Bismarck daily tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, Dakota [N.D.]) 1881-1916, 1908-05-08


called by the sudden death of my
father, you published what was sent
out to be review of my legislative
record, stating that it was done by
the request of gentlmen who had
made a careful search of the record.
This attack upon me is so unjust,
80 unfair and so untruthful that you
cannot, in justice to yourself or to
me, fail to accord me space in which
to reply.
! submit that by taking independ-
ent facts, setting them apart from
surrounding facts and circumstances,
and drawing conclusions, it is pos
sible to convict any public man on
any charge whatever. This is what.
has been done. by the compiler Of
your record. The truth has been
suppressed or perverted, the record
has been tortured and twisted, and
your compiler asks a judgment upon
half-truths, deliberate misreprensa-
tons and what we're thought to be
cunningly prepared special pleadings.
Either voluntarily, because of per-
sonal or political enmity, or for hire,
like paid pleaders, your compilers
have prepared a brief for their
clients, who are my political oppon-
ents.
They have not sought truth but the
avoidance Of it. They have gone
through the record of twenty years
the legislation and by interviewing
their own comments and endless rep
itition of set phrases, they have
drawn an indictment Of four columns
that is SO clumsily false 1t will not
bear the test of even casual analy-
sis.
An Old Indictment.
| am entirely familiar with this in
dictment because it was prepared and
circulated with the intent to injure
me in campaign for the state SEN
ate several years ago. 1t was anal
yzed and taken by my constituents
for what it is intrinsically worth
nothing.
II a witness is found to be testify
ing falsely in one essential particular
he may, with Justice, be considered
false in all parts Of the testimony
With reference to my vote on the
lottery bill, upon this as on all meas
ures, have tried to represent my
constituents, and without attempt
ing to explain the condition existing
at that time, affecting the farmers
OF large area, and the finances Of
the state, for the relief of which the
passage of this measure was so gem
= orally urged, in petitions signed by
$4,000 voters of the state, / did not
vote for it until after a mass meet
Ing and the presentation of petit
ton, signed by practically my en-
tire constituency.
In the light Of subsequent deyelop-
ments it is clear that the position
taken by the overwhelming majority
OF the members of both houses at
that time was wrong but. as the
Herald has SO frequently and force
fully urged as the first duty of the
peoples agent, honestly represent
ed my constituents in this matter
at that time.
Now, in regard to my legislative
record, ! call your attention to a
typical perversion Of the truth in
your published reference to Senate
Bill 141 Of the session Of 1917.
You publish the title to this bill,
which is found to refer to the sub
jects Of trusts. You. do not state the
nature Of the bill, but it is taken for
granted that because this bill did
not come out Of the senate judiciary
committee. Of which have had the
honor for many years to be chair
man. it was suppressed by me, in
the interests Of the trusts. Now, II
you will refer to the Senate Journal
for 1907. at page 400, you will find
that the senate judiciary committee
reported Senate Bill 72-the Palmer
bill-whose title is as follows:
An act defining pools and trust
and providing the penalties and
remedies therefor, and to repeal
chapter So Of the penal code Of
the revised codes of 1905.
You will note at page 500 that 1
moved the adoption Of this report,
and that at page 71S this bill was
y passed and that voted for it.
This bill is now law and on the
statute books. 1t is admitted to be
the most drastic, most complete and
most effective measure against trusts
on the statute books of any state.
Il was agreed by the Judiciary
committee and by the senate to be
the best bill on the subject that was
introduced and was passed for that
reason.
Senate Bill al. of which Won seek