davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Rice belt journal. (Welsh, Calcasieu Parish, La.) 1900-19??, 1908-07-31
Successful Union Service Held
Sunday Night.

Despite the inclemenCY OF the wealth
er Sunday evening, a very successful
omen air union service was held in
the Welch Park. by 1.-THE Protestant
churches Of this city. SO successful
was this trial meeting that the pastors
of the several churches of the city
have arranged TO hold open air union
services every Sunday evening during
the remainder of the hot weather, the
we ather permitting. otherwise the ser
vices will ;be Conducted in one OF the
churches.
This is bv far the most important
action taken by the churches of this
CITY recently as it goes far toward
eliminating the spirit of alooftness
that formerly existed between the
different church organizations and
prevented them accomplishing the
good they otherwise might have done,
We believe that much good will result
from such a series of meetings, which
will necessarily engender a spirit OF
brotherly love and fellowship, which
is so essential to christian success.
A cordial invitation is extended &c
everybody to come and Join in these
meetings.
The Rice belt journal. (Welsh, Calcasieu Parish, La.) 1900-19??, 1908-07-31
important Meeting of Militia Company

Be it hereby known and understood
that all who have signed their names
as members of the military company
to be formed in this city, are request
ed to be present at drill every Tues
day night. in order to be in shape Tor
muster by the first of September, 1908
and all members are urged to be pre-
sent next Tuesday night at $50 &c
elect officers and to attend to Other
business which Will come up before
the meeting.
Remember the hour and try to bt
promptly on time, at 7:3O p. m. Tues
day, August 4.
Meetings will be held in the hal
over Martin Bros store.
By order of your captain.
D. c.. ODOM.
The Rice belt journal. (Welsh, Calcasieu Parish, La.) 1900-19??, 1908-07-31
Electrical Storm and Heavy Rain.

The most severe electrical storm that
has been seen in this part of the cOun-
try for a long time occurred here
Monday afternoon. About O'Clock
the town was startled by sudden
binding flash of lightning, followed
almost Immediately by a deafening
peal of thunder that sounded like the
roar of artillery. This in turn was
followed by a series of electrical dis
charges that kept everyone guessing
where it would strike next. The only
damage done SO far as we have learn
ed was the burning out of signal lights
and few telephones.
But a light shower fell at this time.
About CLOCK Tuesday mornin, what
was almost paramount to a cloudburst
occurred. nearly four inches OF rain
falling before daylight. After asligh1
cessation in the morning it began
raining again and steady downpoul
continued through the day.
It is very unusual to have such
rain as this at this season of the year
and except in few places where le
wees are broken and the water all es
capped it is of very great value to TIT
planters, many of whom will hardy
need to start their pumps again.
The Rice belt journal. (Welsh, Calcasieu Parish, La.) 1900-19??, 1908-07-31
Excursion to Toledo, Ohio.

Account national encampment Grand
Army of Republic, August 3lst to
September 9Th, 1908.
Effective August 81, tickets will be
sold from Welsh to Toledo, Ohio, and
return for S35.45. Tickets will be on
sale from August q to 30 inclusiYe.
Final limit, September 10, 1908.
The Rice belt journal. (Welsh, Calcasieu Parish, La.) 1900-19??, 1908-07-31
Polish at Jones Bros.

|
the week here.
For Rent or Sale-5-room cot
tage, desirably located. Apply to
Paul W. Daniels.
Mrs. R. c. Mccoy and daughter,
Eunice, visited friends and relatives
in Jennings Monday.
Mr.. Pagett and family returned
Friday from a ten days visit with
relatives at Bunkie.
E. S. Woods of Houston is in
Welsh this week looking after his
real estate interests here.
Wanted-Position as traction en-
gineer for coming season. A. G.
Champagne, Roanoke, La. 1t
Miss Ethel and Messrs. Claude
and Edward Morgan were guests of
Miss Guyman Of Jennings Sunday.
John Boiling began cutting his
rice Monday. He is estimating that
it will yield about ten sacks per
acre.
WANTED:-To buy a few calves,
also yearling and two-year-oId
heifers. Inquire at the Journal
Office.
Hon. Shelby n. Young, candi-
date for Judge of the Fifteenth Ju-
dicial District, was meeting friends
in Welsh Tuesday.
Mrs. Herman Hrecht of China,
who has been visiting her brother,
Tom Wright, at the oil field, re-
turned home Monday.
Just received, a car load of Nc
Cormick binders. Give your Or
ders early if you want to be sup
piled. Jno. Armstrong. If
Mrs. Mark Prentice and sons
were the guests of Mrs. Prentice's
mother, Mrs. Cresford, of Lake
Charles the first of the week.
For Sale or Rent-A good six
room dwelling house; good we'll and
cistern; good location. For further
information inquire at Journal Of
flee.
Herbert WEIGH, who has been
spending a few weeks visiting his
parents, Rev. and Mrs. A. B.
WEIGH, returned to Houston Tues
day.
Hon. Winston Overton, candi-
date for nomination for district
Judge of this district, was inter-
viewing the voters of this place
, Tuesday
A. R. Miller returned Friday
from SiloBm Springs, where he has
j. been for several weeks past. Mrs.
Miller and daughters will remain
there for two or three weeks
longer.
J. NJ. Barnette and family anc
Jesse Smith and William Diedrick
left Wednesday morning for Sci
larsburg, ILL.,, where they will spenc
several weeks visiting with friends
and relatives.
r James Ellis was in the city Fri
day. Mr.. Ellis is largely interested
- in rice raising near Welsh. He in
forms US that he will move into hi
new home he is building here lat
n this fall.-Jennings Herald.
A car of binding Irvine received
st this week, all guaranteed to rul
even, full length to the ball. Price
g. right Come in and leave us you
order so that you will be sure you
, wants will be supplied. Armstrong
, Machine Shops. u
The Rice belt journal. (Welsh, Calcasieu Parish, La.) 1900-19??, 1908-07-31
VIM. P. Russell, Jr.
Agent
a at Jones Bros.

a at Jones Bros.
SC, Minnix was over from
Tuesday.
lovers most, lasts longest
apest Taught sells it
alIa Of Roanoke was trans
aless in Welsh Tuesday.
'alt the cheapest and
get Devoe, at Faughts
AAOy was a Tuesday ev-
ager to the parish seat.
ainett transacted bust
g Charles Monday morn
y going to paint you
. use Devoe; Taught
: 4. Suffer of Roanoke
% q the day Tuesday in
aVaGasieu parish, brought
ler sale at the journal
painters recommend
slafs For sale at Fangh':
Of Fenton was the
sister, Mrs. Chas. E
The Rice belt journal. (Welsh, Calcasieu Parish, La.) 1900-19??, 1908-07-31

The hoops of the Rio Bravo oil
tank at their we'll broke Tuesday,
permitting a considerable amount
of oil to escape and food their en-
CINE room and boiler hoase.
Lay in your supply OF
winter wood while it is
cheap. A new car just
received at Welsh Wood
Yard, office Jones Feed
Store.
The Rice belt journal. (Welsh, Calcasieu Parish, La.) 1900-19??, 1908-07-31
Southern Pacific Excursion

To Opelousas and return, Sunday,
August 2, from Lake Charles, Alex
andria, Morgan City and intermediate
points.
Train due to leave Welsh at 1850 g..
m. Fare from Welsh, Sl.00 for the
round trip.
Special trains returning will leave
Opelousas at $50 p. m. same day.
Races, baseball and otner attrac.
tons.
Special trains will stop only at tick.
ct stations, and passengers boarding
train without tickets will be required
to pay regular ticket rate.
Excursion to Houston and Galveston
And return, Saturday, August 8, 1908.
Train due to leave Welsh at 1856 a.
m.
Fare to Houston, $3.50 for the round
trip.
Fare to Galveston, 1925 for the
round trip.
The Rice belt journal. (Welsh, Calcasieu Parish, La.) 1900-19??, 1908-07-31
r. NJ. Harris of Roanoke was a
business caller in Welsh Thursday,

R. NJ. Harris of Roanoke was
business caller in Welsh Thursday.
Ed Martin returned Tuesday
from New Orleans, where he has
been for the past two weeks.
DR.. E. A. Latour of Cassanade,
La, is the guest of his brother, DR.
A. Latour, Of this place this week.
Claude Martin, Garland Hayes
and Dr.. Arceneaux we're passen-
gers to Lake Charles Tuesday even
ing.
Misses Alice and Mable Miller
spent Sunday in Jennings, the
guests of their sister, Mrs Pearl
Eaton.
Miss Ada Findley returned to
her home in Iowa Monday, after
having spent nearly a year here
attending school.
Rev. A. W. King of Strong, Ark :,
will preach at the Baptist church
August 2, morning and evening.
Everybody is welcome to attend.
Fishing parties have been very
popular this week, there having
been at least two to the Gulf and
one to the river, in spite of bad
weather.
Rev. Carruth and Mr.. L. Ber-
trand went over to Elton Monday
to spend a few days attending
camp meeting and enjoy we'll
earned rest.
Wood! Wood! Just re-
Ceived a car load of heart
pine wood. At the Welsh
Wood Yard, office Jones
Feed Store.
Mr.. and Mrs. S. W. Day and
daughter, PhiIathia, went to Lake
Charles Tuesday evening and will
spend a few days as guests Of
friends in that city.
Miss Edna Hauck of Lake
Charles was in Welsh Wednesday
and Thursday of this week organ
ling her music class. She has
nice class of about twenty mem
bers.
Rev. R. c. Mccoy will occupy
the pulpit at the Congregations
church Sunday as usual. The
morning theme will be, "FactS
which call for faith in God" AL
invited.
A complete threshing outfit, 2;
H. P. Gaar Scott engine, in perfec
order, and Advance separator, neV
last year, for sale or will trade TO
stock or for land if rightly located
Inquire at this office or address A
J. Findley, Iowa, La.
Chas. G. Carr returned Wednes
| day morning from weeks trip ii
5 Western Texas. He went out Their
with a view of purchasing land
] but after careful survey of tn
< country and it's resources he decid
: ed that there was nothing there t
! compare favorabIy with Louisiana
3 Mr.. Carr says that every time h
goes away he returns better salts
fled with Louisiana than he We
:, before.
= T. B. Simpson, fire and life il
IS surance agent, returned Friday fro'
e a very pleasant visit to his OIL
home in Georgia. He says "proh
! bition is no fake in Georgia." b'
- that it is being strictly enforce
g and that the principal damage thu
- is done to the state is that the p'
Eoo courts are Dretty near out of
Shiner gazette. [volume] (Shiner, Tex.) 1893-current, 1908-12-17
CAVALRY @IoRsEs.

A veteran cavalry horse par
takes of the hopts and fears OF
battle just the same as his ri
der. AS the column swings in
to line and waits, the horse
grows nervous over the wait
ing. If the waitsis spun out he
will tremble and sweat and
grow apprehensiSe. If he has
been six monthsi in service he
knows every bugle call. AS the
call comes to advance the rider
lean feel him working at the bit
with his tongue to get it be-
tween his teeth. AS he moves
lout he will either seek to get
on faster than he should or
bolt. He cannot bolt, however.
THE lines will carry him for
ward, and after a minute he
will grip, lay back his ears, and
one can feel his, sudden resolve
to brave the worst, and have
done with it as soon as pos
), sible. A man seldom. cries. out
r when hit in the turmoil of bat
: tle:. 1t is the. same with a
Z horse. Five troopers out of six,
. when struck with bullet, are
d out of their saddles within a
I minute. If hit in the breast OF
+ shoulder, up go. their hands and
t they get heavy fall; if in the
n leg, or foot, OF arm, they fall
, forward and roll off. Ever
!. with foot cut off by a Jagged
20 49,, IA ;s onlv when sho
e, e through the head or heart tina
Shiner gazette. [volume] (Shiner, Tex.) 1893-current, 1908-12-17
The Crimson Casket
By ]. F. ASTON

swollen with erylng, p psnn ee en
! girl stoo0 IVY niasnG"
holding pistol IN MS NAM clio
! Deborah seized her peloie
could scream OUT S,n, ,,ih |
"If you make morse tney M IA
you the next moment! sne sar th
E'They want the G yUta is o" ~ Ans
the diamonds! Where Is III ,, Ans
wer! The casket that Mrs. Herne
left with you when she Went away
You shall never nave T.. NJ. w,m 70
live!" said Miss Rosaila, I IH ~
ther trust in the midsC Oh .ne n S,". ~
keeping the men back mon. moment
81 tell you 1t is planne IA N' b6nse-
, managed to see your ole ner-
keeper at Greens t 'oH ME Mace
suaded her to get me tniS ob pay for
and it was an done nlIn9 SPu than,
the diamonds! we new wa waited for
three weeks ago put we Wai'1 Ir rOe
another OF our pana III NJ. NJ bonle
changed her time LOT coi laad Ind and
We have WORKED anu sn P that casIet
: lrisked our necKs lor In.it Dstt
. and we mean to nave ~ Don 9
e you be an idiot ana get youl .I'a :
e killed, for they won stlch az .nr,
Q if you're obstinate! NOW wa Il
you'll" +, tr,a
And hand over tne cashee IN 49,, ~
minutes, or III hre! sroWieu ~
n erick French, lifting ms pis.oi,
There has been talk enousn-t,oo
q much! There's not a soul awa N.
IS between this and Ashwarley, any u.
re one will hear the shot' NOV NV ne,
ID make up your mind ma am h nv
Sc casket! If you don give IL up oH
er fore | count five, there no neli
for you! | am bound TO nave INA
u casket at any cost m
IL you may XIII me. put II h e,'s
give it up while l llVe' saiu Mis-
IS Rosalia
to And as She shut here eyes am
said prayer as well as she coul
ss in the hurry and the horror Oh ne
he thoughts.
en- The pistol clicked.
en- Exactly said a voice near III
at door
ad There was leap. seuifie' wv
ne loud reports, terrihc struggle wv
be. tremendous oaths, woman shrle
TIL and long wailing cry
nd Miss Rosalia finding herself. any
at looked out, trembling,'Sthroueh u
smoke, to see a small CROWD OF me
-lss struggling at the open door,
hear her sister screaming Wliu,y
ran her own ROOM to see a tan lauy
OK furs rush in and ring herseil up
her knees beside the. oeu; *
she Miss Rosalla! IN tnanh 90
ose you are not, hur1! crleu ~
, Herne, almost IN Iysserlcs. ~ ~
ter the agony 1 We peen III .eFer sin
the police at. GreensmoT1on sot
clue to TINS burglary! lnes ma s,
me walt TINS evening anu 5ome W.
'sa- them, TO catcn them III tne az.
ROBBERY; but on, l aiu tninA WI
he onei viii Won ever foreiy
ne putting you IN sucn uans
mat didn't dream OF II. Ano
nj, morning. THEY'VE strippe
- arosa INV daar and the
De- the things outside in a he
Shiner gazette. [volume] (Shiner, Tex.) 1893-current, 1908-12-17
concluded from last week

l
dying FIRE. 80 the g
month we counted on said tr ea1em
as thew parted at the stile. Wen
90, n,nst he all the keener' De-
YOU Search when the old maids '
&c asleep. If they wake and catcn
Won in the act, you can be gnos.
and scare them out of their wlVs, ~
to death, it doesn't much lha''e'
which,"
Deborah laughed. NJ, ooslet
"Tll manage them. me ayhare.
must he in the house somew ,I ne
20 "ourse But Fred, If you il pe
% bv me you'll come next tIl-
doy night. and you'll have the
Soo THAT will prevent all search.
ps,t Of aturday or Sunday nlghV
4 Du. MANY neople will be about,
"Ail right, my lass. wen say
,avt Friday night at halt pas
eleven | can hire the hearse eaa,
" enough, and Jones ana ,e o we
drive it across these nelas rIr ~
fail to get Belling over ironi foij To
IN fine, But suppose you IAN
and the casket between 0nls
FRIDAY, my girl?" ,b
she kissed him again anu
briskly home. ha next
rhuysday afternoon Mrs. Herne 5
IhursuaS tbe western wing were
Trash and clean as hands Sousa
make them, and the whoie 81 nor
wore gala air in honor
coming, A.ao,f an excel
Deborah proven ~ Mad one fail
lent servant. nu. Of the Grange.
ing, serious tin,i GIi IN spite of her res
she was I'm" and She seemed to
olute aspect t,m adu day by day.
grow d nor make it out" said Miss
Il cant max zoo table on the
Rosalia, over tne ne che had been
Thursday eyenlns' mace or even
gadding about INC aryants were al
if the vlcarase So, some one had
home, ! shoulu aan Itories about the
been teillns ne ~, know phoebe
house. But as Wv he n onened til
the yicarase VIZ newt month ant
the lanlliy eo into the village a
all, ,,,aro suggested Mis-
the
Phoebe ,on 90 she smoke, Deboral
puI 3ba room without knock
ing, ail par .nardon ladies', sh
pes ..bnt when | went to clos
saspeut ,,orne,s window Just now,
Mrs. h sr,a , one @, wallSing on the tel
neal below
ssAb,,, shrieked Miss Phoebe.
an. An: inoIed ont
.. Anu evclaimed Miss Ross
-.
Ia. "a tbare was a man walkin
st nil still and secret, and b
iooted I'M at the window as If h
was o ran away!"
soe nHna loft the window open!
.ho,1tad Miss kosalia. Idiot"
SLo rnshed to her room d
borah followed, her apron to NJ
ewes. Through its folds she watcne
keenly But Miss Rosalia, hnoii
fine window closed and fastene
FASTENED back to her sister witho
once attempting to look out.
"Don't brighten Miss Phoebe
again for nothing" she said, ster
Nv to7the girl
81 won't, num-" courtesied Il
borah, removing the tray with SO
ana shifts.
In the kitchen she gave vent
her rage.
st shall be for something ne
time. | promise you! Where is
casket? In that room, j know
INIT where,"
Late that night Deborah pok
an dnried once more, but still
vain.
"Take what you deserve. Their
she cried, with furious glance
the door of the ladies' room.
Fred sets you on the ire TN J
tell I'll not be the one TO DID
Shiner gazette. [volume] (Shiner, Tex.) 1893-current, 1908-12-17
FOR MEN J

A book free.
will keep to refe>
giving symptoms
treatment for DO
and instructive.
Vita Co., lock bt
Texas.
Shiner gazette. [volume] (Shiner, Tex.) 1893-current, 1908-12-17
MERRY

I thar jStsar In mind az & !
Ia mere e, We noS,
The evening times. [volume] (Grand Forks, N.D.) 1906-1914, 1908-09-28
LAKOTA MAN HURT,

Lakota, N. D., Sept. 28-Word comes
from jamestown that several days
ago Prof. Berger jumped from the
veranda of the second story to the
ground and sustained a fractured leg
as the result. DR.. Baldwin expresses
grave doubts as to his recovery, but
says everything is being. done that is
possible to make him comfortable
The evening times. [volume] (Grand Forks, N.D.) 1906-1914, 1908-09-28

sued charters es the following cor.
porattonss
Fiat Presbyterian church Of Hsxsl.
oa: lAeerRorators, Robert I, Healp,
L: 4. Ar!ssle, John Wray aua ethers
Of Haselton.
German Evangelical Tsln!ty church,
Aaan,ooea; iaoorporators. William
aentts, Rmil Suletlstoser and AuEVst
ae!se. all Of Anamoose.
Tho Towner Realty company, Tow.
or City; capital stock. $4,000; inoor.
porators. G. a Sherman, s. +. ehar-
man. both Of Tower City. and P. R
Sherman OF Courtsnay.
Pierce County Fair association.
Rugby; capital stock. $4,000; incor-
porators. A. H. Jones. ]. 6. Mcbride.
L. Q. Bratton. all OF Rugby.
Citizens Bank OF Omemee; capital
stock. $4,000: incorporators. j. T.
Harry, N. F. Maakestad. both of ONE
NEE. and George Sunberg of Willow
City.
Denbigh Pressed Brick company,
Denbigh: capital stock. $4,000; in
corporators. D. H. Lord, NJ. E. Sew
erance and A. Carr, all OF Minot.
Farmers Telephone company, Can
do, increased its capital stock from
$4,000 to $4,000.
The evening times. [volume] (Grand Forks, N.D.) 1906-1914, 1908-09-28
SAFE WAS BLOWN
Dwight Bank Was Made the Mark O
CrQCkSmen.

Dwight, N. D., Sept. 2s.-The vault
OF theAFirst State bank of this place
was attacked by safe blowers, who
after blowing off the outer door with
nitroglycerine, were frightened away
without securing any booty. A
number Of shots were exchanged by
the robbers and citizens of the town
but the former escaped and no clues
to their identity or whereabouts can
be found.
The noise Of the explosion, which
wrecked the outer door of the safe,
awakened o. H. Friswold, a general
merchant whose establishment is next
door to the bank and in the second
story of which he makes his home. He
Immediately opened fire on the ban
dts, who returned the fire and sent
several bullets through the window.
There was quite fusillade, which
aroused the populace and frightened
the robbers away, who, in their haste,
left several of their tools near the
vault.
Posses were organized and the sur
rounding country was searched, but
no clues could be found and there
is little hope that the yeggmen will
be apprehended.
The evening times. [volume] (Grand Forks, N.D.) 1906-1914, 1908-09-28
NO ENDORSEMENT
Congregationalists Turned Down John
Burke-ResOIuti0n

Congregationalists Turned Down John
NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS..
jamestown, N. D., Sept. 2S.-Rev.
Phillips returned Friday from New
Rockford, where he attended the an
nual meeting of the Congregational
association. He reports a fine meet
ing. About 100 delegates and visit
ors were present and we'll cared for.
Sessions were devoted to emanuel
healing, evangelism and brotherhood
work and interesting addresses deliv-
cred.
An attempt was made to inject pol
Itics into the sessions by introducing
resolution endorsing Governor
Burke and pledging the support OF
the delegates. It Is said that Rev.
Saunders was the father of this res
olution. It came as minority report
of the committee on resolutions and
was promptly laid on the table. Rev.
Phillips and Rev. Batten, who had
been outspoken in their work for Gov
ernor Burke two years ago, frowned
down any attempt at politics. They
said that no moral question was in is
sue in this campaign and the resolu-
ton should be laid upon the table,
which was done with only one or two
votes against the proceeding.
The evening times. [volume] (Grand Forks, N.D.) 1906-1914, 1908-09-28
MABELLE GILMAN TALKS
SAYS tho Four Hundred Lacks Appre.
ciative Brains.

New York. Sept. 2s.-Mrs. William
Ellis Corey, wife of the steel trusts
president, declares that New York and
Newport society has no charms for
her at ALL, for the reason that its
members have no appreciation and
real love for art. -,
The former Mabelle Gilman says
she cannot be happy out of an art
atmosphere, and for this reason pre-
fers Paris to New York as place to
live. Mrs. Corey says she would like
to live abroad altogether, but that
Mr.. Corey could not be induced to do
so, even II his business would permit
OF 1t.
In her discussion Of New York and
Newport society and true art Mrs.
Corey bitterly denounced the sham
practiced by many OF the so-called So
ciety people in this country, and de-
clared that New York has "lots to
learn"
Raps Bizarre Entertainments.
1T is really too absurd" she said
TO think Of people devising new
forms OF observation-disclosures din
ners and queer and bizarre functions
for the delectation Of their friends
when, If they we're the people such as
compose the best French and English
society, thew would find amusement
and entertainments in the gifts of
their friends instead. Mrs. Astor is
right when she writes that the old
French salon was the ideal society,
and the nearest approach we have to
1t today is modern French society,
where artists are as welcome as the
grande dame.
"But here the members of society
are 80 afraid Of their position that
they dare not go out of their narrow
confines, where they must be dying
of ennui If they have any brains at all,
to take in any new members When
an actress OF note or world-renown-
ed singer Is, by some chance, invited
socially to the homes of New York
society people. the event is heralded
also most condescending Of the hos
who receives the compliment"
Hates Humdrum Life.
II do not believe ever could be
satisfied with humdrum domestic
life. Every woman to fulfill her best
usefulness in the world, should cult
vate her talents and work always as
II she expected to have a career ahead
of her If she is possessed of gifts. I
do that. Why, practice just as con-
scientiously now as l did when new
part in musical comedy meant ev-
erything to me.
II want to please my friends with
the gifts I am fortunate enough to
possess now as much as did when
was on tho stage. OF course, do
not expect ever to sing again profess
sionally, but I always expect to be
able to appear for my friends at my
own home and in theirs.
"Chauncey Depew has said that any
body can get anything they make their
minds up to have. and am sure that
my life has proved that. for that has
been my rule, and have had every
thing / planned to have"
The evening times. [volume] (Grand Forks, N.D.) 1906-1914, 1908-09-28
NEW CORPORATIONS

Have Been Chartered to Do Business
In North Dakota.
Bismarck, N. D., Sept. 2s.-Alfred
Blaisdell. secretary of state, has is