Grand Forks herald. [volume] (Grand Forks, N.D.) 1916-1955, 1922-06-23
DEATH ENDS CARE Err OF ALEX
M'KENZlE, NORTH DAKOTA'S
FAMOUS POLITICAL LEADER
Former Political Boss Died
Thursday In St. Paul Hos
pital; Had Been Dominat-
ing Figure Since Pioneer
Days; Was iii for Months.

st. Paul. June 2S-Funeral ar
rangemcnts for Alex Mckenzie,
one time political dictator OF i
North Dakota, will not be made
until Saturday, when both surviv.
ing children will be here, it was
announced today. Mr.. Mckenzie
died in a hospital here yesterday
from diabetes and complications.
Mrs. G. b. Foster Of Montreal,
daughter. arrived with her nus
the funeral will be made. how
ever. until tho arrival of the 9th
or daughter. Mrs. Ann Mckenzie
Mcdonald of Quebec, who is OK
pected Saturday.
Many friends of the former po-
lidcal leader from all parts OF the
northwest arc expected t. attend
the funeral.
Chapters in the life of Alex McKen-
Eie-for it was as ALEX" that he es-
tablished his name in Dakota history
bear such interesting captions as In
dian fighter, Railroad Spiker, Sheriff,
Deputy United States Marshal and
Political Boss Extraordinary.
Reached States in 1867
Born in eastern Canada of Scottish
parentage in 1851. he came to what
Is now North Dakota in 1867, and
down through the years the cutstand-
ing events of his life parallel the high
spots in II development of that
state.
He went with a supply train to
Fort Rice and from there volunteered
60 carry dispatches through Indian
infested country to Ford Buford. He
became a "spiker'' with the gangs
pushing the tracks of the Northern
Pacific railway west from ST. Paul,
working westward to Bismarck.
The o ended at Bismarck and
that city-"the end of track"-crowd-
ed with Indian fighting soldiers. bad
men" from down river and railroad
gangs from the east. soon gained
a name that ranked as worse thesn
Deadwood..r
County Sheriff
Mckenzie was made sheriff and
from that office rapidly established
himself as a leader of stalwart Re-
publicans. In 1882. he attended the
territorial legislature and effected the
remova of the Dakota capitol from
Yankton to Bismarck.
He became known as the North
Dakota senator-maker". and was cred
tied with a major part in naming all
North Dakota senators during the
first 81 years of it's statehood. with
the exception of W. N. Roach, a Demo-
Graf. In 1899 he had a leading part
in bringing about an agreement
among seven candidates, that result
ed in the nomination for the senate
: Of Porter ]. McCumber. nov chair
man ofgthe senate finance committee.
Alaskan Episode
Mckenzie went to Alaska in 1906
and was appointed receiver for a large
number Of claim litigations. He was
accused OF sdisobeying court orders
/. and was sentenced to one year in the
federal p~enitentiary at Oakland, Calf.
He was pardoned after a short incar-
ceration, however.
1t was aroun Mckenzie that Rex
Beach nodded one of the outstanding
characters of his novel. THE Spoil
ers." In recent years Mckenzie had
become we'll known in New York.
! Washington and St. Paul and for the
last ten years had not lived in North
Dakota.
ALEX Mckenzie possessed great
political ,acumen," said John Burke,
former secretary of the United States
treasury under President Wilson who
was in st. Paul today. HE was a
mar of natural ability. He was al
ways ~staunchly loyal to his friends
and men who approved of his meth
DDS. Mckenzie was a very success
full man."
1t was largely through the efforts
Of Alexander Mckenzie in 1882 that
the state university was located at
H~1~ - Will
agricultural college at Fargo. At the
same time he secured the establish
ment of the capital of what was then
Dakota territory at Bismarck.
Became Political Leader
During the constitutional conven-
ton which preceded. the admission OF
North Dakota to statehood, McKen-
zie was the dominant figure, and he
passed logically into the leadership OF
the Republican party in the new
state. Associated with him were such
men as the late Jud LaMoure of Penn
bina. and other pioneers, who as the
state grew in population. retained the
leadership they had gained in the
earlier days. F,
It was during the last decade Of the
18th century that Mckenzie was al
the height of his power. although he
suffered one reverse in 1892. when
e. G. Shortridge was swept into pow
er on h Populist wave. With this
exception all the governors of North
Dakota from the admission OF the
state toathe union in 1889 until 1906
were members of Mr.. McKenzie's
party. :,
Revolt Of 1905 :
In 1906. however. came the revolt
OF the progressive element which