Emmons County record. [volume] (Williamsport, D.T. [i.e. N.D.]) 1884-current, 1919-06-12
HOMES ARE THREATENED

HOMES ARE THREATENED
Richard Croker, monarch Of Tam
many Hall, never failed to elect his
men from any voting precinct he saw
fit. If certain district failed to see
the beauties and blessings Of his rob-
Der government. the next election 1t
was certain to "go for" his man. His
method was simple. The time of resi-
dence required In any precinct was
short. When this period was thirty
days. 1t always happened that few
days earlier, u number of men se-
cured lodgings in the precinct. The
boss knew how many he needed and
accidentally, Of course, sufficient
number came in and they voted for
the boss program, for what there was
In it. This evil Of colonization" en-
abled Tammany to tyrannize over
city Of three million, or nearly SIX
times as many people as all we have
In North Dakota. Bathhouse John
and Hinkey Dink became famous in
Chicago through similar methods.
There were always enough of the
down and out that could be bought
for "bOoze and bread" to Elk" enough
precincts so that they could keep
majority In the council and run the
city. Even after 1t had reached
population Of two million. or about
four times as many people as North
Dakota numbers, a precious bunch OF
scheminR scnlawags managed to keep
control, by pandering to vice. by pre-
tecting criminals. and by stealing cleo
lions through colonization. 1t IL Jne
of the vilest violations of American
freedom and destroys the principe Of
local self government. The rell resi-
dents who own the property ami pay
the taxes are outnumbered by import
ed hObOes, whose only idea Is to do
the boss bidding and get something
for nothing. In essence. they are Il
gang of thieves or pirates and he is
their captain bold, who pays them for
lawbreaking.
Between 1880 and 1880 North n:.-
kota had its own troubles along shat
line. Hobo crews working on large
farms We're run N to outvOte real
residents and legal veters. The time
Of residence wis shoTA Hands were
hired for harvest and threslling and
by November election they were en-.
titled to just as much Say" in the
election of township, county and
state officers as those who ownei the
farms. In Trail county hobo gangs
from the Grandin farms were used in
this manner again and again. At the
famous Trail Center" county seat
election, the evidence produced In
court showed that gangs working ON
the railroad south of Portland voted
at Portland, then whole work train
load were carried to the junction a
few miles north Of Portland and
switched over and run into Mayville.
where they voted a second time. What
cared they? Enough beer and cigars
and lunch We're furnished to satisfy
the hobo, while the leaders were
taken care Of" One result of these
Trail Center the county seat, was n
general howl Of protest against this
kind Of lawlessness. No fair man, no
honest man. no real resident, would
stand for such imposition, tyranny and
gross miscarriage of majority rule.
Accordingly, when the constitution
was adopted, the farmers Of North
Dakota and especially those who hud
Forks counties. saw to it that the
residence was made sufficiently long
to exclude hobo rule and give those
who owned the land. paid the taxes
and were making their homes here,
the power to rule their own town
ships. A year in the state, six months
in the county, and ninety days in the
precinct. A good law, perfectly salts
n ~ oil,
cepting Il very few of the ward
heller" brand Of politician. and these
no one ever considered worthy even
Of the slightest attention. During the
1917 session Of our legislature some
''fine italian band" got in its dirty
work and stabbed this law in the hack.
An amendment to give women suf-
frage was adopted . and will in due
time come up for vote. To our great
surprise we find, whoever framed this
amendment. cut the time OF residence
from six months to three months In
the county and ninety to thirty days
In the precinct. A crew building pub.
lie highways may pitch their camp in
q township in July and although not
one Of them owns dollars worth Of
property In the township they can
handle the election to suit anyone who
Is willing to show them good time
or who can convince them that the
farmers are capitalists and ought to
be voted down.
Was the residence joker run in
by the st. Paul bunch who framed II,
to kill woman's suffrage? Or was It
put there to be passed as rider. in
order to help handle" and SAX"
counties. and, townships to suit some
political boss? Are we to repeat
the practices and scenes of the early
eighties? Shalltwe again have the
pleasure Of going to the polls only
to be, outvoted by floating popuia-
ton, brought In by a boss and colon
lied In eur precinct to rob us Of our
right to run our own affairsf VIII
4"coaonixed" inobs help determine
enough seats In our legislature to per.
,petuate the rule Of some up-tO-date
Dick Croker and Hinkey, Dink1 WHO
IL Il that wants this Safeguard ~
smovedf Why was Il csnsidersd neg
essary to reach fnr this dirty and
condemned tod Of TIE yileSt clty soil.