The Fargo forum and daily republican. [volume] (Fargo, N.D.) 1894-1957, 1910-03-05
Col. LounSberry'S Washington Letter

Washington, Feb. 26-To The For
UNI: At the North Dakota celebra-
ton of our twenty first anniversary
tifty-seven North Dakota people gath
cred at the National hotel and sat
down to most excellent dinner includ-
ing shad, shad roe, the finest beef, and
boiled squads, with all of the other fix
ings. The drinks were confined to ice
water out of regard for the position
| of the state on that question.
Senator McCumber gave most in
,tensely interesting address, contrasting
the times of Washington with the pres
emit He was followed by representa-
tives Gronna and Hanna, Commissioner
bennett Assistant. Secretary Of Agri-
culture Hayes, B. G. Skulason, Judge
J. v. Brooks and others. There was
many a good thing said. Mesdames
McCumber, Hanna, bennett, Hayes,
Lounsberry, Hamilton, Miller and 9TH
er ladies were present and every one
of them felt pride in North Dakota.
Manager Schutt of the National ho-
tel Is an old North Dakotan. He was
at Grand Forks some years. He was
also a boyhood acquaintance of mine
and learned the printing business with
a cousin of mine in Indiana. To have
been printer and a resident OF North
Dakota in its early days fits a man
for success in life on almost any line
of business. The North Dakotans are
every where and they are never on
the back row.
]. w. Fisher, who is now in the real
estate business at New York. was in
Washington the other day. He Ia think
/ ing of investing in 100000 hotel and
fitting UP a winter resort with mineral
water and other attractions, within an
hours ride from Washington. It may
be too far for insurgents, because they
are so impatient for action, but it
would be a mighty good place to rest
and recuperate.
Fisher is one Of the old timers of
Bismarck. There were two Fishers
one the Cody and the other wasn't
and In the early days the latter run a
saloon, and later a bank and then be-
came a federal Office holder. He was
pretty decent sort Of a fellow but
the one was classed with the righteous
and the other with the goats.
John w. Fisher was true man,
true in every relation in life. hard
working and industrious, and respected
by all good men. One day he had a
law suit and the only way that seemed
open to defeat him was TO impeaeh his
testimony. One crowd of people swore
his general reputation was bad 1t was
bad with the saloon keepers and gam
blers and the other still lower class
who lived upon the proceeds of vice.
The good men swore 1t was good. and
it was among the decent element.
The Presbyterian church was orr
ganized at Bismarck early in June,
1873. 1t was the frst regularly organ
lied religious body in North Dakota.
John w Fisher, Henry f. Douglas, l.
G. Adams ana c. A. Lounsberry. the
writer of these lines, were the organ
izers OF that church. I know John
w Fisher Joined IL from principle.
What the motives of Adams and Doug
las may, have been / do nor know, ex-
cepting that Douglas was son of
most distinguished citizen OF Mime
sofa, Rev. John Douglas. For my part
I wanted TO give notice in the most eff
fective way that / stood and should
stand with the better element, and
joined with the first church organized
regardless of Its creed. Rev. ID. G.
Lyon and I. o. Sloan were. the preach
crs Mr.. Lyon was the superintendent
OF missions, or something of that sort.
and Mr.. Sloan came there to be the
pastor.
The church was held in a tent. erected