Bismarck daily tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, Dakota [N.D.]) 1881-1916, 1916-05-04
LEADERS FIND
REAL GOLD MINE
IN THIS STATE
Martin and Coates Are Powers
Behind Townley and Non
Partisan League.
BOAST OF THEIR
NEW PAY STREAK
North Dakota Proves a More
Beneficial Field for Reds"
Than Washington.
From Bismarck Public Opinion J

llsJ
Spokane, WASH, May 3.-(Special
dispatch to the Public Opinion.) TO
Brother r. B. Martin, ex-preacher,
farmer for one year, cooperative
warehouse promoter, and more re-
Gently 4 socialist lecturer, is given the
credit in Spokane for opening up the
new field for exploitation in North Da.
kOta. Martin was engaged last sum-
mer for a series Of lectures by the
North Dakota farmers organization.
After surveying the field he saw great.
er possibilities than the state of Wash
lngton had yet afforded and then op.
ened negotiations for the entry Of
David c. Coates of Spokane into the
field. At that time Coates was in a
campaign for election as city com.
missioner in Spokane, on the outcome
Of which hung his decision as to the
North Dakota venture. The election
went against Coates, and a few days
afterwards he announced his intention
OF quitting Spokane and shifting to a
new base, which he did, without
further delay. With Coates have
gone Oliver G. Morris, Herbert CASTOR
and Ralph Harmon, newspapermen of
Spokane, employed to uncover the
tracks Of the so-called willy politicians
of North Dakota.
From time to time since the depart
kane reports have been received here
of the gold mine" uncovered by Mar.
tin and Coates in the farmers organ.
ization Of North Dakota. Stories of a
bank account contributed by farmers,
ranging from 100000 to $50O,000
have. been whispered by Coates con.
tidentisi fsioslas,r WHO have freely
predicted that he will make "kill.
ing" before returning here, if he ever
comes back. The mechanical equip
ment of defunct newspaper at Seat
tie has been purchased through the
agency of one A. w. Swenson, of
Seattle, a former Coates henchman,
who went to North Dakota to erect
the plant. SWensOn on his return
stopped for a day or two in Spokane
and amazed Coates Old-time followers
by his stories Of the big things his
former chief was about to unload on
the unsuSpectinp voters Of North Da-
kOta.
d. G. Coates for 90 years has lived
by various movements in which he
has posed as the champion OF the Ia
boring classes. He first attracted at
tention in Colorado. where he was
elected lieutenant-governor under
Bloody Brides" Waite in a fusion of
pOpulists. socialists and other dissat-
isfied elements. After awhile the Col
orado workingmen had their eyes
opened. They realized that they had
been exploited by Coates and his sun
soon set in that state.
Coates was next heard from at Wal
lace, Idaho, where he turned up as the
editor OF mining paper. Here he
associated with the most radical ele-
ments, and soon ascended to a posi-
ton of leadership. Then the Stunen-
berg murder in Idaho occurred,
Coates name was drawn into the case
by Harry Orchard, the star witness,
and Coates soon found Wallace not
to his liking. He disposed of his pa
per in Wallace and about 1907 turn
ed up in Spokane.
Coates first work in Spokane was
as editor of the Labor World,
weekly newspaper ostensibly publish
ed in the interests Of the labor un
ions Coates with his usual power of
organization soon gathered around
him following of trusted lieutenants,
with whose aid he secured control of
the central labor council. From this
Coates spread his way into number
Of local unions until about 1910 he
had the most formidable political or
ganization, ostensibly conducted as a
labor body, that Spokane ever knew:
He then swung organiZed labor be-
hind the campaign for commission
form of government in Spokane,
which was approved by the voters in
December, 1910. In March, 1911, the
prestige Coates had obtained through
his control of the labor movement was
sufficient to secure his election as
city commissioner for term Of near
ly three years.
The disorganization, strife and tur-
moil that ensued at the citv hall dur
ing the three years Coates was COM
would fill a book. In Nov
ember, 1913, he appeared for re-
election but was defeated. Again in
November, 1915, after continuously
keeping before the public through the
of various leagues. he
tried for reelection, but failed. Prior
to this election it was freely predict
ed that in case of defeat Coates would
seek new fields and subsequent devel.
opments have justified this prophecy.
TOOK ONE CHANCE TOO MANY.
Mott, N. D., May 3.-Chance Hamil-
ton was correctly named, for he took
one too many chances with bull
which had frequently attacked him.
He was found unconscious in the pas
ture with several broken ribs and in
ternal injuries which caused his
death yesterday.