Grand Forks herald. [volume] (Grand Forks, N.D.) 1916-1955, 1922-01-09

initial appearance. Pending the close
UP of the News. we alternated service
at the Lake, Hans going there one
week and I the next. Both being
printers we issued the paper unaided
for. several weeks. until Hansbrough
finally assumed the sole ownership OF
the plant, and went there to stay per-
sonally. s
During the year 1883 the land boom
was followed by a political boom. Ne
hemiah G. Ordway was sent from
Washington as Governor, At the out
set he undertook to fight the old
gang" the political %autocrats Of the
Territory; but later he decided to con
ciliate them, and finally bec:/ie their
leader. The legislative session OF 1883
was prolific OF much gang" legisla-
ton. the capital commission being OF
chief Importance. Up to this time the
Herald was a calm and gentle COM
mentor or public events. 1t had ra-
Zooed the local gang some. 1t is true.
but on the whole 1t had been easy and
program was promulgated the Herald
laid aside its gentle. lafnblike de-
smeanor, and entered the arena in OPP
position to Ordway as a tWo-ftsted
slusger. 1t jumped onto the Governor
and his capital commission cabal, with
feet, hands and teeth. In character
ling the iniquity of his cxcellency it
completely exhausted It's vocabulary OF
strong and expressive adjectives and
invented several new ones. Towards
the close of the shindy. the governor
challenged us to meet him in a vocal
duel. publishing his def in the Plain
dealer and Fargo papers. I felt in
tuitiwely that the Old man was putting
up a big bluff, and not to be outdone
I've kra~ 1snD 7 mt ~ = ontNA nv hD o.~~oVf-
Ing his challenge to debate. secured
Gotham hall as the place of combat
and suggested the date. Meantime I
crammed myself with facts concerning
Ordway's record in New Hampshire,
Washington and elsewhere; but L
never had the opportunity to use them
from the rostrum. The challenge was
a cheap bluff, and / knew it. hence my
bold front. I
The Herald came out Of the Ord
way-Capital Commission engagement
with considerable prestige. 1t got to
be we'll known throughout the Terri
leaps and bounds. In the summer, OF
1884. I think it was. the capital COM
mission met, at Fargo, and one Of the
serious propositions discussed was
what to d. with the Grand Forks
Herald" 1t was a wild. untamed
political maverick, roaming at Will
among the unsophisticated herd, and
something should be done to suppress
It. It should be lassooed and branded
but how? All sorts of suggestions
were made. and finally it was decided
to "huy the damned thing o. M.
Towner. one of the smooth promoters
Of that period. was authorized to ne
Sotiate. He t~elegraphed me: Spot
cash for the Herald--how mu&a?" I
| replied. $4,000. Back came the
swer: Come on the 4 o'clock train"
After receipt OF this message. I had
just five minutes to get to the station.
which then was owe neal University
avenue. l had barely got three blocks
on my way, when the train pulled out.
and I was left. l wired Towner:
Train gone--be there tomorrow"
During the evening I received a tele-
gram from him saying he would be
in. Grand Forks the mex day; but he
did not show up. Later he explained
that the deal was called off during
the evening. 1t was another instance
Of the use some people make of super
heated air. Towner was full OF it.
and his audacity was "equalfed by
few and excited by nome"