The Fargo forum and daily republican., 1909-10-15
MINORS old SHAME
Removal of Building Recalls Bitter
Political Fight, When Milnor
Lost County Seat.


Minor Teller: H. X. Pennington
has commenced work upon moving the
old Free Press building from Main
street to some lots in the east part of
town and convert it into a dwelling,
He will probably add to the structure
so as to make it a very creditable
residence property.
The removal Of this building takes
from the main thoroughfare one of
the recepticles Of iniquity, you might
say, of the early days. 1t destroys it's
originality with respect to early oc-
currances which took place within it's
walls, and calls to mind many of those
incidents and transactions, though
somewhat dimmed and yelled by pass
ing years and aged memory. One inn
portant event detrimental to the inter-
ests Of Minor, can be reviewed with
exacting familiarity by some of our
Sargent county residents today. The
occurrance is as vivid and real to them
as though 1t had transpired but yes
terday. The old methods used in con-
Quoting an election, the parties con-
nected with those elections all OF
whom doubtless passed away long
since, are interesting reminiscence,
absorbing and fearful reflections and
in some cases still denounced and abb
hored by those who at that time were
not in sympathy with the transactions
or their despicable depredations in
many other ways. 1t brings to mind
the obscure manner in which voter
handed in his vote in those days.
The door was locked, the windows
curtained. the judges and inspectors
of election sat in the gloomy gray of
an autumn sunset. The depository
for the ballats was not visible, only
incidentally; nor the hand that manip-
ulated it. The front window had been
raised just far enough to emit the
passing of a ballot In and out. All
was deathlike silence within, and
mutterings and cursing without. Grave
were the proceedings, with thought
full and serious faces Illuminated oc-
casionally, as ray of the clear, pure,
dazzling sunlight fitted in and out Of
the room by a movement of the cur
tain, or as it pierced a crack or crew
ice in the door or window. Those IL
luminations revealed something. 1t
revealed the works of these men; it
gave glimpses of trembling hands and
an occasional desperate look as bal
lots were passed in and out Of the big
box, believed to be sealed and lock-
ed by the strong arm of the law. 1t
was a case of life or death to polit-
ical plot; a matter of the gratifica-
tions Of the mean. low desires of a
selected few, rather than the voice OF
the people, George Montgomery was
running for office and so was Mag
nus Nelson. The county seat removal
war was on with all it's battlements
fixed in gorgeous array, strife and
dessention was rife; schemes and foul
means were paramount reinforced by
other despicable depredations invented
to rout out the voice OF the people
and the triumph of right over wrong,
and the good men over the bad. Moth
ing conceived could check the plung
Of the dagger Of political iniquity;
men were insensible to the dictates of
conscience and defied law and order
even death. Thus the day closed and
new morning dawned, clear, pure
and tranquil Men thought more Sob
erly. one by one things done in secret,
were brought to light. The election
was contested the men for whose de-
feat others had thrown themselves
into depths of political mire and in
iquity. were declared elected. The vote
of the precinct was thrown from the
count and Minor coming to her
senses, was doomed with the removal
Of the county seat. This fair prize
within the gift of the people, had
been wrested from us, by the nefarious
workings and daredevil inventions
Of gang of political marauders. Mill
nor wept over her defeat; she cried
out from beneath her shame and dis
grace, but to no avail. The wrong
was committed. the deed had been
done. the recompense made. Retribu-
tion came swift and sure. To this day
does the stigma lay: to this day does
regret prevail.