Bismarck daily tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, Dakota [N.D.]) 1881-1916, 1909-02-27
NORTH | Ql|!l It'll | |. .plllAIko1ANS .
:. -, IN WASHINGTON
STATE ASSOCIATION HOLD THEIR
ANNUAL BANQUET IN Ma
T)oN's CAPITAL.
SENATOR MccUMBER PRINCIPAL
SPEAKER OF THE EVENING IN
HUMOROUS VEIN.
COMMISSIONER BENNETT PRES
EMIT AND EULoclzEs FOLEY,
NORTH DAKoTA'S POET
LAUREATE.

Washington, D. c., Feb. 23-(Specia]
Correspondence)-If Jimmy Foley had
his ears to the ground last night they
must a burned, for somebody was
talking about him for sure this time
About seventy North Dakotans assem-
bled around the banquet board at their
rendezvous-the Hotel Johnson-the
occasion being the celebration Of the
north states natal day, the installa-
ton of the new officers of the North
Dakota Association of the District OF
Columbia, and last but not least in
remembrance of the birthday Of the
father Of his country.
Senator McCumber was the princi-
pal talker of the evening and his re-
marks were confined mostly to hum
orous exposition of North Dakota's
bigness-where sickness was I'M
known, where there were no grave
yards except political-and their
mouths were wide open, as he said,
for fresh Observation-Disclosures men fire.
quently attained the age of 125 years
and called their fathers and grand
fathers to verify it-and he told about
the largeness Of a certain bonanza
farm where the newly welded couple
started on tour across the countless
acres to milk the cows and their child
rem brought back the milk. The SEN
ator was in fine form and talked in
this strain for over an hour, keeping
the guests in a constant uproar of
merriment.
Col. Lounsberry, the newly elected
president of the association, made his
first appearance as POSTMASTER and
covered himself with glory.
Then Fred bennett, commissioner of
the general land Office, got the floor
and entertained the folks for half
hour or more with a description of his
early experience in the west and how
Major Hamilton's Fourth of July ora
ton made him, at that time subject
of Great Britain, a good citizen of the
United States. Mr. bennett also re-
ferred to the early struggles to main
tain state organization at the nation
al capital when the association was
styled the North Dakota Republican
association and how it faded away and
dissolved when a Democratic admins
tration came into power.
. Now, at this point, take up my in
paragraph, for it was here
when the eloquent commissioner
turned the meeting into regular old
time Bobby Burns clannish remini-
scent fest, only the subject was Jimmy
Foley, the beloved poet of the western
prairies, and no dead poet was more
than was Jimmy Foley in the
flush of life and youth. The speaker
produced several Of the authors
poems and recited them with great
feeling. 1t brought many Of US back,
way back dreamily, and left an i'm
preston upon all not soon to be for
gotten. I am proud of the friendship
of Jimmy Foley, for didn't we back
yonder as barefooted lads explore the
mysteries of the river banks and coun-
tryside around Bismarck? Long live
our Gene Fields! Yes, his ears must
have burned last night. But it was all
praise.
There were about thirty dalies pres
ent, wives and daughters and sisters
of the members" The ladies were ra-
dainty beautiful in rich gowns-all of
'em, and won't attempt to describe
their costumes or to furnish the names
Of the lovely owners thereof.
: Senator-elect johnson was expected:
to be present, but sent letter ex-: