The evening times. [volume] (Grand Forks, N.D.) 1906-1914, 1906-10-20
OPEN LETTERS TO LEADERS NIL
OF LAWYERS MOVEMENT"
tContinued from paxc l., :

nominated him. The combination made
at ST. Paul by Watson. Young and
Engerud was. by the convention,
broken and Knauf was nominated.
Those of us who have practiced at
the bar with knauf. for years past.
know his ability. integrity. strength
Of character and his temperament. his
qualifications generally, and these We
are not willing to sacrifice to indulge
the freakish fancy of the now famous
political judge. wire puller and
manipulation of Fargo.
You speak of learning, ability, char
acter and judicial temperament" 1t
may be asked of yourself. Wallin,
Bartholomew. Young and Cochran. Al
the time of your nominations and
elections where was your learning,
ability. character and judicial temper
ainent? None of you were decked with
any medals SO far as we are able t.
learn. Can you say that Fisk eXcells
knauf in point OF learning and ability:
Knauf has tried many more cases in
the supreme court than Fisk, and,
he Is one of the most successful prac-
titioners of the state. No man can say
Judge Knauf is dishonest. immoral or
Incorporate. And. so far as judicial
temperament Is concerned, he is the
equal of the North Dakota judicial
standard.
1t seems to. that the people should
sit down on the dictatorial policy as
One could conclude from your state
hot nd nd
man of superb ideas. but If so. why
his personal dislike for Judge Knaufo
Why for number Of years after
Judge Knauf's election against him
did he fail to recognize him? Why
does he fail to respond to the demands
of others having like claims. legitimate
and just. against him?
Now as to the opposition to Judge
Knauf coming from the judges and
ex-judges, Young, of the railroad
lawyers would naturally be against
him. Wallin is not here and have
never heard OF his having expressed
himself. You. of course, have your
grievance. but as to Judge Morgan you
are surely mistaken. To this extent
at least your statement is incorrect.
Judge Morgan is for Judge Knauf and
has been actually associated with
him for weeks upon the supreme court
bench and he knows Knauf better than
do you Engerud.
Now as to that Cass County Bar
association resolution. have heard
quite good deal of late and am
reliably informed that the facts are
about as follows:
Watcon that Gonna roiIrnod In
of Fargo, called together some eleven
of the tifty-six members Of the bar, by
means of the phone, and prepared and
signed the resolution referred too as
the "Cass County Bar association res
olution." and sent it out against Judge
knauf. No other call had been given
for this meeting and many of the
members were at Jamestown, in at
tendance at the convention, assist
ing in the nomination OF Judge Knauf.
1t has been reported that very great
majority of the Cass County Bar are
against knauf. but am reliably in
formed that this is not true. Now
Judge, it is apparent that you do not
know Judge Knauf, and not knowing
him, you should not attempt to
criticise, belittle and humiliate him.
You should not prejudice the inter-
ests and seek to blacken the character
of the man whom you do not know.
You should remember that inexper-
iaanced STRIPPING of a boy" who was
elected to the supreme court at the
beginning of statehood and be as
lenient with Judge Knauf as others
were. then, with you.
You speak OF the great sacrifice
Judge Engerud would be making by
resigning his position. In the first
place. he has not yet resigned. We
are informed, reliably too, that
Engerud declared he would resign If
knauf was nominated. He has not
done so. We are also reliably inform
edthat he made the declaration that
he would resign If Judge Knauf was
appointed. He has not done so. Now,
will he resign when Judge Knauf d.
is finally elected? Is it Judicial Hon
ors to which Judge Engerud aspires
or is he influenced somewhat by the
salary of about $500 per day which
he receives as supreme court Judge?
Was it not Judge Engerud's DISPOSE
ton to dOmineer over the supreme
court that brought about Judge
Young's resignation. Would not
Young have been on the bench today
had Judge Engerud been an agreeable
associate? Did Judge Engerud, before
going on the bench. ever have finan-
cial income equal to one-third of his
present income? If so. why should the
difference have ever arisen between
he and Judge Knauf over the collec-
ton? When the convention of two
years ago placed in nomination Judge
Engerud Judge Knauf laid away all
personal feeling and gave him his
support. That was display of
judicial temperament. doui:, NJ:
Judge that If Judge Engerud SHOULD
be nominated two years hence that
Judge knauf would make the same
display of judicial temperament. 1t Is
his nature to do SO. We regret that
such disposition cannot be found in
Judge Engerud whom you have so ably
eulOgised
Yours Respectfully,