Courier Democrat. (Langdon, N.D.) 1891-1920, 1915-12-23
BRIEF News ITEMS
Events Throughout North Dakota
ConCiSe|y Related.

The proposition to bond Burke coun-
ty for the construction of a $4,000
courthouse was defeated at the polls
by a margin of less than 100 votes.
The vote was very light, being under
800, while the county usually casts
mor than 1000 votes.
A fight is being waged on the pri-
mary statute now in effect in North
Dakota. 1t is charged that an Office
holder has an advantage of about 80
per cent over the nan who is running
for the first time and hat the pri-
mary has built up an ofticeholding oil
garchy.
Frank l.. McVey, president of the
University of North Dakota, formerly
of the faculty of the University of Min
nesota, has accepted the invitation of
William Howard Taft to take the pres.
idency of the North Dakota branch of
the League to Enforce Peace. The
movement has gained considerable
Roadway in North Dakota.
Three brothers, Walter, Arthur and
Henry Granlund of De Lamere, Ran
som county, cornered the premium
supply in the state contest for boy
corn growers this year, taking first,
second ard third, respectively, in the
awards announced. Walter raised 80
bushels CT orn OF an acre, Arthur
S3A bushels and Henry 7SR.
j. B. Schwirtz, money order clerk in
the Minot p%ostof1ice, who is accused
by the government Of d~efalcations to-
| falling about $4,000 and who is under
bond pending trial, insists he will be
able to explain everything. He denies
that he is short in his accounts. Postal
inspectors; declare the shortage was
created through accounts with offices
| that remit tt the Minot office.
Grand Forks will not be in the
Northern league next season, baseball
supporters being content to stay out
side the realm of professional ball.
Grand Forks baseball fans do not
see satisfactory prospects for 1916
and they are somewhat skeptical at
| the prospects of success by adding
Northern Michigan cities. That plan
was tried out once before and it re-
suited in the break up of the league.
One Of the largest land transactions
that has occurred in Eastern North
Dakota for some time was consum-
mated When superintendent Wilson Of
the Grandin farm, acting as agent for
the estate Of j. l.. and E. B. Grandin,
sold their entire land holdings near
Portland. The purchase price for the
ten quarter sections of Goose River
valley land was $3.50, 900, paid in cash
by Mrs. Brunsdale. This places the
value of the land at s75 per acre.
Members of farmers clubs of Walsh
county. at a meeting held in Park
River, formed a federation of clubs by
the election of the following officers:
President, S. Thorblas, Grafton; vice
president, N. G.. Grovom, Golden; sec
rotary, Chris Levang, Adams; treas
urer, E. K. Gehrke, Adams. Every
club in the county will join. With
Sll1llldI 1GuSi dllOuo dllCduy lOi Liz Ill
other counties it is the hope of the
promoters eventually to form a state.
wide association.
By the Communication of his life sen
tence for murder to twenty-five years
the state pardon board has ~reinstated
the punishment proposed by the jury
which convicted Frank Mikl of the
murder of his wife and her child. Mikl
was convicted seven years ago. His
wife had confessed that he was not
the father of the child and the con.
~fession crazed him, The jury con.
victed Mikl of the murder OF his wife
and in the absence of his attorneys
he pleaded guilty to killing the child.
On the wife murder charge the jury
recommended a acknowledgement sen,
tence, For killing his baby the judge
meted out n life sentence.