The Ward County independent. [volume] (Minot, Ward County, N.D.) 1902-1965, 1910-09-08

: Il
surprised that he has an itching to
get back into control. My defeat be-
Conner necessary as the first step tc-
wards the reinstatement Of Murphy
ism.
In my previous article l referred to
the refunding of taxes to Murphy by
the board Of county commissioners
and in doing SO I may have. and per-
haps did, leave the impression that
this action was by the present board
of commissioners. desire here to
say that the refunding of the taxes
referred to was by the action of the
board preceding the present board Of
commissioners una 1t is but just to
say that no member of the present
board of commissioners was then on
the board. H..
The false circular and Murphy's let
ter accuses me of extravaganza. The
records of the court and of the coun-
/ ty do not show this to be a true
charge. In the first, place it is well
known that I do not expend cent
of county money, have no power to,
no authority to, and do not pretend
to.
AS to the attack upon my private
and public life, l have this to say,
that it most false an dmalicious, and
was known to be false by Murphy and
his friends, as many of the latter
have assured me. But such is Muir
phyism. To those who know me a
denial on my part is unnecessary.
We're guilty OF one-fourth Of the mi;-
conduct attributed to me by Murphy,
I could have been, should have been,
and doubtless would have been i'm.
peached long ago. Residents of MI
not, and men from all parts Of this
county, see me daily in court, and Of
course know absolutely that his
charges of personal misconduct are
false. I am persuaded that this mall
icious and ridiculous attack will fall
far short OF its purpose and will re
coil upon Murphy and his gang, and
serve to convince the public, what
many of US have known that the truth
is not in him. Practically every at
torney in Ward, Renville and Burke
counties have had cases before me.
Many men from all over these coun-
ties, as well as Mountrail county,
have been in court as litigants, jur-
ors and witnesses. All of these at
torneys, jurors, witnesses and 1iti-
giants know absolutely that Murphy
has falsely and basely accused me
Gentlemen, VINO have been states at
torney and assistant states attorney,
since have been on the bench know
absolutely that Mu1phy's charges are
false and malicious, and that they
have no foundation in fact.
For the edihcation OF Murphy. l
desire to commend to him the follow
! ing from the speech of Colonel Roose-
welt made at Kansas City on Septem.
Der 2, 1910:
There is no greater foe of honesty
than the man who, for any reason, in
ANY capacity, attacks or seeks to at
tack any honest man for a crime,
which he has not committed. False
" accusing an honest man Of dis
honesty, is an act which stands on
the same level of infamy with that of
a dishonest man, and It is no higher
duty to attack the dishonest man
than it is to exonerate the honest
man, falsely accused. 1 should be
ashamed to hesitate the fraction Of
second longer in one case than in
the other. Good citizens should dis
trust the man who can never zee dis
honesty except in the case of the man
he dislikes."
I have resided in North Dakota
nearly 20 years, and during that per-
iod, my life has been an open book.
I have done many indiscreet things,
but nothing under cover of darkness,
and I have injured no man, except
possibly myself. have enjoyed the
reputation in both my private and
public life of being honest. l have
been fair and honest in politics, and
I have enjoyed the confidence OF many
of the leading men of the state Of all
parties, and OF all professions and
businesses for the past Is years, and
I am confident that charges of mis-
conduct against me by man of the
reputation. OF John s. Murphy will
find no Judgment with the men who
know me best.
absolutely decline to further ar
que with this man, no matter what
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