The evening times. [volume] (Grand Forks, N.D.) 1906-1914, 1910-09-14

portion as the railway trains bearing
other members of the committee were
approaching Minneapolis. The min
ority refused even to take a recess,
and the other members. protesting
against the evident determination to
take a snap-judgement by a minority
In the absence of a third of the whole
tribunal. and declining to bear any
responsibility for thus converting the
investigation into travesty, and for
a violation of the fundamental prin-
ctple which should govern the pro-
ceedings, withdrew from the meeting,
and thus deprived the Democrats Of
their temporary control of the COM
mittee.
"The meeting being left without a
quorum any attempted decision Of the
case would have no more validity
than would like action of similar
number Of men collected at random
in the streets, but the spectacle was
presented of five gentlemen of a
tribunal Of twelve created by the
congress Of the United States assum-
ing to act as the tribunal itself.
These five gentlemen continued their
proceedings to the end, according to
the worst methods of ward politics,
and after pretending to adopt a re-
port Of eighty-nine pages which they
brought to the meeting. already pre-
pared, and which was never the sub
ject Of consideration or discussion. or
even read in committee, they gave it
to the newspapers, although the law
, required 1t to be rendered to con-
gress: and they completed their per-
version of the purpose of the meeting
by adiourning to December third so
as to foreclose, if possible any action
or consideration or discussion of evt-
dence by the committee in the mean
time; and by solemn vote they graci-
ously extended to the majority the
leave to file minority report
"It does not need to be said that
such action in both form and sub
stance Is wholly lawless and it leaves
1t entirely unnecessary to ask what
sort of justice any public servant
could look for whose character was
on trial from such proceeding in ex-
citement of political campaign. II
there is any relation betwten law
less methods and the character of the
results which they accomplished
this so-called verdict condemns its
author rather than the official under
investigation.
This action of the minority in no
way relieves us from our responsible
ty under the law. The duties which
have devolved upon us by the law
were not at all of our own seeking,
and they have proved laborious, and
sometimes disagreeable duties. But
we conceive that we are still bound
to follow as orderly procedure and
indeed. the only procedure that is
open under the Law. 1t is incumbent
on us to sift the great mass of evil
dence and to attempt to reach and
render just verdict.
every effort was made to induce
the minority members to agree to a
meeting on some early day at Mime
apolis or Chicago as might suit their
, convenience but without avail. The
chairman called the present meeting.
The members whose names are here
to attached have spent the day re-
viewing the case, but being without
quorum are powerless to act and have
adjourned subject to the call of the
chairman.
The report of the committee can
not be made until December 5, when
congress meets, and the meeting call
ed for September 5th. was for the
purpose of considering and discussing
what the report to be made three
months thereafter. should be. There
was, therefore, no haste or pressure
for time The action of the Demo-
cratic minority in taking temporary
advantage of the delay OF some mem
bers in reaching the meeting was an
effort to substitute a pro-arranged
scheme for the orderly deliberations
and discussions which the duty of the
committee requires.
"The pretended adoption of re-
port of a committee, exhibited will
ingness to sacrifice the rights and in
jure the reputation Of the officers in
vestigated in order to obtain a sup
posed party advantage in the pending
political campaign. We cannot re-
concile such course with our sense
of justice and of our duty.
"-Knute Nelson,
Geo. Sutherland,
e. Root.
Samuel w. Mccall,
Martin E. Olmsted,
e. Denby."