The evening times. [volume] (Grand Forks, N.D.) 1906-1914, 1907-05-21

ton and the State AUDITORS associa-
ton who are here in large numbers
from organizations which have much
to. do with the public standard of the
state and the citizens at large.
There was joint meeting of the
two organizations this morning at the
court house. President Wineman of
the States Attorneys association pre-
siding. Mayor Duis was to have de-
livered the address Of welcome to the
distinguished visitors, but he was on
a train coming from Duluth and did
not reach the city in time TO officiate
in this pleasant capacity, and his place
was taken by States Attorney Wine-
man. He stated that the auditors
represented the people, while the
states attorneys were charged with
the enforcement Of the laws. Ex-
pressing regret at the absence of Gov
ernor Burke who had agreed to be
present and address the meeting this
morning. he stated that the governor
was in Fargo last night and left that
city, but the people there were unable
to tell whether he had come towards
this city or gone in some other di-
rection, and that for the time being,
the governor was lost Briefly out
lining the program that had been pre-
pared for the visitors, he showed that
the meeting would not only be one
which would enable the officials to get
better grasp of their duties from a
comparison Of ideas, but that the
pleasures which had been planned.
would enable them to better unity
and unite In their work. The key of
the city which was. in the custody of
Mayor Duis was delivered to the visi-
tors by the old feudal method Of -.
Mr.. Wineman stated that the key
would open the, treasury houses of
Grand Forks to the visitors, but that
it was not capable of opening those of
the East Side. He welcomed the visi-
tors to the city and on behalf of the
citizens gave the visitors the glad
hand.
Auditors Response.
The response on behalf of the audi
tors was made by President Emil S.
Eich of Ramsey county. He clearly
demonstrated the theory that work.
ing men are not given to long speech,
and while he thoroughly expressed
the appreciation of the association for
the courtesies and the honors which
the city had extended to its members,
he did 1t in very few we'll chosen
and apt words-while it would have
taken lawyer an hour to have ex-
pressed the same thing.
Vice Presidents Response.
The response on the part of the
states attorneys was made by George
w. ThrOpe, states attorney of Suits
man county. He made a decidedly
happy hit when he said in accepting
the key to the city, that the belief of
the association was that state lines
did not eliminate professionalism. He
called attention to the fact that an Of
fetal who had been as much concerned
in the enforcement of the prohibition
law as had the gentleman who had
welcomed the gathering to the city,
would not likely he willing or able
even If willing to deliver the keys of
the city of East Grand Forks. He
raised the legal original package ques-
ton and statde that the states attor-
neys believed that the interstate COM
merce law should be upheld. Pass
ing from the numerous to the serious,
he stated that the association of states
attorneys was more a gathering of
great men than a great gathering of
men, and then traced the history of
the organization from small begin
ming to the present proportions.
Hon. T. F. McCue Talks.
The principal address of the morn
ing session was made by Attorney
General T. F. McCue, who in the more
than, half-hour that he held the un-
divided attention of the large audi
ence, proved that he was certainly the
right man in the right place After a
pleasing introduction by President
Wineman, he passed at once to the
discussion Of the question at hand. He
| paid high tribute to the lawyer, as a
| professional man, and dwelt at length
| upon the basis principal of his profess
sion, that of securing right and JUS
tfce between man and man. He
dwelt upon the solemn meaning of the
oath which the lawyer took in assum-
ing the obligations of his profession,
| and said the men who violated that
obligation were the exception, and
that the exception was very rare
thing.
Comlnercialism has come into many
of the avocations of life, and it had
| to a large extent gotten into the legal
profession, but while this was to some
extent regretable, it had not as yet
destroyed the ground work and that
| the profession was advancing.
The states attorneys are charged
with the enforcement of the penal
statues, and it is as much the duty Of
these officials to see that the innocent
man is not punished as it is to see that
the guilty are.
Enforcing Prohibition.
The majority of the laws which the
states attorneys are called upon to
enforce at this time, are those which
regulate in some manner the preroga-
ttves of the individual as understood
in the old system. This was especial
ly true Of the prohibition law. It
was not the province of the states
Z, attorneys or the attorney general to
f! pass upon the merits of the laws as
they were found on the statute books
to enforce them regardless of what the
personal opinion Of the official might
be in regard to their moral merit
The laws we're made by the majority
of the people and the whole people
must bend to the will of that majority
as written in the statutes. The ma
| j0rfty of the people of the state, or
rather of the territory had written the
prohibition clause into the states
constitution, and 1t was the duty Of the
officials to enforce that law regard
less Of personal opinions. 1t was
probably the most troublesome Of all
the laws to enforce because 1t pro-
hibited personal desires. This state,
he said, cannot exist, half saloon and
half prohibition. 1t was absurd to be-
lieye that there would be any respect
for the law II It were enforced in a
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