The Washburn leader. [volume] (Washburn, McLean County, N.D.) 1890-1986, 1908-06-19
COMMENTS ON
CANDIDATES
Short Articles Explaining the "Why'
Of the Most Popular Of the
Candidates for Nomination
them With an *" a
the Po11s-They Represent the
Public in Office.
Sheriff Beek's Candidacy.

John A. Beck is a candidate for re-
election to the Office of sheriff. He
has held the Office but n term.
Under the law the tenure of alice
Of the sheriff and treasurer is limited
to two terms. All things being equal
and a person having attended to his
duties properly and made a good
official, he shout be given a second
term.
Sheriff Beck has filled the Office
with credit and the voters will make
no mistake in giving him another
term. He is a candidate for nomina-
ton on the republican ticket on the
oath inst. Mr.. Beck has been a
terror to %evil-doers. The McClusky
Gazette speakes Of Sheriff Beck's
qualities and approves of his
nomination. 1t will be remembered
by the voters of Mclean county that
long ago before MI. Beck was elected
to the Office of sheriff, he rendered
material assistance to those in au-
thority and helped to punish those
outlaws known as horse and cattle
thieves who not very long ago proved
such a menance to many Of the early
pioneers in Mclean county. Active
in pursuit of law-breakers as a pri-
vate citizen he has been more vigil
liant as an official. The horse-thief,
the safe-blower and the other crooks
give Mclean county a wide berth.
Mr.. Beck has made it uncomfortable
for them here.
When Beck was first elected, the
county were feeding from fifteen to
twenty prisoners all the time at an
expense for board of over $500 a
month. Look now at the record of
the proceedings of the county com
missioners and you will find that this
excessive drain on the county funds
has been reduced from 100000 per
month to $50 or s65 per month, and
that only two II three prisoners as
a rule are now lodged in the county
Jail. These former prisoners were
mostly violators of the prohibition
law and most Of this undesirable ele-
ment has quit the county, knowing
that when Sheriff Beck vas handed
a warrant, that it meant business, for
it is a we'll known fact. that Beck
has never been delegated to a task
since he has held the Office of sheriff,
where he did not deliver the goods.
Not only has Beck been diligent
in prosecuting all known offenders
of the law and thus making Mclean
county a better place to live in, but
during the year and a half which he
has held Office he has collected be-
tween fifteen and twenty thousand
dollars Of delinquent taxes, nearly
one-third Of which covered periods as
far back as 1902 and 1903, which had
been previously considered as a dead
loss to the county.
Summing this up, what must We
conclude: That the present sheriff
has been responsible for Kidding Nc
Lean county of the previously exist
ing horse and cattle thieves, reducing
to practically an unknown quantity
the violators of the prohibition law,
saving the county over two hundred
dollars a month, previously paid for
boarding prisoners, and collected be-
tween five and ten thousand dollars
in delinquent and back taxes, which
in all probability would have been
lost, and otherwise has performed his
sworn duty in a c~ommendable, our
ageous and upright manner, and in
such a way that his character and
honest reputation is above reproach.