Bismarck daily tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, Dakota [N.D.]) 1881-1916, 1906-05-05
Who M'KENz Z! ! /
COL. LOuNsBERRY5 WRITES THE
FORUM INTERESTINGLY ON
THE CAREER OF
NORTH DAkoTA's GREAT LEAD,
Err AND RECALLS SOME
EARLY HISTORY.


Fargo Forum: l see some North
Dakota editor asks the question "Who
is this mai Alex Mckenzie any way?"
When l went to Bismarck in 1873
there was a tall slim young fellow
there doing a legitimate business in
a small way, delivering his goods HIM
self in a wheel barrow, trying to make
an honest living. He came in With
the men who built the railroad, in
charge of a gang of track layers.
Strong as an OK, with head to
manage, he was regarded one of the
most efficient men on the works. He
was always temperate, always kind
hearted, going out of his way to help
others. A sheriff was elected that
fall and the hoard refused to approve
his bond. A successor was appointed
and he was drowned. Alex Mckenzie
was appointed in his stead. He held
the Office for six successive terms.
He did not NEEDLE with politics and
no body meddled with him. He was
the choice of every one.
When S. G. Roberts was in the
legislature Alex went down to Yank-
ton to do his first bit of lobbying. He
wanted a board of county commits
sioners appointed for Emmons county
who would locate the county seat at
Williamsport. Alex had no particular
interest in Williamsport but he want
ed to 60 to Yankton and that was the
only excuse he could think of and so
he went. Fargo was always a little
fastidiopls in it's tastes, and Fargo
wanted the agricultural college, and
Grand Forks was ambitious and
wanted a university, and Valley City
a normal school, and Jamestown had
some lunatics ait home and thought
the hospital for the insane would be
the thing for them. Alex saw what
for something for Bismarck and so he
asked for the penitentiary and he and
John P. Dunn, Major Edwards and l
were on the first board and erected
the pen think John A. Mclean was
the other one. And we erected the
| building within the appropriation.
Alex had read the Hoosier School
master in his younger days, and had
Learned from that 'tWhen you are git
ting git a plenty and he got the
capitol commission appointed. It was
appointed with the Intention of NOV,
ing the capital to Pierre, but it got
away from Pierre because Alex Nc.
Kenzie was on the commission
Spalding was also on the commission
and do not think Alex ever felt very
grateful. to- spalding for his: course or
the commission, and if there has beer
any slips between the cup and the liz
for which Mckenzie is in any way
responsible it is possible that=it re
lates to the fight for the removal o.
the capitol to Bismarck. 1t was
Alexis fight. He had gotten ths
capitol for Bismarck and for years Ii
had to fight to keep it. And in doing
so he made friendships that have
given him strength in the affairs o
1.-The state, He has never asked any
| thing for Alex. He has stood for Bis
marck and for Bismarck interests
working for those who deserved hi
friendships, dangling scalp or tw
occasionally at his belt, but If the
were won the parties knew who wa
after them and why. He .neve
sought to destroy republican
nominee He has never failed t
give his support to the choice of hi
party in any campaign or any situs
: ton where republican principles wer
at stake. He. has never sought t
make money by any system of graf
involving the use of public funds Q
the use of friendships won throug
his political operations. don't b.
lieve that the good people of Mort
Dakota are going to turn down thei
successful representatives becaus
Mr.. spalding has an old quarrel wit
Alex Mckenzie. 81 >$ :,