all the cattle and
other stock in Billings County, and that "the only possible difference
that could result in organization would be to keep the taxes at home
and allow them to be expended for home improvements such as roads,
bridges, schoolhouses, and public buildings." The cattlemen were not
in a position to explain publicly what they probably meant, namely,
that a board of county commissioners and a tax assessor sitting in
Medora would have far less difficulty than a similar group sitting a
hundred and fifty miles east in Mandan in following the mysterious
movements of their cattle during the season when assessments were
made. An active agent of the county might conceivably note that when
Billings County, Dakota, was making its assessments, the herds could
generally be found in Fallon County, Montana, and that when Fallon
County was making its assessments, the cattle were all grazing in
Billings. But even in the Bad Lands it was no longer politic to
protest openly against what was palpably the public welfare, and the
petition for the organization of the county received the necessary
signatures, and was sent to the governor. "This is a step in the right
direction," patronizingly remarked the Mandan _Pioneer_. "Billings
County is rich enough and strong enough to run its own affairs."

Merrifield and Sylvane Ferris had been active in the work of
organization, and were eager to "run" Bill Sewall for County
commissioner. But that shrewd individual pleaded unfitness and lack of
time and refused to be cajoled into becoming a candidate.

There is some doubt concerning the exact date of the first election.
Roosevelt's diary would indicate that it was held on April 12th, but
the paragraph printed in the Minneapolis _Tribune_ of April 15th would
indicate that it was held on the 14th. Both statements are probably
wrong, and the election in all likelihood was held on the 13th.

Roosevelt, having testified against the three thieves, returned to
Medora late on the afternoon of election. There had been many threats
that the party of disorder would import section hands from the
neighboring railway stations to down the legions of the righteous. An
especial watcher had been set at the polling-places. It was none other
than Hell-Roaring Bill Jones. He was still on most cordial terms with
his old intimates, the ruffians who congregated at Bill Williams's
saloon, but he liked Roosevelt and the men who surrounded the young
Easterner, a