The Bismarck tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, N.D.) 1916-current, 1932-10-05
(Official City, State and County
Newspaper
Foreign Representatives
SMALL, SPENCER, BREWER
Uncorporated)
CHICAGO NEW YORK BOSTON
Host to the State

HOSL 10 the Stdte
Just 40 years and one month age
today, the pioneers of Dakota terri
tory gathered here to lay the corner
stone for a new capitol building.
The occasion was marked by bright
hopes and predictions for the future
1t is Bismarck's good fortune that
many of them have since come true.
Next Saturday the citizens of this
state will gather here by the thou
sands to perform similar ceremony
for a new capitol building, and Bis
marck will have the honor of being
host to the sons and daughters Of
the pioneers and others who have
come after them. In the forefront
will be few of those whose span OF
life has been long enough to encom-
pass two such notable events.
This edition Of The Tribune is pub
lished in recognition OF the new
epoch for Bismarck which the Cere-
monies next Saturday will inaugu-
rate. AS we extend cordial welcome
to the visitors within our gates, our
minds, too, project themselves into
the future and our hearts hold hopes
for future ARRANGEMENTS now I'M
dreamed of.
The ceremonies have been ad-
vanced because the actual laying OF
the stone into the walls of the struc-
ture cannot take place for several
weeks when Indictment weather might
prevent proper recognition of SO i'm
portant an event. Enough progress
has been made upon the capitol so
the guests who come can visualize
how extensive the new structure will
be, marking as it will a distinct de-
parture from the conventional style
followed in the past by designers OF
capitols.
1t will be building of convenience
as we'll as of beauty, designed to
meet the public demands these days
for economy of operation. To bal
ance beauty and utility is not always
an easy task, for the one has often
been sacrificed for the other. Those
informed in the builders art are i'm
pressed with the manner in which
the ornate and the practical have
been blended in the plans for this
structure.
Saturday the state will join here
in Bismarcl: to celebrate an impor-
tant phase of capitol construction.
For years new statehouse has been
the dream of this city, whose fathers
fought so hard in the early eighties
to bring the territorial capital from
Yankton to Bismarck. The names of
Alexander Mckenzie, xandcr
Hughes, Burleigh Spalding and 9TH
ers come to mind in connection with
that political strategy There fol-
lowed repeated efforts to have the
seat of government moved to other
points, but the men who placed it at
Bismarck were successful in resist
ing all such attacks.
Since statehood, Bismarck has had
to fight several vigorous contests to
keep the capital. During the consti-
tutional convention enemies of the
Mckenzie machine sought to have it
relocated. They thought his influ-
ence on state politics would be less
ened if this city were deprived Of the
capital. But the insurgent element
always failed.
Later came the effort Of New
Rockford to secure the state capital
It's citizens sought an alignment with
the Nonpartisan League, then in the
full flush of its power, to move the
seat of government. The question
was never voted upon. A supreme
court decision pointed out legal OBJ
stacles for such vote until the ini-
tiative amendment to the constitu-
ton was made operative. This q
subsequent legislature did, but talk
Of capital removal had died down by
then. Citizens OF New Rockford hae
spent thousands in the preliminary
campaign. A daily newspaper had
waxed and waned in the town and
both funds and enthusiasm had dis.
appeared.
In the fire which destroyed the
statehouse nearly two years ago, GER
tain opportunists at jamestown saw
an opportunity to revive capital re-
moval. That coup failed dismally
but only after this city had spent
considerable money and expended
much time in short but vigorous
campaign. 1t afforded the city an
opportunity to gain many new