The Fargo forum and daily republican. [volume] (Fargo, N.D.) 1894-1957, 1914-02-07
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reason why he should be agitated. Mr..
Hawk felt that every law abiding citi-
zen should commend him for his serv-
ices on that night.
Smith Next Witness.
W. w. Smith, president Of the Fargo
Auditorium association. about whom
along with Chief Bingham, the accus-
ed, was the next witness called.
Mr.. Smith told the story Of how the
representatives of the chamber OF
commerce had applied to rent the hall
IN the morning, of his own application
to President Worst to see if the Grain
Growers would be over before evening,
of the word brought to him Of the fill
buster started by the leaders of the
Society of Equity programme in order
10 prolong the meeting and carry 1t
over until evening, and Of his meeting
with the sheriff m asking what
measures could be AIKEN.
Mr.. Smith said the sheriff told him
he could not act without a writ of
ejectment. The chief Of police gave
MIN the same information. However
ne told them he was going down to
he auditorium at 8 o'clock and make
a statement to the crowd that the
hall had been rented to the chamber
or commerce representatives and the
platform should be surrendered to
them, and he requested Mr.. Bingham
AMI MI. Ross to go with him so as
to be on hand If the LOTUS crowd
started anything. as they had intimat-
ed they would in their message
through Mr.. Hardy.
Mr.. Anderson was speaking and
when he was concluding I went for
ward toward the platform as 1 did
not wish to interrupt him while he
was talking" said Mr.. Smith. LAS I
approached the platform I asked him
TO let me make a statement. He told
me he defied me Or anyone else to
come on the platform.
"As for Mr.. Grover being with US,
that was not so. Just four Of us went
to the auditorium together, Chief
Bingham, Sheriff Ross, Captain Bow
Ter and myself. I eve saw MI.
Grover until the mix-up started. He
must have already been there"
Mr.. Smith denied that by making
such a request he precipitated any
riot, but that at once the LOTUS
leaders," who were primed ready for
him, started a riot themselves. He
said MI. Anderson himself rose on a
chair and called to the people on the
platform to rise up and yell and for
the people in the audience to do the
same thing. Mr.. Smith felt he had a
right to make such a request
and had Mr.. Anderson permitted him
to have spoken quietly, there would
have been no trouble at all, but that
1t was MI. Anderson and his associat-
ed who began the trouble when they
tried to throw him out of the audi
torium and off the platform. Then it
was that Chief Of Police Bingham
stepped in and told them all to shut
up"
Sheriff Ross Next.
Sheriff Ross was the next witness
called. His story was largely cor
r%oborative Of that of Mr.. Smith and
the others. Captain Bowler was an
other witness who told much the same
story.
Chief Bingham himself made his
statement before an adjournment was
taken. The chief stated he refused to
go to the auditorium ON Mr.. Smiths
request without a writ Of election,
that when he did go it was because
1t had been reported to him that there
was trouble anticipated on the part
Of the LOTUS leaders," that he was
not with Mr.. Grover or any Of the
chamber Of commerce people, but went
to the auditorium with MI. Smith,
Sheriff Ross n Captain Bowler, that
Grover was nowhere to be seen
at that time. nor had he ever seen him
until Mr.. Grover appeared on the
auditorium platform and he and Mr..
LOFTS started for each other.
The chief stated that he held them
apart and told them to "shut up" as
he said he told Mr.. Anderson to SHUT
up" which when they were yelling at
each other, and disturbing the peace,
he had a perfect right to do.
ST did n0f Pn IN Tho oJ1IitnriJJ~o xr,iAHo
the intention OF putting anyone off
the platform, nor did I strike Mr..
Anderson. I told him to shup up when
he was using rough language.
Sheriff Ross in his testimony gave
MI. Anderson much credit for endeav-
oring to quiet the crowd and said that
aside from the officers. Mr.. Anderson
did as much as anyone else toward
accomplishing that.
MyrvoId Head.
Another witness for the accused
was Peer .Myrvold, editor of The
Fran, who testified that Mr.. Smith
asked permission to make a state
ment, and that Mr.. Anderson pre-
cipitated the riot by refusing to yield
to Mr.. Smith and defied him to mount
the platform. "
when Chief Bingham finally inter-
fered to stop the noise and confusion.
Mr.. Anderson told the audience, Il
will not yield to Smith. but I will to
the law" said Mr., Myrvold.
No long waits at the Isis.--Advt.
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