The pioneer express. [volume] (Pembina, Dakota [N.D.]) 1883-1928, 1894-09-14
THE COMMISSIONERS pnc1nr

The first chapter Of the county seat
fight Is concluded, aud Messrs. McIn.
tosh, Eyolfson aud Morrison have de.
cided that when man once Signs his
name TO a petition, 1t is there to stay.
and y request over hrs own verified
signature to have his name taken on
the original petition, by any signefi,
cuts no figure. They have agreed
with Mr.. Leslle's argument that 'only
God and the devil know how many
voters there are in Pembina county.
aud that 1t is an impossIbility for any
one else to fluid out" They have
refused to even attempt to purge the
petition Of duplicated or fraudulent
names, or even u count the total
number, since the same wus filed, and
then WITHOUT COUNT OF VOTERS.
either in the county or on the petition
declare aud decide that a petition Of
an INDEFINITE number Of names is
more than twC-thirds Of an 1NpErr.
MITE number Of ,o.ery!!
The writer, as Z member Of the
Pcmbina committee. has narrowly
watched the proceedings OF the coun.
" commissioners Is this case, and We
charge the commissioners who voted
for the resolution, with wilfully neg.
Letting to consider the evidence plac-
ed before them In an impartial man.
ner, and In almost every instance, neg
lecting to give 1t the slightest consld.
Grafton at all.
The resolution passed by the com.
missioners states, that the petition,
latter being purged." was acted on.
we charge that not one name was
taken from the petition, and propo.
sition made by the minority to
purge the petition" was disagreed
to by the maturity, without any ex.
animation Of the names pointed out
by the Pembina committee as dupli-
Gated or forged, and which u very su.
pcrficlal examination would show:
aud this, after the decision Of the
states attorney that it was their duty
to examine the petition.
We charge the said commissioners
with wilfully neglectinR the advice Of
their legal adviser, In refusing to ex-
anime evidence, 10 refusing to enter.
tain tho remOnstrance, In refusing
aud neglecting to make q reasonable
effort 10 ascertain the approximate
number Of voters.
Mr.. Morrison stated that he would
not accept remembrance except
that each rcmoustrator should make
an AFFIDAVIT that he desired his name
stricken from the petition. His deci.
sion as shown w hts vote and state.
ment Is, that he believed his neigh.
bOrs' requests, In Drayton and Mid.
land, over their own verified sigma.
lures. are not worthy of consideration
except they swear to it. Mr.. Morri.
sons record In this matteris peculiar.
lie was on hand when the petition
was filed. He assisted Ia making and
approved the vote postponiug the
hearing to certain day. When that
day came the balance Of the board
were here, the contesting parties and
attorneys, some OF whom came from
u distance and were at large expense.
we're all here, and Mr.. Morrison stay.
ed ut home 70 begin threshing on
that very day when he knew that q
matter Of 70 much public importance
was coming before the board. The
case was heard, but owing to bis ab-
scnce 1t was not settled, and . second
meeting was necessary, the expense
1T which to the county 10 shown by
the bills Of the commissioners for per
diem and mileage. and the expense
to the cOntesting parties can be esti
mated. As tn NJ. N0frison's motives
we have n0clue.
Mr.. Morrison however. 10 .red.hot
popullst. NJ. D00Oysu. the chairman