The Fargo forum and daily republican. [volume] (Fargo, N.D.) 1894-1957, 1918-03-18
EARLY DAYS IN.
DAKOTA CALLED
TO MEMORY BY
RECENT DEATHS
Geo. B. Winship Writes of
Major j. g. Hamilton
and Geo. f. Goodwin
BOTH PROMINENT
IN N. d. AFFAIRS
Played Important Role in
Pioneer Legislative and
State Building

Early day North Dakota history is
mirrowed in a very interesting light
by Geo. b. Winship. former publisher
OF The Grand Forks Herald, and VINO
now resides in National City, Cal.
The deaths, within short time OF
each other, of Maj. j. @. Hamilton or
Grand Forks and Judge George +.
Goodwin. former attorney general or
North Dakota who passed away at
Salt Lake City, Utah, recalls 10 Mr..
Wlnship q number of early day
events in which those two men
figured, and Mr.. Winship's letter
published by The Herald, in part,
follows:
Hamilton In Politics.
Il seen. to be fated from time to
time to record the death of some ear
ly settler who co-operated with me IN
many ways in the work devolYlng
upon the pioneer. Scarcely month
goes by but an announcement is made
of the passing OF some old times who
did woman service for his town and
state when service meant sacrifce
and hardship. This time it is Major
John q. Hamilton who is gathered in
by the Grim Reaper, an dwho long
was a prominent citizen of North Da-
kota. For more than a quarter OF
century, after he admission Of. the
state into the Union. Major Hamilton
was classIy Identified with the legis-
lstion and politics of the state. DurN
ing all that time he was the handy
man in politics, upon whom many
depended for the accurate drafting Of
important papers. For three consec-
utive sessions Of the legislative as
sembly he was chief clerk OF the
house. and for q decade or more he
was secretary Of every Republican
state convention that was held. Dur
ing the years OF his activity he doubt
less, drafted more legislative enact
ments and framed more political
whereases and resolutions than any
other man in.the state. He had spec
iaI talent for such work, and being
Of an accommodating disposition, he
yielded to others when appealed TO
for help. A legislative session or
political convention in the early days,
without Major Hamilton in charge OF
the details, was deficient in its work
In political information. and a skillful
parliamentarian, his services were in
dispensable.
They Punket To Washington.
''As an instance OF the majors tall
] recall a meeting OF the Grand Forks
chamber of commerce. held in March,
1882. During that month the
politicians OF the north half OF the
territory decided upon a junket to
Washington in the interest Of divi-
sion and admission. A meetig was
held at Fargo for that purpose. which
was well atteded by the active wire
pullerE, and a delegation headed by
II HmA Il t. -
tain Griggs, Colonel LounsberFy, n.
X. Hubbard. G. A. Roberts, J. La
Moure. Tony Klaus and Frank Mead,
was directed to go TO the capital city
and boost the best they knew how.
As transportation was free every
delegate was eager to go. Upon ar
rivla. they decided that the most
effective way Of influencing congress |
men was TO dine and wine them with |
great prodigity. To the good fellows
and liberal spenders was the way TO |
reach the average congressman, they |
thought. The stomach. rather than !
the head, was the organ to cater to. |
The delegation met in solemn con-
clave and after serious consideration !
and a most economical computation |
OF the cost OF proper entertainment, |
IL was decided that $4,000 would be |
as small an amount as the delegation |
could get along with. So this amount
was divided pro rata among the lead
ing cities Of the north. Grand Forks
share being $500.
Hamilton Decided Il.
Upon receipt Of the telegram from
Mr.. Walsh requesting that Grand
Forks share be RENTED Immediate
Is, James TWamley called a meeting
Of the chamber OF commerce, and |
this momentous question was debat-
ed with great animation. The main |
question was soon settled-that no
money for entertainment would be !
appFoprtated-but the exact phrase
0logy Of the telegram announcing the |
refusal, was the subject OF long and |
heated discussion. One element was |
in favor OF a harsh reply, and anoth- |
er favored softer and more diplo- |
matte terms. Finally, Major Hamil- |
ton submitted the draft OF a telegram |
that was adopted without dissent, |
which was as follows:
Grand Forks 10 opposed 20
Influencing eonaressmen BY enter
tainment. Let the question of
division and admission stand up
on its merits
las the other cities in the north |
took substantially the same action as /
Grand Forks. the proposed entertain
ment fell through, and in due time 1
the junketers returned to their
homes. Seven years later the ques-
ton OF division and admission reeeiv- i
ed favorable congressional action Il
without any levy upon the people for
entertainment.
Major Hamilton was not only ef- l
fectiye as a writer. but he was equal
ly SO as speaker and debater. His
style was refined. graceful and cpl
gramatic. He was a well-read law
yer and an effective pleader; and had II
ne confined his energies to the law.
his success would have been greater
than that which he achieved in the
field Of politics. In politics he and
were arrayed in opposite camps; but
the personal side was never involved.
our relations being pleasant and
friendly TO the last. During NY short
visit in Grand Forks last September. 4
called az the majors home, and
was pained TO find him but a shadow
Of his former self / felt when TAX
ing leave Of him that Ii was the final
adieu.
"He has Joined the long list Of
pioneers who in their day performed
no easy task in laying broad and deep
he foundation upon which stands the
great commonwealth of North Dako-
"a. Peace 70 his ashes"
fudge George r. Goodwin, who
passed away last month at Salt Lake
City, Utah. was one OF the early set
Tiers OF Ransom county. North Dak0-
"a, and during his residence there he
was prominent i'm every movement /
having for its object the social, moral |
and political advancement OF the
and state. He was a
capable lawyer and a profound stu
lent and very shortly after establish
ng his residence at Lisbon, along /
j bnue 1884, he assumed a position in 1
Inc front rank Of his profession which 1
be retained during his entire resi-
lemne in the state. III