Bismarck daily tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, Dakota [N.D.]) 1881-1916, 1908-03-20
north DAKOTA
WASHINGTON
ASSOCIATION
SECOND MEETING OF NORTH DA.
kOTA PUSH At THE CAPT.
tai CITY
FIFTY LOYAL DAkOTANS GATHER
& AT THE HOTEL JOHNSON
Z r, AND CELEBRATE

Washington, Mar Especial Cor
| respondence-That there is quite a
bunch of former residents of North
Dakota temporarily domiciled at the
national capital-some few engag I'd
in honest private pursuits, to be sure
but the great majority for the most
| part holding down good lucrative gov.
eminent situations - was evidenced
last night by the large turnout at the
| second meeting of the newly organ
| lied North Dakota association in the
parlors of the Hotel Johnson About
| fifty members participated in the flow
of wit and things to eat and drink at
the banquet board.
+ Of the congressional delegation Rep
resentative Gronna was the only one
present, others sending their regret
| on being unable to attend. Senator
Hansbrough, who has been absent sew
eral weeks in the west, is expected to
return in a day or two. The senator
was ably represented, however, by
his secretary, Charley Hamel, an alert,
progressive young man, for whom the
future has bright promises in store,
for be it known that he now occupies
a berth that is but a stepping stone to
higher achievements.
Bob Farrar was there in his usual
happy, genial form and made the in
PRODUCTIONS He seemed to know ev-
erybody, and many of those present
last night had met for the first time.
Some were there who had grown gray
in the service of Uncle Sam. and there
were others present-bright, smooth
faced young fellows, just recently
blown in from the North Star State,
with the healthful bloom of the west
yet unfaded from their cheeks.
Everybody was in good humor and
had splendid time. The oysters,
salads, cold turkey and other nice
things to eat were slowed away in an
incredibly short space Of time, for
North Dakotans are blessed with good
appetites little pilesen-just
little, mind you-to wash it down, and
while the cigars circulated Major
Hamilton started the ball rolling as
the chief toastmaster. The major was
in fine form, as he always is, and
came in for a lions share of the ap-
plause.
Major Butte, ever irrepressible, de-
spite his advancing years, was early
on hand, and the presiding officer had
to frequently squelch his attempt to
inject some spicy politics into the
occasion, for political discussion is
taboced. The old soldier element had
things pretty much their own way,
and it developed that Col. Lounsber-
ry and Major Butte were both in
Alexandria, Va, at the same time
during the civil war-and remarkable
as it may seem, neither knew it be-
fore till old recollections brought them
together last night-when Col ELS
worth, the first officer killed in the
lWar was shot by the landlord for
fhauling down confederate flag from
the Marshall house. BY the way, Ma.
jor BUTTS father, sprightly old gent
of 81 or Whereabouts, who still enjoys
life at that age, treasures a relic of
the famous old hotel, the major having
secured piece from the signboard, a
raised wooden letter M, that was once
gilded.
| 1t also deya: )p4l in the re:rins
!, cences passed around that Col. Louns
berry enlisted as a private in his ear.
| ly teens and at the close of the war
marched down Pennsylvania avenue
| with the victorious troops as the col
onel in command of his regiment, on.
| ly21 years of age, one of. the young
est, ii not the youngest officers in
the army. The colonel modestly at.
tributed his rapid elevation not to any
particular ability or fitness, as he him.
self puts it, but to the fortunes and
casualties of war, his regiment hav.
ing sustained fearful losses in bloody
engagements, nest of the officers and
men having been killed or wounded.
| Major Butt closed his interesting
recollections with a sermon. to the
young men to stay out Of politics and
government positions-after recount
ing his prosperity and successes-that
| the game after all was not worth the
candle, with which Bob Farrar prompt
| ly took issue.
Congressman Gronna made a short
talk on the splendid public school and
educational systems of the state, and
another member of the association
sorry can't call to mind his name