Emmons County record. [volume] (Williamsport, D.T. [i.e. N.D.]) 1884-current, 1892-11-18

Since its publication the writer has had
inquiries from many citizens as to wheth.
er this audaclous attempt at bribery was
to be investigated, or whether action In
the matter would not be taken. The
RECORD believes that it can safely state
that the matter will be probed to the bot.
tom.
Of those named in last week. article
as being present when the money was
paid overland so far heard from-one
has denied and one admitted the truth Of
the REcoRD's statements as to the pay.
ment of the money, the latter making the
venerable plea of wrong-do that ut is
no worse than has been done.'
A number of citizens who have called
to congratulate the editor over his elec.
ton have expressed their satisfaction that
the RECORD has given the facts to the
public. But this paper could not do 9TH
erwise If it wished. Regardless of the
principles At stake, no newspaper that
expects to retain list of subscribers
could suppress the news in matter OF
such general Importance as this-a mat.
ter, too, already known to hundred
people.
The writer must confess that-up to the
time that Commissioner Van Beck left
Williamsport, some ten days before cleo
ton, after having stated to two different
men that he would buy the Russian vote
he did not believe that an attempt
would be made to use money directly for
the purchase Of votes 1t was only when
the writer reached John Miller's house.
on the day after the money was paid
over, saw the money that had been paid,
and heard the details of the shameful
story, that he was convinced that men
desperate enough to do such things ex.
listed in Emmons county.
One man up this way, known to be in
sympathy with the bribers, said the other
day that he would like to see the thing
pushed that others would he brought
into it (, that anybody could buy Rus.
sian for ten dollars. Now, the RECORD
will say that the gentleman is mistaken.
The writer has done business with them
for nearly four years, as clerk of court,
and has found them honorable, upright
and faithful to promises in every ln-
stance. They are exceedingly hospitable,
and it is seldom that any one stopping at
Russian-German house other than
where business ls made of keeping trav.
elers-is charged a cent for entertainment,
as settlers from other parts of the county
who have made trips through their set.
Elements will testify. While lack Of
knowledge Of the English language makes
them clannish 20 q certain degree. they
are always pleased 10 receive visits from
English speaking people. and their desire
to become Amerlcanlzed is shown by
the number of schoolhouses they have
built and the pride with which they relate
how rapidly the "kinter" are learning to
speak our language. They are good
farmers economical, Industrious, have
aided largely by their taxes in bearing
the burdens of county government, and
very few criminal cases to tax the re-,
sources of the taxpayers have come from
the Russian settlements. Their regard
for Americans is not based on attempts at
bribery, but on fair dealing in business
way and respectful treatment, Though
they speak foreign language now, one
or two generations will convert them into
race of sturdy Americans. They are
exceedingly jealous of the right of fran
chise, and understand as we'll as anybody
the necessity for a pure ballot in coun.
try where the people rule. It shows Ill
grace for resident Of a state possessing
majority of foreign.born citizens tc
assert that the votes of any class of for
eigners can be bought for ten dollars
apiece. "Knownothingism" is dead in
America. The citizen of foreign birth
will be judged--as an individuality the
same standard as the native. "A man
One Of the conspirators asserts that
John Miller is legally as much to blame
as those who paid the money. This is
not true. A hundred American prece.
dents are to the contrary, as the RECORD
Is Informed by competent Bismarck at.
torneY. 1t is entirely question of in.
tent. Had John Miller taken the money
turned it over to the church; kept quiet
about it, as requested to do by those who
paid the money! and then attempted to
use his position as Inspector to deliver
his countrymen's votes as requested--then
ne would have been equally guilty with
those who paid the money, But he did
nothing OF the kind. He had no intention
Of doing anything of the kind. When
Joe Kalberer told Inspector Miller tina,
Commissioner Van Beck would probably
try to buy him, Mr. Miller said, ''He can
not buy me for thousand dollars" He
at once made the facts of the attempted
bribery public, and announced that the
bribe-money would not be used for the
purpose for which it was given. The intent
was to strike blow at election bribery IN
this county that would knock 1t out for
all time, and the attempt succeeded ads
mirably. John Miller, the faithful cleo
ton officer, deserves the thanks of every
honest republican and of every honest
democrat in this county, and any jury
that could be assembled in the state Of
North Dakota would say "Amen r
county says: IF they push this matter,
others will be brought into it," meaning
this, of course, as bluff for those who
received the Russian vote. But that
makes no difference. The people Of this
county want the matter sitted. They
want to know whose money was put up
by Van Beck. They want to. know what
candidates met the party who went over
to brlbe Inspector Miller-met them at
Van Beek's store on tho morning of the
day on which the money was paid
The RECORD, with u distinct knowledge