Grand Forks herald. [volume] (Grand Forks, N.D.) 1916-1955, 1919-04-28

ON August -. 1sss-He Was /.
Delegation And Played . Very
tBy Geo. b. winship.) !,
To tho Editor:
National City, Calf. April al.-A
letter In The Herald Post-Box, signed
by "A Pioneer" touches briefly upon
a scene, which was enacted in the hrst
republican state convention, held at
Fargo in August, 1889, which with
your permission. I will Amplify in
some degree. / have not had an OPP
portunity to read the stories Of EARLY
Days in North Dakota" by Edwin G.
Torrey, but emanatlng from so keen
an observer and 60 faithful a writer
as Mr.. Torrey, they cannot fail t6 be
the ante-state period.
The political element dominant in
1889, popularly known as the "Old
Gang, undertook to continue its rule
after the division Of the Territory and
the admission Of the two sections into
the sisterhood Of states. The Enab-
ling Act was signed by President
Cleveland Feb. %, and a constitu-
tional convention was held at Bis
marck beginning July 4. In sixty
days 1t finished its labors, and on Au-
SoSS 20 republican SIate COHNeHIAOA
was held for the purpose Of nominate
ing a full state ticket and e~ffecting
party organizations in state, legisla-
tive, judicial, county, city and town
ship units. Back of the leading po-
litical issue Of the new state. which
was supposed to include only, good,
clean government and the selection
of capable officials, was another issue
not visible to the naked eye Of the
rnN~ rA -A4>I 80
jump fuil-panoplied into the arena OF
politics until after the first legislature
met early in November.
For many years prior to 1889 the
state, of Louisiana was the home Of
the Louisiana State Lottery. duly
chartered by the legislature. It's
charter was about to expire and re-
newal in that state was hopeless. OF
all the four new states about to be
admitted into the Union North Dako-
Ia was selected as the one most likely
to yield to the temptation Of a big
fee in return for a charter. The state
infant. It's nurses and g%odfathers
were susceptible-to persuasion and
argument. Business" was the key
note Of their propaganda. No mat
ter how shady the project, the man
who stood in the way of business"
was a traitor to his community Sa-
looms and gambling lens were legal
lied. and fakirs of every description
licensed. It was "business'-there-
fore right.
Agents Of the Lottery, under the
direction of former United States SEN
ator Spencer, surveyed the co-opera-
ton of the "old gang" shortly after
their invasion. and the work of prose-
lyting the state began in the consti-
tutional convention. BY a mere
chance the clause they desired in
serted in the constitution was elimi-
mated. and the next move was to con-
troll the state government. It was i'm
perative that they should elect a gov
object, and with this end in viewthey
began a canvas Of the state. select
ing Harrison Allen as their candidate
for governor.
The Herald was strenuously urged
to support the General" but it
wouldn't. He was not its kind Of
man. John Miller, Of Richland coun-
land county, raj The Herald's candi-
date. Miller had made an enviable
record in the state senate as a free.
unhampered representative, and he
was the man wanted by the real PEG
pie. This was the sentiment all down
Red River Valley. Even Gass
Fcounty was favorable to Miller, but
It's delegation was manipulated for
Allen. The result was hat compro-
mise delegations in the lower valley
we've elected favorable to Miller, and
2 county candidate for a state ONCE
flor instance, Grand Forks county was
for John Miller for governor and J.
P. Bray for state auditoran oil and
water sort of combination.
II woe pov nr;pilo~o - A..
Grand Forks county delegation, and
with me was W. j. Anderson and 9TH
er equally competent hustlers. My
recollection is that the delegation
was about equally divided between
the Miller and Bray men. We went
TO Fargo and the temporary organiza-
ton Of the convention was effected
without much friction, John NJ. Coch-
rane being elected temporary chair
man. committees were appointed
n he work Of organization began.
Harrison Allen was conceded by
TIP gang themselves to be a weak
seeker of the carpet-bag variety, and
did not take with the people. The
ease with which the Miller men or
ganized the convention convinced the
Allen adherents that a stronger man
must be brought out; SO Allen was
"souped' and E. ]. Tyler substituted.
Ihis coup carried with it a new slate
and meant that John Miller was to
!'be knitted. Early in the evening the
details of the conspiracy got out, and
ny 10 O'Clock the fact was established
that parts of the delegations Of Grand
Forks, Walsh and Pembina counties,
led by J..P. Bray, c. A. Spencer and
Jud LaMoure, had Joined the Tyler
combination, and John Miller was in
imminent danger of defeat.
A vexatious feature Of the pre-
convention situation was the contest
ing delegations from the Devils Lake
country-21 in number-controlled
by Creel n Hansbrough. Both were
favorable to Miller; Hansbrough safe
~ SO, but unfortunately many Of his
delegates were irregularly elected.
Creel really had the regularly elected
delegates; but he Spilled the beans
by going into the Tyler camp before
he had secured complete title to
membership of the convention He
had heard that the. credentials COM
mtttee had ~favorably considered 4ris
delegates, and jubilant owe his uc-
cess he began at once boosting fer
Tyler. At this juncture a thought,
Uranium; here was an opportunity to
give the ''old gang dose Of their
own medicine. Myself and co-work-
ers had often been the victims of
their diabolism, and I thoroughly un-
derstood their INSCRIPTIONS methods.
For once at least I would resort to
their kind Of tactics; I would fight
the devil with fire.
I lost no time In going to the room
occupied by the credentials commit.
tee. which committee was still in SET
sion. | knew that a majority Of the