The evening times. [volume] (Grand Forks, N.D.) 1906-1914, 1906-12-10

cept then,-would control both branch
es of the legislature.
Is it not possible that to the demo-
cratic morning daily of this city there
was something behind the agitation
more important to it than the organic
alton of the state senate? 1t is prob
able that in case the senate is con-
trolled by the republican party, that
an investigation of the printing graft
of the state will be forced upon the
legislature. If both branches are so
controlled there will be little hind
rance in the work. 1t would have
decidedly bad flavor, though, to have
an investigation Of this graft insisted
upon by the republicans, while the
party which has always preached the
doctrine of reform in state matters
refused to permit it to be acted upon
in the house, should that branch of the
legislature be controlled by it.
AS matter of fact, the reformers
do not dare make an investigation of
this matter, for they know that an
investigation will substantiate the
charges. The morning democratic
sheet of this city claims large meas
ure of responsibility for electing Gov
ernor Burke, and it must be conceded
that this contention is largely true.
For this reason neither Governor
Burke nor his friends in the legislature
can afford to have an investigation
If the republicans have control of the
senate they can either force the others
to openly shield the people who robbed
the taxpayers of the state or give
up their friends for the political hang
man.
If both houses are under the control
of the allied forces of Governor Burke,
they can suppress the investigation
and then explain to the people OF the
state that the charge was simply mad=
by the Evening Times for pol:r:ca.
purposes. In this connection W d.
sire to say that we have il cur cos-
session a contract made ~ r-:o-.cs
firms in this state conce--:c. .ae
public printing which proves per 8:
that an illegal combination vas =c-s-.
ed into among the firms 20 ex-n-- Il
unreasonable price from I.= s.:.= :,-
work let under contract 20 tt= parties.
We further charge thai the -ar-a7e-s
OF the state were compelled 70 "a:
a third more than the work was worth
because OF this Illegal combination.
The contract will be produce; before
any committee or any body OF the leg
islature appointed to investigate the
same, without cost to the state.
We do not know whether any of the
state officials at the time the contract
was made were cognizant of the matter
or not. If they were, the public has
a right to know who they were and
what connection they had with the
matter. If they did not it is merely
justice them that they should be set
right before the public.
This, however, is just what is caus-
ing the morning democratic organ TO
suffer all the agonies of the convict.
1t fears the investigation of the print
ing steal 1t fears to have the legis-
lature controlled by men who, without
playing the political hypocrite, are
determined that every man who holds
a public position in this state or who
is concerned in any way with public
affairs, shall be compelled to give
an account Of his Stewardship. No
wonder the late addition to the ranks
of democratic journalism in this state
should have spasm over the state
ment that its friends did not control
one branch Of the legislature. No
wonder it is fawning at the feet Of
Governor Burke and is throwing bait