The Bismarck tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, N.D.) 1916-current, 1932-10-07

do with placing the capital in Bis
&.
st. Johns Of Coelygeliellv 789$O54
Flannery, who came to Bismarck in
May 1874 as a young man of % to
represent the Northern Pacific as at
torney, was one Of the first persons
to whom Alexander Mckenzie reveal
ed his plans for securing the territor-
ial capitol for Bismarck.
Seated beside q cemetery on the
outskirts of town In the moonlight of
an early summer evening, Mckenzie
unfolded to F1annery hts ambitions
for the capitol and laid plans for out
whiting other towns making bids,
Flannery recalls.
1t was this young man who was
later sent to Yankton to present Bis
marcks bid and make the argument
In favor Of this city. Knowing we'll
its disadvantages as compared to old
er and larger towns, strategy had to
be employed, Flannery said. So the
fact that Bismarck was in the run
ming was kept a secret and Bismarck's
bid was not submitted until the last
moment. Since the bids were opened
In the order received, when Flannery
rose last of all to offer his argyll
ments he had the advantages of all
the previous suggestions and provis-
ions offered, and painted a glowing
picture of facilities offered here. The
commission eventually decided for
Bismarck.
Mellon Was Emissary
In order to keep the plans secret, 1t
had been necessary earlier to send q
Representative from Bismarck to
Yankton to secure the blanks for
bids, and the man chosen for this
task, was Richard B. Mellon, BROTH
er of Andrew Mellon, now Ambassador
to England.
Meanwhile the capitol commission
visited Bismarck on a tour of all
cities submitting bids. No expense
or trouble was spared In making this
q great event, Flannery remembers.
They were banqueted at the Sheri-
dan House and menus for the dinner
were printed on satin. 1f1ey were
the work OF Marshall Jewell. then
proprietor of the Bismarck Tribune.
F1annery recalls that anxious days
followed. When the commission met
In st. Paul both Mckenzie and F1an-
merry were there and many were the
meetings held secretly at the homes
of Northern Pacific officials. whose
support was necessary to swing the
commission in favor of Bismarck.
The first inkling Flannery received
that this city had been decided on
for the capital came when several
Twin City and eastern business men
began to purchase large tracts of land
here.
When the official announcement
came there was another problem, for
it was specified that in addition to
the land grant, sum of 100000 had
to be ready in cash for construction
Of the capitol.
Every One Did His Bit
Everyone, rich or poor, did his bit
in raising that 100000" FlanLery
testified. 1.-THE people Of Bismarck
and the entire state owe an everlast-
ing debt Of gratitude to those pio-
neers, who mortgaged their homes and
denied themselves comforts to provide
that sum.
Never in the history Of the state
was there such q universal exhibition
Of patriotism and unselfishness."
A few years later. when the legis-
lative act to remove the territorial
capitol to Pierre, S. D., was presented
to Governor Pierce, Mckenzie and
Flannery again marshalled their
forces. They themselves wrote the
veto message which Governor Pierce
signed. after presenting proof that no
provision was made in the removal bill
for restitution Of the money donated
by predetermined citizens for build
ing the capitol.
Judge Flannery came here from
Faribault, Mimi, where he was rear
ed, attending the Shattuck school
and later studying law in the Twin
Cities. His appointment as Northern
Pacific attorney brought him to Bis
marck, then the terminal point Of the
road.
His duties here were not so arduous
but that he found time to serve as
county attorney and later as a Judge
Tor the sixth judicial district.
About 1883 Flannery went to st.
Paul to engage In law practice until
1915, when he became head Of the
Northwestern Trust company. He re-
tired several years ago and now makes
his home In Minneapolis.
r. B. Mellon and q group of friends
Will come here Oct. II on q hunting
trip as the guests Of g. B. Little, presi-
dent OF the First National Bank, and
his friend Of the early days It will
be his first visit to Bismarck In many
years. although he once was q bank