y and consequent tinaidity Of foreign
4 capital for investment
The Tribune refrains ali muck al
possible from personal politics. III has