The evening times. [volume] (Grand Forks, N.D.) 1906-1914, 1906-10-01
LETTER ADDRESSED
TO J. EDWARD
ENGERUD
B. L. Weld, Prominent Cleve-
land, N. D., Stockman In
Communication.
EXPLAINS CONTROVERSY
Status Of the Engerud-K nauf
Affair-Will Engerud
Make Answer?

been received at this Office from B. l..
Weld of the firm of Weld & Weld,
farmers and ranchers at Cleveland,
N. D. 1t is copy of letter address,
ed to Edward Engerud, supreme court
justice. In it are propounded num-
Der of questions which Mr.. Engerui
may or may not find time to answer.
The letter:
Cleveland, N. D., Sept. 80, '06.
To Edward Engerud,
Fargo, N. D.:
Dear Sir-I read in the Forum your
dictated statement of your reasons for
refusing to attend a session of the
supreme court at Grand Forks recent
ly. ! am specially pleased to see that
you have no occasion to question the
personal character of Mr.. Knauf,
whom you have seen fit to oppose for
this office. Mr.. Knauf has resided in
Stutsman county for twenty-three
years. He has never been sued, has
never been accused of throwing" his
client or of retaining money collected
for his client. He has never tasted
intoxicating liquors in his life, and his
personal habits and morals are abso-
lutely above reproach. His credit is
good among the business men and
the banks in his own county, and his
clients are from among the best peo-
pie here. In this respect then the peo-
pie seem to have made no mistake
in their choice, or the governor in his
appointment, and it is specially crafty
ing to his friends here that your criti-
cal eye can find nothing to question in
this regard. 1t seems that mud sling
ing is today the rage, and no ones per-
sonal character, who happens to be in
public life, is exempt. When people
seek to do a man up that, it seems, 1t
is usually the first point of attack. and
to find man like Mr.. Knauf, clean
in his life, temperate in his habits, true
to his clients, honest in his business
dealings, even under the most exact
ing critics, is indeed something the
people of this state may we'll congratu-
late themselves on. have known
Judge knauf for twenty-three years.
Have done business with him, been ad-
vised by him, have been in his home
and know his wife and his children,
and know what | am talking about.
Judge Knauf got his early educa-
ton at the jamestown high school, the
jamestown Presbyterian college. ami
later took the law course in Ann Ar
Dor, Mich. In what respect has your
own early training. college and law
course exceeded this? If so, in what
way? Mr.. Knauf has been admitted
and in the active practice of law con-
tinuously since 1892. He has been en-
gagged in many important cases and
has been very successful. Has your
own practice or experience or success
exceeded his? If so. in what way?
You agree that Mr.. Knauf's personal
character and habits are not to be
questioned. Does your own compare
with his? Mr.. knauf has always paid
his debts and always been true 10 his
clients. Have you? Sometime ago the
Journal of Minneapolis made the state.
ment that your ill will towards Mr.
Knauf was because of some old COL
lection he had against you for a Mr.
Plunkett. 1t stated that YOU had COL
lected from some school district salary
due to him and refused to account
and pay same over. And it is said that
this teacher. Mr.. Plunkett, had en-
ployed Mr.. Knauf to collect this money
for him. and that after repeated dun
ming and some judicial prodding, you
finally paid same. And that because
of this old controversy you were pre-
JUDGED against Mr. Knauf. Is this so?
Is your reputation for paying your
debts as good as is Mr.. Knauf's? Do
you believe that Judge of the su-
preme court should be honest in his
life. or is not this needed? In the face
of all these facts. don't you really
think that Mr.. knauf is as competent
for judge as yourself?
| am only voter, one of the many
in this state. l may be assuming a
good deal to write you as have, but
| feel as do many others that the peo-
pie are interested in this matter and
arc entitled to know all about it.
Since the matter has come up in the
papers as it has, am perhaps a little
bold, but if am wrong, please set me
right. expect to support knauf. just
as ! did when you were nominated
like him for this same place And |
might add, had your life. training,
capacity and ability been attacked at
that time like his is now, what would
you have done? Could you have come
through like he is coming, unscathed?
Would your private life be above
criticism? Would your professional
conduct be unquestioned? | would
like to hear from you. if it is not be-
meath your dignity to answer a humble
voter.
Yours very truly.
r r. WELD