The Dickinson press., 1908-06-06
Legislative Record OF Hon. c. B. Little
% un faS HERALD hM HAVING Recently Published Page Of Misleading and Unfair Criticisms Of Mr. LMesl g%hpC Career Now Publishes
@ I'D unanSmo lnn (WHICH Thoroughly indicates the Record Of One the Sh@$he
most Legislators and Most Patriotic Citizens

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Editor, Grand Forks Herald: In
my absence in the east, where I was
called by the sudden death of my
father, you published what was sent
out to be a review of my legislative
record. stating that it was done by
the request of gentlemen who had
made a careful search Of the record.
This attack upon me Is so unjust,
SO unfair and so untruthful that you
cannot, in Justice to yourself or to
me, fail to accord me space in which
to reply.
I submit that by taking independ-
ent facts, setting them apart from
surrounding facts and circumstances,
and drawing conclusions, 1t 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
ysur compiler asks a judgment upon
h%alf-truths, deliberate misrepresenta-
tions and what were 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
Of 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 It will not
bear the test Of even q casual analy-
sis. x
An Old Indictment.
I am entirely familiar with this in
dictment because it was prepared and
circulated with the intent to injure
me in a campaign for the state SEN
ate several years ago. It was anal
yzed and taken by my constituents
for what it is int~rinsically worth
nothing.
If q witness is found to be testify
ing falsely in one essential particular
he may, with justice, be considered
false in all parts Of his testimony.
With reference to my vote on the
lottery bill. Upon this as on all meas.
ures, I have tried to represent my
constituents, and without attempt
ing to explain the conditions existing
at that time, affecting the farmers
Of a large area, and the finances Of
the state, for the relief Of which the
passage of this measure vas SO gem
orally urged, in petitions signed by
$4,000 voters Of the state, I 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 develop.
ments it is clear that the. position
taken by the overwhelming majority
of the members Of both houses al
that time was wrong but, as the
Herald has so frequently and force
fully urged. as the first duty of, the
peoples agent, I honestly represent
ed my constituents In this matter
at that time.
Now, in regard to my Legislative
record, 1 call your attention to
typical p%erversion Of the truth II
your published reference to Senate
Bill 141 Of the session Of 1907.
You publish the title to this bill
which is found to refer to the sub
ject Of trusts. You do not state thu
nature of the bill, but It is taken fol
granted that because this bill dit
not come out Of the senate judiciar,
committee, Of which I have had tn,
honor for many years to be chair
man, it was suppressed by me, il
the interests Of the trusts. Now, !
you will refer to the Senate Journa
for 1907, at page 400. you will hnt
that the senate judiciary committee
reported Senate Bin 72-thexPallmn1see
bill-the title Of whichsis as follows
An act defining pools and trusts
and providing the penalties and
remidies therefor, and ito repeal
chapter So Of the penal code Of
the revised codes Of 1901.
You will note atfpage 600 that