Bismarck daily tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, Dakota [N.D.]) 1881-1916, 1915-02-03
''CR00K'|S
PET Term
OF LOTUS
HURLS EPITHET AT TWICH-
ELLIS HEAD AS HOUSE
FLOOR LEADER ATTACKS
ELEVATOR PLAN OF THE
EQUITY ASSOCIATION.
aAO free FOR ALL DEBATE
Galleries Are Packed With Far
mers Who Cheer Abuse.

Efforts of George S. Lotus to brow
beat the members Of the legislature
yesterday fell as flat as cold pan
cake. Never before has legislature
sen the dignity of the state outraged
and the names of its reputable cltl-
zens dragged in the dust.
A similar scene took place last eve
ming in the Commercial Club rooms
which is told in another column. The
Tribune has always been a friend OF
the Equity movement. 1t still be-
lieves in the cooperative marketing
of grain at terminal points. No paper
in the state is in more hearty accord
with the struggle of the farmers for
a free and open market at terminal
points.
Insulting Methods.
But the insulting and brow-beating
tactics OF Mr. LOTUS, their apparent
leader, must be resented by every SELL
respecting citizen Of the state. Who
is this man that comes from another
state to hector some of our best citl-
zens, many of them well known farm
ers? The Tribune had believed him
to be sincere. .,......-a. .a.-
Mr.. TwichelFs remarks follow:
"Inasmuch as the gentlemen who
had preceded ME and argued the
proposition from the other side, | felt
that had the right to introduce my
self. have been farmer for 80
years and never having done any 9TH
er business, and that my criticism OF
the proposition presented to us was
from my viewpoint as a practical
farmer.
Il am not lawyer from St. Paul
nor confessed reformed grain gam
bier of % years experience, but a
plain, ordinary farmer, subject to all
the trials and tribulations incident to
a farmers life. So that We might
understand il what attitude | stood
and what weight the farmers present
should give to what | say, desire to
ask MIR. Lotus if he had any reason
to believe that | represented anybody
but myself or. the things that | would
say would be anything but my own
Debate Wakes warm.
indi-' 'idual ideas.
Mr.. LOTUS was on his feet in a mo-
ma:lt and saia:
Yes, sir; you represent the Cham
'ber of Commerce and big business.
Continuing, Mr.. Twichell said:
"Then, If am representing big bus
mess, in the ,guise Of a farmer, you
consider that am a crook
Mr.. Lotus answered:
"Yes, sir.
1T is the first time" replied Mr..
Twichell, that have been called a
crook. 1t is extremely unpleasant and
I cannot understand how You can
stand up being called a crock by
thousands.
MIR. Lotus says that am a crook.
I have lived IN a country community
have been the chairman Of the town
board il which | live for 2 years,
without vote ever against me-. |
came to the legislature without ask
ing for vote in my district MY affl-
davit for my expenses show not one
cent of expenditure Either Mr. Lof-
tus or my neighbors are mistaken IN
me.
IL am not conscious Of ever having
betrayed trust
Here Mr.. Lotus Interrupted tha
speaker, saying:
"You betrayed the people Of tn:s
state at the national conv~'ntlon, as
chairman of the state delegation
"How?" asked Mr.. Twichell
"You pretended to be for LaFoll'
letta," replied Mr.. l4oftus,'' and was
chasing around after Roosevelt
WAS not the vote" replied Mr..
Twichell, "of North Dakota delivered
in every material feature to Senator
LaFolIette? did you not Intimate to
me while we We're in Chicago that
was too friendly with Roosevelt and
did not ask you to leave the room?'
"Its a H." shouted MIR. LOTUS.
"Inasmuch as | would not believe
you under OATH replied Mr.. Twich-
ell, 81 am not much conc erned about
your opinion
TwickelI's Argument.
Then Mr.. Twichell gave an extend
cd argument from the standpoint of a.
level-headed farmer. In brief it was
as follows:
The adoption Of the constitutional
amendment did not necessarily mean
that the state would enter i2to the
elevator business at a time When we
cniv had S26.C00 to rstroy the grain
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