The Bismarck tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, N.D.) 1916-current, 1926-11-27
COL. MUDGETT'S
APPOINTMENT
Big SURPRISE
Valley City Man Had Not
Been Generally Mentioned
For Marshalship
FIGHT Is ANTICIPATED
Others Seek POsitiOn-N. ID.
Senators Relieved Opposed
To Mudgett
FIGHT is ANTICIPATED

appointment OI t.OI. T.. II. MuuEr(t
of Valley City as United States Mar.
shal to succeed James +. Shea, an.
nounced yesterday, came as a sur
prise to most people III the state, vi
least to the majority Of Bismarck
people. it was learned here last
night in questioning persons promi.
nent in state politics. Very few, II
any, had even heard the valley City
man mentioned for the post, although
1t has been generally understood f0I
z number Of months past that some.
one other than Mr.. Shea was to be
named. The latter's term expired
last March and he has been ""hold.
ing over" since that time. 1t is pre-.
sumed that Mr.. Shea is retiring vol.
UNFAIRLY from the office which hi
has held the greater part Of the time
since 1907.
Among those who had been prom.
inently mentioned for the marshal.
ship were Chas. Mcdonald of Man.
dan, sheriff Of Morton county; Roy
Frazier of Divide county; John Ha'
gen, former state commissioner OF
agriculture and labor, and others.
Senate Fight Expected
1t is anticipated by those well
versed in North Dakota politics that
efforts to have Col. Mudgett's ap
pointment, which is recess one
confirmed in the next session of tho
United States senate will prccipitate
a fight, since it is not believed that
his appointment will meet with the
approval of Senators Lynn j. Frazier
and Gerald p. Nye. Col. Mudgett i.
considered a strong IVA.
Col. Mudgctt, who is about 81 years
of age, received his early education
in Des Moines. After leaving col
lege he accepted a position as book
keeper for lumber firm in Ne.
braska, which place he held fol
three years. He then decided t.
come to North Dakota and located il
Valley City in 1884 as bookkecpel
for the Gull River Lumber company
He enlisted in Co. G., First Nortl
Dakota volunteers, as a private II
1885. At the outbreak of the Span
ish-Amcrican war he went with hi.
regiment to the Philippines, having
been made captain in January
1897. While in the Philippines Col
Mudgctt was appointed interna
revenue collector for the city Of Ma
lnila. On juno 1, 1899, he was mus
tered out of the service. He has
large personal following.
On January z. 1909, Col. Mudget
was commissioned major in tn,
first North Dakota infantry. He re-
signed his commission in January
1918, but on June %, 1917, soon after
the United States entered the world
war, he was again commissioned /;
major in the second infantry. o.
Sept. q, 1918, he was promoted t.
lieutenant colonel. He went over
seas with the second regiment ant
was attached to general headquarter.
in France. He was awarded both thu
, distinguished service medal and tn,
French croix de guerre. Returning
home after the close Of the war. h.
was discharged from the service OF
July 16. 1919.
In Bank Cashier
For number of years past Col
Mudgett has been cashier of tn.
First National bank of Valley City
He is married and has five children
Mrs. s. F. Hollingsworth Of 523 Firs
street, Bismarck, in his sister. HI
is we'll known to Bismarckans, sine.
he served his district as state sen
ator for two terms, starting in 1913
The retiring marshal. Mr.. Shea, ha.
made quite record for himself il
his capable conduct of the office
being rated high among the eighty
odd marshals In the United States
His appointment by Presiden,
Roosevelt was one of the most pop
ular ever made in the state, it i.
said, and he has filled the pos
creditably. Mr.. Shea was born il
New York state. but came to NORTH
Dakota when 16 years Of age. HI
was employed as a herder for the
government in the days just prior tt
the Custer massacre when most Of
the Sioux were on the warpath. Dur,
ing the Indian troubles Of the middle
seventies he was . government scout
and had many hairbreadth escapes
In 1873 he homesteaded in RichlanG
county and became . successful
farmer and trader and man of i'm.
portance in the community. Later
he became active in politics and fol
many years was q delegate to the
state conventions of the Republican
party. In 1900 he was made state
railroad commissioner, which posi-.
tion he held for four years.