The Bismarck tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, N.D.) 1916-current, 1931-01-26

IO ASSEMBLY, FAkM
BIG Land HOLDINGS
Atkins, Gibbons and Lemks op.
! crate 10000 Acres Of Land;
Are Nsighbors
There are many items Of peculiar
Interest in connection with the meh
representing Towner county in the
22nd legislative assembly. The men
composing this delegation are Sena-
tor stonewall J. Atkins. Representa-
tive Ray Gibbons and Representa-
tive Ben w. Lemke, all Of Cando.
Accompanying them as employees
are Herbert Gray Of Rock Lake and
Elmer T. Judd Of Cando. the last
named being . former game and fish
commissioner: Mr.. Judd is chief
mailing clerk in the senate.
The three men representing Town
er county own and farm q total of
$4,000 acres of land. Two Of them
have their farms In the same town.
ship; the third operates his farm in
the township Immediately adjoining.
Two are independents, one a Nom
partisan, but all are good friends and
good neighbors.
|, The three men are the sons Of ter
ritorial pioneers. Senator Atkins and
Representative Lemke are themselves
entitled to that distinction, being
young lads when their families came
to the territory prior to 1885. Rep
resentattve Gibbens was born after
North Dakota became a state and is
one OF the youngest men serving in
the lower house.
Have Interesting Background
These men also have an interesting
background, both from a genealogical
and political point Of view. Senator
Atkins is the son Of the late Captain
Carol ]. Atkins, who helped to make
history as a steamboat pilot on the
Missouri river in the days when the
pilot house had to be encased in sheet
iron to protect the pilot from hostile
Indian arrows and bullets. Repre-
sentative Ray Gibbons Is a son of the
late Senator Albert Gibbons, who
served his district three sessions in
the lower house and was entering up
on his third term in the state senate
when death cut short his useful and
distinguished career.
Senator Atkins Is a resident of
Cando; where he operates a garage
and bulk oil station: but he is essen
TALLY a farmer. having personally
operated his large farm ever since he
grew to manhood. He has also run
his own thrcshing outfit without
missing a season for over 30 years,
with the exception Of 1898 80. when
he served in the Philippines during
the Spanish American war. He was
for eight years mayor of Cando, and
has served his local community as
president of the school board, as
president of a farmers cooperative
elevator, and in many other capa-
cities.
Several years ago Mi. Atkins was
called upon by citizens of his home
town to make a speech, but he re-
fused, giving this as an, explanation:
In the first place. I don't like to
make speeches: and in the second
place. I might. inadvertently say
something that would hurt some
body'S feelings: 50 you'll have to ex-
cuse me-" He has adhered to that
rule as far as possible, but it would
appear that his reluctance to make
public speeches has in no wise de-
tracted from his prestige as a public
man. His recent appointment to head
the senate appropriations commit
tee, which makes him an ex-officio
member of the state budget board.
is a compliment to his industry and
Is Brother of Bill
B. W. Eemke, who starts his leg
lSlativc career at this session, is a
senior brother of William Lemke, who
was prominent on the political stage
IN North Dakota and the northwest
for a decade. When Brother Bill
hit the political pond with such a
splash Is years ago, the
spray had a tendency to obscure all
the other Lemkes. who seemed quite
content 20 occupy ringside seats and
be counted among the innocent on
lockers.
Representative Lemke did not &C
luire a taste for politics, and has
lever been a strong or active par
isan. He tried to squirm out of the
declaring that 1000 acres
Il land to manage was enough trou-
lie for any ordinary man.
I'm $780," Lemke said, 1T took
400 bushels of durum wheat to pay
ny taxes. The year before 1 had paid
practically the same tax bill by haul
ng in 3,400 bushels of durum, or less
han half what 1t took last year. IA
$40 I shipped a carload of sheep
nd received for it 5000. Last
ear I shipped another carload of bet
er. sheep, with 500 pounds of added
weight, n received only $500, or
ess than half what I received the
ear before. n 1929 I got soc a pound
or wool in the local market-this
ear only 13c.
ut is hard for even those Of us who
ave managed to stay out of oebt to
leep going under such conditions" he
They say q bushel of rye
make 63 large loaves Of bread.
Veil, I can haul a bushel of rye to
own, sell 1t and buy back q loaf and a
Ialf Of rye bread with the proceeds.
heres something out Of joint some
here.
In 1900 I could drive to town and
or $25 buy all the lumber that q four
orse team could haul out to the farm.
low you can just about carry $25 |
'orth Of lumber under your arm. To-
ut 1t more plainly, II you should take
ut q load Of lumber big enough for q
team, 1t would cost about
200."
Gibbons Cordially Received
One Of the noteworthy events Of
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