The Washburn leader. [volume] (Washburn, McLean County, N.D.) 1890-1986, 1919-04-18

Knud Thompson, one of the p1o-
neer farmers of the state, who came
here in the early eighties and settled
in Griggs county, sounds sensible
note of warning about going slow on
spending the peoples money. Mr..
Thompson is practical farmer and is
still operating his farm in Griggs
county, and no man puts in more time
and harder work than he does. He
knows what he is talking about. Pre-
ceding his remarks he sends the fol-
lowing clipping:
Kansas City, Mo-, Feb. 15.-The
surrender of former Judge j. S. Ev-
ans. to begin his Jail sentence for con-
tempt Of Federal court, has added
another chapter to the tangled his
tory of the fight to COMPEL county in
the Missouri hills to pay bonded in
debtedness for a railroad never con-
st1uctsd.
1t was in 1871 that Dallas county,
with other Missouri an Kansas COM
munities. saw visions Of tremendous
industrial development. Strangers ap-
,peared with "pen and paper" rail-
road from st. Louis to Fort Scott,
Kan. and Dallas county voted $225. 900
bonds as bonus to the promoters. s,
The road was never built, and Dal-
las county's paramount issue" was
born when the first interest payment
fell due. In all political campaigns,
campaigns for county judgeships have:
cried, I'VE will refuse to pay the
bonds" After election successful can
didates have gone to the hills to avoid
taking action.
The bonds eventually went to an
Eastern capitalist, who resumed the
litigation of his predecessors to col
lect interest. judgements had been
entered into from time to time in Fed
eral court. By 1911 the principal and
accured interest had reached s1.02S,-
900, payment of which would take 18
cents on every dollar OF valuation in
the county, it was said.
A judgement was obtained and the
Federal court directed the Dallas
county clerk to call special election
: to vote bonds to pay $4,000 Of the in
terest With that action, the county
Eclerkship was added to the list of re-
eluse 'ofiicialdom Of Dallas county.
~ Efforts to serve summons on the
jurists we're redoubled. Posses of dep
uties from the United States mar
shals office in motor cars rolled along
the trails through the hills and woods
Others, disguised as fishermen and
hunters, trekked through thickets and
along creeks without success.
Federal judge Won Valkenburg is
sued an order Of contempt against the
three Dallas county judges last March.
Judges Quigley and J. e. Thomas
sought the safety of the woods In
the night, deputies surrounded Judge
Evans home and he was brought into
Federal court where he refused to
agree to bond levy and was sentenc-
ed to six months in Jail for contempt.
The court Of appeals recently affirmed
the desision and the judge, who had
been released pending decision, ap-
#peared to began serving sentence
Judge Evans, who is now out of Of
fee and therefore has no power to act
on the tax levy, was taken to Spring
field, Mo. Whether he must serve his
sentence IS still somewhat in doubt. ~,
II Meanwhile, Dallas county is without
"a raa3Rpad
F1 ID Trubshaw:
u y Fl bsed / hand you clipping on
fake pnuses. This Is from Kansas
sCit5 No. Hon. David sBartlett you
REM ber was elected to make our
5soll ntional laws Of North Dakota:
You remember him speaking about |
how outside takers might come into
our state and get our people to bond
the state for their special benefit.
tAIany old states are paying expenses
.ffor these takers Then he wanted
The school lands to be sold for not less
than. SO per acre, Our school lands
have built up q huge sum Of money
80 large that men from other states
can come and spend their time and
. =! srGA !