The Brookings register. [volume] (Brookings, Brookings County, S.D.) 1903-1971, 1909-06-24
Homecoming a Success
Continued From Page One.)

cessful operation could prolong my
lie, and that on account of my age
and disability my chances of recovery
would be about one in a thou
sand. This set me to thinking, and |
finally dropped away into a dreaming
mood. My mind did not seem to run
along the line of the Sweet Bye and
Bye, or whether | could be able to Sc
cure a pass that would be good with
st. Peter at the Golden Gate. but went
direct to YOU, my old friends of TWEEN
ty and twenty-five years ago. | saw
plainly my old homestead over here
in Walworth county, the ten acres of
breaking, the old yoke of oXen and
the little sod house, not forgetting the
many chattel mortgages bearing in
I%terest at the rate of 5 per cent a min
ute. | saw the faces of my old neigh
bors, all of them struggling against
drouth and mortgages, and remem-
bered how many gave up and walked
out into other countries. | emem-
bered my trip to Bismarck and the
last Territorial legislature of 'SS and
80 as one of its chief officers there.
remembered the pleasure of a jun
|keting trip with that body to Grand
Forks, and that | had the honor of es-
corting Mrs. Geo. Winship to the ban
quet. Here my mind was somewhat
in doubt, it having been twenty years
ago, but | was satisfied if it was
not Mrs. Winship it was some other
lady just about as good looking. |
remembered the return to Bismarck
where | was interviewed by the two
A~leXanders and was told that if |
would secure the signatures of two
thirds of the council and house that
they would furnish a train of sleepers
to convey us to Helena, Mont, where
we would meet the legislature from
Washington. | think this was n
the easiest tasks ever assigned to me
in m career, and | remembered our
starting the next day with banners
flying and bands playing and our safe
arrival at Helena without event, there
to be dined and wind by the com
mercial club by and with the consent
of the legislature of the Territory of
Montana. | remembered our prepare
Etions to- go into Butte the next day,
when a telegram was received from
Mr.. Speaker from Bismark saying:
leone home at once. Frank Aiken
lis working on a big stick and | am
IuIldDlc " lOlu lll III III ILL., ich
ger. remembered that we returned
home at once and were in our seats
the next day, when the Morris Rail
road bill came up for its third reading
and final passage. I had that morn
ing received several kilograms and
placed them in the hands Of n OF
the members, and on roll a he
arose to a point of privilege and said:
M1r I Lc,-A c,,nnnrfn6 fhlC
bill. believe it is a good bill, and
I am satisfied that unless some legls-
Ilation is passed at this session the
railroad companies will grind the poor
farmers into the earth, but | hold in
my hand kilograms from my consult
uents protesting against the passage
of this bill, therefore, | cannot vote
my W convictions, and will change
my vote from Aye to Nay" This vote
killed the Norris Railroad bill.
| remembered the news received
from Washington of the admission OF
the two states and the celebration
and parade that night, headed by Har-
ry Hunter and Jones, The volcano OF
Charles Mix, carrying flags with Orr's
legislative quartet following closely
after singing: THE Duke OF York
shire, who had a thousand men, who
marched them up the hill and march
ed them down again." the parade end
ing at the old Sheridan house by
placing old man BLY, in the ice chest.
| remember the closing scenes of
that legislature. l have in my HON
the last resolution passed by that
body. 1t was introduced by Mr..
White of Clay. 1t was a vote of
thanks to the chief enrolling and en-
crossing clerk for the manner and
efficiency of his conduct OF that Of
fee. This resolution was signed by
Mr.. Speaker, standard time, 2'35 a.
M, but according to he house CLOCK,
five minutes of twelve. | remember
ed how the intervening five minutes
were taken up by the minority throw
ing cuspidors and bill files at the ma
ioritv. when at 1900 midnight, Mr..
Sneaker announced the adjournment
of the last territorial legislature sine
die.
remembered my return to the
then South Dakota, and to have been
honored several times by my friends.
and last but not least, secretary OF
Che republican state central commit
tee for the campaign of 1898, with my
friend Gov. Herreid as it's chairman,
when we tapped the jugular vein Of
the populist party and infused new
life into the republican carcass and
put it on it's feet and sent it out to
battle. and it grew so strong that
hiding no common enemy, divided
sides and fought between themselves.
All of these thoughts ran through
my mind as | lay there and all OF
these familiar faces passed in review
and | resolved there and then that |
might have the pleasure of greeting
them once more before the end This
satisfied my thoughts and my MIND
rested.
AS soon after my return as | was
able to- be wheeled to my desk, |
opened a correspondence with old
friends in the two states and laid this
proposition before them Of a Terri
torial Homecoming and celebration OF
the twentieth anniversary of state
hood for North and South Dakota.
The replies were SO favorable and en-