The Washburn leader. [volume] (Washburn, McLean County, N.D.) 1890-1986, 1906-10-26
CAUSI|COPBN
LETTER
6. ]. Murphy, Paid Attorney
Of Great Northern Rail-
road Company at
Grand Forks
Raising Funds to Defeat Knauf
Asked to Explain Some
Things.

| uAIlS0s
Office of j. w. White, Attorney, Car
rington, N. D., Oct. %, 1906.
To c. J. Murphy, Attorney for Grea
Northern Railroad, and Member o
Committee on Funds, etc., Crane
Forks, N. D. ......
Dear Sir: l received one of your
circular letters signed by yourself anc
another as Committee on Funds" In
this you say you have been appointed
to solicit funds to defray expenses
in the interests of Judge Fisk's can
didacy for the supreme court" and
you say and truthfully too, eve can
add nothing to what has already been
said, except, to make an effective cam
paign, considerable expense in reach
ing the voters with literature, so as
to call their attention to the quail
ffcations Of the two aspirants for the
Office in question will necessarily be
incurred" How true your statement
is, is evidenced by what must have
been the cost of such stuff as your
committees have been putting out
over the state.
Still again you say, "this burden
(the eXpense) will have to be borne
by those who are interested both
directly and indirectly in the per-
sonnet of the supreme court So you
would have those who are inter-
ested' buy the way of the supreme
court? We want to know! you say
again relative to expense, ''the major
portion the lawyers will have to put
up, but we expect funds from others
Indeed! The lawyers must put III"
and still you said you wanted pure
court! put up" the ward healers
call thoroughly used in your efforts.
And you say eve expect aid from
others Interested What others,
pray? I know you are the Great
Northern railroad attorney-is your
client "the" and "others interested?'
l notice that N. c. Young soliciting
similar assistance, is member of
Ball, Watson & Young, the Northern
Pacific railway attorneys at Fargo. Is
their client part of "the'and "others
interested?"
You say you "intend to reach every
voter" etc. Why not send copy of
your appeal for financial aid You
say expense "must be incurred for
postage, travelling expenses, etc. Lit
tie, indeed, will you use for the items
set forth, doubtless most will be used
for the "etc. buying votes, hiring
ward heelers, corrupting votes. No,
sir, 1 not only will not give cent,
but sir, you ought to be ashamed OF
the methods pursued. shall hope
the attorneys and voters will repudiate
the methods pursued to the wild effort
to defeat Judge Knauf. How much
are you paying Judge Engerud? Does
he come under the head of the "etc."
mentioned in your list of expenses?
Does the expense of Charles ]. Fisk
as he canvassed from Grand Forks
to Williston and again when he and
Engerud went to Steele county come
under the "etc." in your list of Tex
penses to be incurred?"
The general practice lawyers ought
not to want you interested" railroad
and corporation attorneys of Fargo
and Grand Forks and your interest
ed" clients to name the supreme court
judges. The judges ought not be
responsible to you, but should be re-
sponsible to the people of the great
state. The "rot" your committee
sends out, the methods you adopt. all
show you think not SO much of the
"purity" of the court, as you do
whether the "court is right"-railroad
men say Judge Knauf does not ride
on railroad pass. Can you say that
Of your candidate?
1t is said that when you sent Judge
Knauf pass that he returned it and
likewise as tc. the N. P. passes. Does
this influence you and other railroad
attorneys against Knauf? Is that why
you and "others interested" desire his
defeat? Are you "inf1uenced?" l beg
leave, therefore, to refuse to send you
:the contribution" demanded and l
hope against your success. l am told
that you are democrat is that true?
Now, know Judge Knauf in court
and out, in his private and public life,
and know him to be a first. class law
YER Your "rot" about Knauf not
being qualified is worthy of the
Thoroughbred politician in which art
you seem an adapt though, you are a
great railroad attorney. Knauf is
qualified in point Of education, train.
ling, age. temperament and character
to act on the supreme bench.
I9fs.l5 Sss Yours truly,
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