The Wahpeton times. [volume] (Wahpeton, Richland County, Dakota [N.D.]) 1879-1919, 1908-04-02
ICELAND Starts a Laugh.

UeIand Starts Laugh.
Then Mr.. LELAND was introduced as
temporary chairman. He made brief
address and in conclusion created
amusement when he instructed the
delegates as to the manner of respond.
ing to the call of the roll. "You will
please state If there is no contest and
state If there is nobody here" he said.
Barnes county reportedS mo contest
and the delegation is full"
Morton county reported, mo con.
test and the delegation intoxicated
with Bryanism.'
NO contest" was declared to be
the rule and no committee on creden-
tials was appointed.
A motion was passed to appoint q
committee on resolutions, consisting
of nine delegates. A motion to make
the temporary organization perma-
nent was carried. as was a motion to
appoint committee of five on order
of business.
The chairman surrendered the gavel
to Mr.. Casl:el and when the latter
asked, what is your pleasure" cries
Of Burke" filled the air. and when
the governor appeared on the stage
the applause was deafening.
Gov. Burke spoke ON law enforce
ment. He referred to the plank in the
1906 Democratic platform that the
laws should be enforced. mot some Of
them against some people, but all of
the laws against all the people"
Il presume You expect me to render
an account to you here to-day as to
how l have fulfilled the trust imposed
on me-" said the governor. He said
he would leave it to the verdict of
the people at the polls whether he had
done his duty or not, and the verdict
would be entirely satisfactory to him.
He said:
Duty Of Citizens.
There is no king in this country ex-
cept the law which is established by
the people, and it is each citizens
duty to stand for the enforcement of
the law. and If 1t is the duty of every
private citizen to obey the law and to
enforce it. what shall you say of the
official who fails to observe and obey
the law and see that it is enforced.
Think of. the responsibility that
rests on an executive officer. There
may be some in this state who think
there has not been sufficient enforce
ment of law, but think IL you will
investigate you will find that there
have been made great strides in law
enforcement in the last two years."
Gov. Burke referred to the enforce.
ment of the prohibition law and said:
What can YOU expect Of state Of
ficials If mayors and city councils is-
sue licenses for the illegal sale Of
liquors. There would be no saloons
in this state under prohibition II those
engaged in the business did not re.
ceive encouragement from men pledg-
ed to enforce the law. Is there any
conclusion but that of perjury IL an
officer who swears to support the con-
stitution scarcely allows the ink to
grow dry to his signature to that oath
before he turns around and connives
in the violation of the law? This is a
time for plain speaking, and IL we can.
not speak plainly for law enforcement
we had better get out of business"
Wants More Power.
The governor then cited case
where he had ordered the attorney
general six months ago to remove
from office men who had so violated
their oaths, and that after making the
order he had heard nothing more
about it. He urged that law, which
was defeated in the last legislature.
giving the. governor summary power
to remove men who fail to do their
duty be passed. and he recommended
that resolution be adopted demand
ing that such a law be passed by the
next legislature. Gov. Burke closed
his speech by referring to the Demo
cratic principles of Jefferson, jackson,
Tilden, John A. Johnson and w. j.
Bryan.
Gov. Johnson's name received a
good measure of applause, but when
Bryan's name was given the wild
burst of applause which greeted it
showed the temper Of the convention.