The Ward County independent. [volume] (Minot, Ward County, N.D.) 1902-1965, 1906-05-24
MAJOR MURPHY'S VIEWS

you should be from even selfish
viewpoint.
1t has been quite the thing for a
number Of years in Ward county
when some little fellows game has
been blocked, to find relief in holler-
ing "Murphyism." That seems vent
for pent up feelings and I know of no
way of preventing the state machine
gang in Ward county from measur-
ing me with their own little tape
measures. They seem as far beyond
the reach of an injunction as they are
beyond a sense of fairness. SO l pre-
sumo I will have to let them keep
on snarling and barking at my heels.
They seem to enjoy it and it does
the dictation of the machine, I am
arrested on some groundless charge
and brilliant attorneys are employed
at a cost of thousands Of dollars to
the tax payers to befuddle the jury,
but that is another story and one
that will be clearly told at another
time.
I sometimes think that the holler
of "Murphyism" serves the gang the
same good purpose that David Harum
said fleas did the dog. Harum said
"A certain amount Of fleas was good
for a dog as it kept him from thinkink
he was a dog" Possibly the cry of
"Murphyism' by the machine poll
ticians keeps them from thinking OF
themselves.
I dislike exceedingly to dignity those
little fellows who shout "Murphyism'
until they are black in the face, as
they can hope to keep the ear Of the
people only so long as more substan-
tial people will deign to answer them.
Not that I have not many things to
say and some language lying around
loose to say them with.
If you will look into this matter of
the cry of "Murphyism" you must
inevitably be driven to the conclusion
that the iteration, reiteration, and Vo-
ciferation regarding it, comes from
severe pain in the political inwards
of the state machine minions in Ward
county.
Now what about the cry of ''Mur~
phyism ~
What does it mean? What does it
stand for?
Two years ago it was clairled by the
adherents of the machine, and those
who were given political existence by
that machine. that the then incum-
hents of the Ward county, leg
islative and judicial Offices We're al!
"Murphy'' men-that I not only stood
sponsor for them but actually named
them in every case. 1t was claimed
that the offices were corruptly man
ayed and the most ridiculous and
unfounded charges were uttered in
absolute disregard of truth and fact.
It was proclaimed from the house
tops that if the men then holding Of
flee were ousted the court house
would be burned that evidence OF
their crimes might be destroyed.
The state machine turned over the
organization of the party in Ward
county to Joseph Roach, Alfred Blais
| dell, ct al. The so-called Murphy
| men were out. The state machine
! adherents got in, Expert account
ants were employed at fancy salaries
to find where the footing occurred.
Did they find anything wrong? No
| They could not and did mot lay a
finger on a single wrong act or trace
| one dollar wrongfully appropriated
| True the clerk OF the court kept GER
| tain fees that went to his office, and
| to which he maintained he was ent1-
tied to, the county having employed
! no help for his office. He, however.
| deposited the money in dispute in the
| bank to the county's order and If the
! court says that the county is entitled
| to the moneys, it is there. and the
county dues not stand to loose dol
! lar.
l am proud Of the personal and
official record of practically eVsny
| man who has held Office while I was
chairman of the organization. Every
] man OF them was honest, efficient,
and faithful to the people and ITO
| the peoples interest. Can those be-
hind the present regime say as m1fch
! ana say it as truthfully? I challenge
rornDa1:ison In few instances I ac-
! knowledge having initiated movements
looking to the election or appointment
| Of certain men. I it was, who intro
iuced Albert Swanson, now chairman
of the board Of county commissioners
and an antimachine candidate for
sheriff, to run for commissioner, ard
! / put in some time working In his
interest. believing him to be the fit
/ test man in his district. The only
thing I ever asked Of Swanson dur
ing his four years as commissioner
, was to see that the county was run
honestly, economically and efficiently.
! believed him to have ability, back
bone and integrity. He has not dis
appointed me. For more than a year
or until the ousting of two Of the
by Judge Goss, Commissioner swan a,
SON stood between the people and the
looting Of the county treasury. He
| could neither be bought, sold, nor
| fooled.
Early in 1902, believing in the need
Of ney judicial district, (now the
| Sth) I initiated a movement for It's
formation. and subsequently spen.
five weeks in Bismarck, working and
| lobbying for the bill looking to the
| formation Of the district, and paying
my own expenses. Our members Of
| the legislature and state senate. So
called Murphy" men, accepted my
every suggestion and they subordin-
ated every other interest to the pass
age Of the act creating the district, as
| the people Of Ward county were most
Interested in this piece Of legislation.
When the bill became law Cover
i nor White told me he would appoint
whom I would recommend for Judge
as he believed from my long residences
here that I knew who was best fitted
for the place and that it ought to go
to a Ward county man. I recon
mended l. ]. Palda and while told
the Governor that did not claim that
Palda was pre-eminent or even en-
inent, or that he was ideally fitted for
! the position, I did believe him to be
the best we had. Palda was appoint
ed and I point with pride to his re-
| cord on the bench, and I might add
that during his incumbency as Judge
| l never even discussed with him
| single case that came before his court.