The Fargo forum and daily republican. [volume] (Fargo, N.D.) 1894-1957, 1910-10-29
An Open Letter to the People Of
North Dakota for Judge Burke

understand "a word of the proceeding"
8. Interpreters have been employed
for each and every foreigner brought
, before Judge Burke's court here who
was unable to understand the language
! of the court
4. Special agents of the United
and were present at the time in ques-
ton and cross examined the appli-
cants and witnesses very minutely
8. The oath of allegiance was not
administered to the whole band Of
applicants in a body
| s. The writer knows whereof he
speaks because he was present during
| said term of court and was a witness
for one of the applicants.
| The writer does not for one minute
believe that Judge Amidon has so Sc
verely arralgned Judge Burke without
believing himself well informed and
which we find he was not. He has had
the case "miserably misrepresenIed" to
him, whereby an almost unbelievable
wrong has been perpetrated upon
Judge Burke, and which. should be
corrected. The press of the state has
seized the matter and is making capital
of same against Judge Burke at this
time in his candidacy along with five
others for election TO the supreme
court.
The writer will not here contend for
or against the fitness of Judge Burke
or any of the rest of the candidates
for membership to that greatest honor
our state can confer on one OF it's citi-
zens. The interest of the writer is
that an error be corrected and square
deal be had by ALL
1t Is quite clear to the writer that
the source Of Judge Amidon's infor-
nation was prejudicial in a political
way to Judge Burke and that the for
mer was unconsciously made an in
strument to further the purpose ,of
Judge Burke's enemies, and especially
so at a time so near election that its
effect would be most deadly in that
time would not permit a responsible |
denial and retraction or correction.
There Is not jurist in the United
States today who is held in higher |
esteem by the writer than Judge Ami |
don and we deplOre the manner in !
which he has been so boldly misled in |
his findings against Judge Burke We |
regret deeply that such a scandal has !
been thrust upon Logan county officials |
but those of us in Logan county who |
are more familiar with the situation /
than Judge Amidon know where the !
blame belongs instead of upon Judge !
Burke and that Judge Burke has been
made victim of misplaced confidence. |
and in Judge Amidon's own judgment |
and language: "They are not guilty of
the crime charged as they had no
guilty knowledge" which reference
Judge AmidOn made to persons other |
than Herman Hardt, our former clerk
of court of Logan county, who were
held to answer for violations of the |
law which not only applies to the ma
turalization of citizens but to all mat
tiers of honesty and trust.
Judge Burke has conducted his court
In Logan county to. the entire salts
faction of all people here. He has
proven himself fair and square to all,
regardless of friend or foe. In the
June primaries he secured seven out of
every eight votes Of the county. The
people of events that we would not be
surprised If Judge Burke should carry
the county without dissenting vote.
The writer assumes that it is the !
purpose of our courts to right wrongs |
to our people rather than to inf1ict |
them. A country that would attempt |
to harbor courts to perpetrate wrongs !
rather than to remedy them would |