Bismarck daily tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, Dakota [N.D.]) 1881-1916, 1915-02-03

who refused to wear the term'nal cor
lar. "
",f Won vote against this measure.
Ia hooted, "you. are doomed to pol'tl'
c,1 suicide, We will go down IN your
district and tell you" constituents
what kind of a man you are"
Hoots, Kisses and cheers followed
Watt Condemned.
v;,,;ou watt of Leonard had the
o,raro If his convictions and de-
c1ared that he would not let LOTUS
dictate how he should vote. re saiu
ha would consult his constituents. II
looked as though the encounter wou!o
hecome personal but Mr.. Watt us
nl.vad remarkable restraint under
the eoading of Lotus who lead the
Kisses and jeers directed at Mr.:
Watts head. Mr.. Watt is a e
known farmer of Cass coanty and
hears an excellent reputation.
Mr.. Lotus eX cathedra condemned
him as a hireling of the grain com
bine. ~, ,ao.
His henchmen cheered, with Kisses
from other parts Of the hall.
The big meeting hall at the Com
mercial Club rooms failed to accom-
modate the hundreds that thronged
the building to be present at the FIRST
NIGHTS session of the North Dakota
Branch of the American Society OF
Equity in convention here to discuss
with favorable enthusiasm and deter
minatiOn the proposed state'oWhed
grain elevator to be located in st.
Paul. The meeting was wildly en-
thusiastic and at times resembled, a
miniature riot because of the person.
alities. engaged in by the various
speakers. The Equity men are hand
ling their version of the terminal ele.
yator without gloves on" All argu-
ments are advanced in a cOld.blooded
way and without mincing words. BE.
fore George r. Lotus, of st. Paul,
salesmanager of the Cooperative
Equity Exchange, had completed the
first lap of his speaking grind includ-
ed a roll call purporting to show how
the various members OF the legisla-
ture stood on the terminal elevator
proposition, the meeting had revOlved
itself into a free-for.all affair in which
oratory gave way to the p~laines1
kind of statements and no personal
feeling YVES spared.
N%on.Partisan Organization.
A. Z. tBoylen of Eden Valley,
Mimi, was the first speaker of
the evening. He discussed tle
program of the NonLPartisan Po-
litical organization which will be per-
fected here during the life OF. the con-
vention for the purpose of demanding
a system of state-owned power.plants,
stock yards. packing houses, flour
mills, hail insurance, single tax, and
rural credits at cost. Frequent DEM
Onstrations of applause, favored with
shouts of approval and the stamping
of feet greeted Boylen'syremarks. The
speaker pointed to, the advantages of
a great state that we're Being wasted
in North Dakota, and lamented the
sad state of affairs among the rural
population in North Dakota. He point
ed. out the means of remedy, voicing
the opinion that a non.partisan organ
ization such as is being organized
will. have a tendency to eliminate the
ambitious politician with the selfish
motives, from the field and in place
bring forth representatives of the peo-
pie who have the common good of the
community at heart.
Lotus in limeIight.
George T. LOTUS succeeded Mr..
Bowen on the platform and instituted
a marathon talk that bid fair to tide
over until the early morning hours.
After an Introductory statement as to
the object of the convention, the
speaker introduced the roll call which
was the immediate signal for a series
OF debates that embodied no end IF
personalities and wild demonstrations
by the audience.at-large. As Lotus
went down the line with his list mr..
porting to show how the members of
the legislature stood on the question
OF a terminal elevator, frequent de.
mails and objections were entered bv
members Of the assembly present at
the meeting. A number were listed
as favorable who arose to DENY that
they had as yet made up their minds
IN the matter. Among these we're
Representatives Lathrop. and Peter.
son, who stated their desires to he
further Informed in the matter ana
added that they were in Bismarck to
look after the will of their constit,,.
nts IN the proposition. In replying
10 their remarks, Mr.. Lotus stated
IN as many words that it was a nity
.ney should be ignorant of something
mat 80 percent of the people had vot.
ca for at the election. Representative
watt, who was listed as beine
wrong or opposed to the matter 81
a state.owncd terminal, made himself
heard IN no uncertain way. He went
as lar as to accuse Mr.. Lotus of he.
ing her" not in the interests of the
farmers but as posing as working for
!ne farmer, but in reality was work.
ing inc farmer" This challenge i'm.
medlately drew from Mr.. Lotus = 70.
guest That all who believed the truth
OF Mr. Watts statement should sisni.
~ by rising. The speaker was we'll
satlsfled with the showing made Inv
nose who stood up in his suport! Th;s
was n of the many stirring ;nc;.
oents that marked the gathering.