The Bismarck tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, N.D.) 1916-current, 1934-07-07

EM0IRS =:
| prosecutor until the Territorial legis-
lature Of 1855 repealed the law and
inaugurated the v Of county attor-
neys g prosecutors.
bar Talent OF the Best
In passing, let me say that the bar
Of that period consisted Of q fine
q bunch Of young lawyers % could be
found In any Of the older states. They
were ambitious and up-to-date In
everything pertaining to their pro-
fession and in later years many made
fine records for themselves. In sphinx
county, where the first term Of court
was held, there were two young men
In practice who became prominent In
the councils Of the nation: Tom
Walsh, an erstwhile Democratic SEN
ator from Montana and most conspic-
uous In the councils Of his party for
the last 10 years. whose untimely
death prevented his bee ON ing
. member Of President Roosevelt's
cabinet, ana Thomas Sterling. suhse.
quently Republican U. 8. senator from
South Dakota for IL years.
At the territorial election Of 1885,
was elected q member Of the coun-
Gil from the countie.. Of Brookings,
Kingsbury. Hamlin and Deuel., for the
session Of 1857, the second assembly
to meet In the new capitol, which had
been built by the commission with
Bismarck money. Upon the organix-
alton Of the council I was elected
president Of that body after the US
ual bitter factional fight, my major
ity being one and I vo. I'd for my
opponent, Frank Washabaueh of
Deadwood, he refusing to return the
compliment.
The principal argument Of my OPP
position was that I had been q mem.
Der Of the notorious capitol commits
sion and must have lot Of Bismarck
money on my person. though ! had
voted for Huron on every ballot until
Bismarck received the necessary five
and then moved to make it unani-
nous. succeeded in securing from that
legislature an appropriation Of about
$4,000 in bonds which put the agri-
cultural college at Brookings on its
feet and put ct It's head the greatest
man In the line Of agricultural and
industrial education who has ever
held the job In that school, Lewis
McLouth Of Michigan. When the
campaign for the nomination Of q
territorial delegate to congress to
succeed o. 8. Clifford, Republican OF
Canton. came on in the year 1883,
there was quite rush OF entries.
largely from the south.
They were O. 8. Clifford Of Cam
ton and Melvin Grigsby, and Judge
Palmer Of Sioux Falls, with General
Harrison Allen Of Fargo. the sole as
pirant from the north. I busted into
the game as number five, backed up
Nth some personal gall and lively
bunch Of young fellows, mostly law
yers from the fifth judicial district,
nominally called Central Dakota. The
convention was called for August ~
at Watertown and was composed Of
over 1000 delegates and its delibera-
tons were the most exciting Of any
meeting of the kind ever held in the
territory. It was the elimination and
q fight to q finish Of the factional
rows extending over q period Of Q
decade. The moving spirit Of our
crowd was to take away from
the federal office holders the
control Of the party and our
slogan was down with the car
petbaggers." It was a bitter battle
and long one, lasting over five days
and nights. The federal gang resort
ed to every means Of delay and con-
fusion known to political chicanery.
Groundless and sham contests were
filed against the regular delegations
from several counties in order to
secure control Of the organization.
But We shattered this plan by taking
some Of the contests to the floor Of
the convention and showing up that
they were trumped up and without
any merit.
Thus our crowd was able to get
control Of the permanent oreaniza-
ton and used 1t to the best advantage.
As I recall, IL ballots were taken and
believe the Barnes county delega-
ton broke the deadlock by voting
for me and then the delegations vot-
ing for General Allei came over In .
body, assuring my nomination on the
next ballot.
The humorous feature Of the whole
show, which was also vital to our
success. was the action Of the Minne-
haha county delegation supporting
Melvin Grigsby Of Sioux Falls. The
delegation was headed by r. 7. Petit
grew, afterwards y. 8. Senator from
South Dakota for II years. There
had been . we'll known rivalry be-
tween driesby and Pettigrew in every
thing from poker to politics and
0rigsby suspected Pettigrew would
desert him at any moment when the
Il votes would make q nomination,
though the county convention had
fully instructed the delegation to
stand for him to the last ditch. There
were several early ballots when the
81 votes would have given the nomin-
alton to O. 8. Clifford. incumbent, but
Pettigrew stood pat" and on the last
vote, after my nomination was as
sured, when Minnehaha county was
called he shouted In . stentorian
voice above oil the din and racket,
'Twenty-one votes for Melvin drigs-
BY" amid . roar Of laughter and ap-
plause.
The Farmers Alliance. under con-
troll OF H. L. LouckS Of Deuel. county,
Immediately set about putting an In
dependent candidate In the field
against me. It was . strong and we'll
organised body and they selected .
nv nnnonent. ,IameS w. Harden Of