The Fargo forum and daily republican., 1906-04-17
Col. LOunsbenY' 5 Notes Of \. Dakotans

Legations III the proof. He had mar
ried a wife and could not live on his
claim and in the course of his duties
/ Lounsberry protested it and he lost.
| He had a right to disregard the oft
published warnings as to the duties of
Esettlers, and take his chances on get
lting through, and to squeal and kick
as loud as he, pleases because he got
blocked. ss. Ii. a.. .-. ~, =
There is another. Bottineau county
editor who also lost his. claim. From
every standpoint he is one of the most
able bodied kickers in the state, but
he. has some horse sense, and realized
| that the special agent was in the coun-
TRY to follow his instructions and pro-
tect the public domain from the depre-
dations of those seeking to gather it up
for speculation rather than for homes
There were great many Others at Bot
|tineau who had reason to kick but some
Iof them had sense enough to see what
the law required and do it. g..
There is another editor at Bottineau
who has had a bad attack of Lounsberry
on the brain for two. years or more.
He thinks it is democratic to denounce
the officers of the dominant party.
Though an Englishman he must have
imbibed or absorbed or acquired, per-
haps by poaching, the Irish habit of be-
ing agin the government. Even that
excuse is a good one. 1t is the little
Icurs that bark because some other lit
tie cur howls that / have contempt for.
Senator Hansbrough has or is about
to introduce an amendment to the rail-
way rate bill prohibiting public officers
and employees Of all classes from ask
ing or receiving free railroad transpof-
tation on any interstate railroad. 1t is
the state legislatures will take UP the
thought and check the evil at home.
There is no good reason why judges and
Legislators and agents travelling for the
state, should ask or receive free trans
|portation. Nor any reason why a lot
|of statesmen" should find their way to
the capital to influence state legislatures
on free transportation. That is one of
the evils of public life that might we'll
be corrected. and / believe will be cor
|rected as result of present agitation.
Senator McCunber's speech on the
railway rate bill is one of the great
speeches of the session It has receiv-
ed many, very many, warm commenda-
|tions l+
There is scheme on foot to gobble
up the coal mines of Alaska and a
strong push for legislation in that di-
rection. 1t will give some of this, ere
formers" nervous prostration to know
that our North Dakota men are not irl
ii even a little bit. Mr.. Gronna had
caf1I 1S1I k1,ot 41> al
lat in the committee though he stood
|alone. That amendment which did not
pass, on which the howlers are attack
ing Senator Hansbrough, might have
been introduced BY any man from the
|purest and best of motives. One can
gain no right to agricultural land unless
he has declared his intention to become
"a citizen. He cannot obtain full title
to a free homestead Until he has spent
five years in this country. He cannot
|fle on a desert claim or a timber claim
until he has declared his intentions.
He cannot vote until he has taken the
necessary step toward citizenship. and
the proposition to restrict mining claims
to citizens or those who had declared
their intention to become citizens was
not unnatural and not unreasonable,
and doubtless seemed to him to be in
line with his disposition to protect. the
public domain. | have been unable to
find anything in magazine articles att
lacking the senatorthat fixes any act on
him that IN any way connects him with
the alleged attempt to "LootAlaska" !" ex-
cepting the introduction of the much
talked-of amendment and that did not
pass. .es.s ~
Mr. Gronna made his maiden speech
early this week. in behalf Of rural free
delivery, and like all Of his work it was
full of practical suggestions 81.
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