Bismarck daily tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, Dakota [N.D.]) 1881-1916, 1915-02-03
JUDGE GEORGE s. LOTUS
CONDEMNS TO 1N0CUoUs
OBSCURITY ALL MEMBERS
WHO DARE OPPOSE TERM
INAL ELEVATORS.
Meeting IS 4 near RIOT
Equity Leaders Get Abusive as
They Scent Defeat for Pet
Measure.

! Members OF the legislature were
given fierce gruelling last evening
at the Commercial Club roms by
George s. Lotus, sales manager OF
the Cooperative Equity exchange
when he called the roll of the senate
and house members on the terminal
elevator situation. ...
Some resented the handling OF the
members and Kissed freely even
breaking into cries of "rotten, rot
ten." Others cheered and at times
pandemo onium reigned. It%looked like
a near riot, but J. NJ. Anderson, pres
ident of the Equity Exchange, calmed
the crowd more than once when 1t
was at fever heat. .'., .>..',
The brow beating tactics tried be
fore the house were repeated at the
Equity meeting. The 800 Equity
members present claiming that they
represented, the entire agricultural
constituency of the state, cheered,
Kissed and hooted members who had
the temerity to say that they were
opposed to terminal elevators at this
time. ~ NJ, 81
Their statements were. family. given,
but frequently turned by. Mr.. Leftt,s
and his henchmsn into insults, ,Anf IT.
bald attacks They we're accused ole-
emily as having sold out TO the Chant
l Der of Commerce.
Tactics Hurt Chances.
In reading the names Mr. LOTUS
frequently said "well he has been
fixed Or someone has seen that
fellow" Men mentioned as being for
the movement first stood up in their
seats and said they opposed it.
The result of the Lotus roll call
Tribune assumes no responsibility
for it. Many since the call have re-
pudiated the rating given Mr.. Lotus.
If the measure had chance, it seems
that the tactics practiced last eve
ming injured to great degree the
possibility of the farmers securing
! terminal elevator at St. Paul or any
where else.
Members were arraigned for eating
dinners with men supposed to take an
interest in the political welfare of the
state. That system of espionage
has existed under the auspices Of the
| Iiully SlA 20 lHC SOAVCnCN
was evident.
Mr. Lotus had tab on every mem.
! Der seemingly. He accused one by
name of being drunk and of entering
local hotel in such a condition.
The next four are bad eggs,' and
this is bad actor were some OF the
pet names used in prefacing the roll
call.
Some of the leading members of the
| house We're indignant at the treat
ment given the members. The dig
nifty Of the state was outraged. That
some of the members sat in, their:
seats and listened to the unbridled
abuses of leading men of the state
showed excellent restraint. 'H
Under Terrific Pressure.
The roll call was a fiascO. It was
/ the plaintive appeal of lost cause.
Mr.. Lotus was grasping at straws.
Many of the members given as being
for the movement at first, came in
! later and declared they were against
the movement. Many refused to be
bull-dozed by LOTUS into declaring
themselves.
Use little pressure on that fell
low Jim," was one of the commands
issued by General Lotus. .
snow Casey" bawled Lotus at one
point in the meeting" you will have
to do better than that. What have
you fellows been doing on that COM
mittee?' NH
Financially Embarrassed. Z +,
Many of the members took the COM
mon sense view that the state treas
| ury at this time was in no shape to
expend sufficient fund to afford
even the most meagre terminal facili.
! ties at terminal market.
They explained to the Equity men
present that the adoption of the con.
stittuional amendment did not make
it mandatory upon the legislature to
locate those elevators Immediately.
it was explained to the Equity mem.
bers that the people in voting for the
establishment of terminal elevators
did SO with the idea Of leaving to the
legislature the best time at which to
embark in the venture.
Invites Opposition. ~
A rour1 of tho h1to1e T., o,,..;oxr