The Fargo forum and daily republican. [volume] (Fargo, N.D.) 1894-1957, 1910-07-20
SAYS PASTOR
DID not RETRACT
VELVA PREACHER SAID TO HAVE
REITERATED CHARGES
AGAINST OFFICIALS,

Velva, N. D., July 1S.-To The Fo-
rum; The article appearing in The
Forum of Saturday, July 16, regarding
bribery charges made by Rev. Benz
Babcock of the Methodist church
against the mayor and council Of this
pace Is SO warped as to need. correc-
ton. The facts are as follows: on July
4, three strangers ran a pig in the 500
stock yards at this place. Of course,
1t was eminently fitting that the stock
yards should have a pig in it but the
proprietors failed to keep the stencil
and squeal confined in the yards. So
disgraceful was the affair and SO flag.
rant violation of the prohibition law
that the citizens were much incensed
and Rev. Babcock in sermon on Good
Citizenship the following Sunday even
ing took up the matter. After stating
the fact that a rumor was current that
the officials had been paid to keep
hands off he further stated that from
his personal knowledge of the character
of these men he knew that not one of
them would profit personally from such
course but that 1t was evident that
from the holiness of the piggers they
had an understanding with some one
and that there was collision some
where, and some official hand was
shielding them. He then took UP the
defense of the officials and stated that
every citizen who had knowledge OF
the affair and. had made no complaint
shared in the responsibility His effort
was to arouse healthy public senti-
ment which should support officials and
compel obedience to the law. None Of
the council nor the mayor were present
and when report of the matter reached
them 1t had developed into a positive
assertion OF bribery by the pastor and
without full investigating the report
they made public the statement that
they would start suit for libel.
Last night before an audience which
crowded the church, the pastor again
took up the subject and repeated his
charge that the piggers were officially
shielded producing as evidence of this
the fact that two of the officers of the
police force were at the stock yards
with badges plainly visible and instead
of arresting the piggers were engaged
in quelling the brawls of the DRINKS
and escorting them to temporary bed
of straw in one Of the pens.
Complaint was made TO the city mar
shall during the day and he said that
he was too tired to go down there and
get mixed up in that affair."" The pas
tor has a large number Of men who
have volunteered to testify to the pres
ence of the officers in the yards or peer
ing through the fence. So clear and
concise were his statements and so
earnest his words that the entire audi
ence were carried with him and all
believed that he had proven the charges
that officers connived at the affair to
the extent of permitting it.
It is not anticipated that any further
trouble will ensue and in event of a
libel suit the pastor has the assurance
that he will be generously supported by
public sentiment
Mr.. Babcock closed his address last
night with a fervent appeal for that
hearty support of public officials which
makes them to feel that their work is
appreciated rather than continuance
of that spirit of unjust criticism of all
their acts that leaves them to feel that
theirs is thanklelss task.
George Downing.