The pioneer express. [volume] (Pembina, Dakota [N.D.]) 1883-1928, 1910-07-29

smothering the wishes of (three-fifths)
of the peopleis but Il blind to cover up
the real and dastardly animus of the
whole proceeding. The arbitrary,
tyrannous and illegal passing of the
petition had purpose far beyond the
declared intention 'to prevent the
Pembina people from getting in re-
nonstrance or inducing signers to take
off their Names" They proposed to
sinch the game. They proposed to
close the debate by rowing the previous
question.
Under decision of the supreme court
after the county board have passed
upon the petition and ordered an cleo
tlon there is no such thing as question
ing the legality or suf1iciency of the
petition. Even if the Pe,nbina people
had evidence to prove that half the
slgners were not electors, that large
number of them had been led to sign
by misrepresentation, that the books
had been signed by persons who did not
appear before the notary, or any other
evidence, it would not be received by
any tourt. The court would say that
evidence should have been brought
before the county board who are the
jury and make the final decision-but if
the boards were all Like our Pembina
county fathars-when and where could
evidence be heard?
| AS long as the board were 'consider-
ing" the petition they had the right to
receive, and anybody had the right to
bring in remonstrance, or protest., or
testimony-but after the board had
passed upon 1.-THE door was 'fotever
shnt-and the county board of Pembina
county shut the door at tie very begin
ming of the consideration and locked it
securely and finally ia five hours after
ward-and threw the key down in the
we'll.
For this reason the Doard refused to
spend any time in the consideration of
the petition. For this reason they re-
fused to allow an open hearing. but
adjourned to a private rOom and after
fifteen minutes appeared and announced
that they did not want to hear from the
Pembina people, that they weresatisfed
with the petition, Though at that time
the board as board had only seen the
covers of the petition books.)
For this reason the board then divid-
ed themselves into two parties and
with the help OF several of the Cava-
ier committee, proceeded to count the
names, making no attempt Whatever to
discover whether they we're genuine or
not except to occasionally ask some
member of the Cavalier COMMITTEES who
such q signer was, and be introduced
by them. For this reason Immediately
on tho finish of the connt, commissioner
Moria pulled a prepared typesritten
Fesoantion from his pocket which the
board proceeded to pass and thus c1osed
the farce as they think and inteuded--l
finally.
The Pembina committee are not say
ing that the petition is not sufficient
and legal. but they do say that they
have had no opportunity to know
They claim that they had the right |
morally and legally 70 see and examine
. petition that means very much to |
them financially and as citizens. They
however, have every reason to believe
from the action Of the Cavalier CON-
mittee and the county board In refusing |
to allow investigation that prima facie |
the petition is 4 fraud.
Fortunately the county commission
ers cannot prevent tbs appeal Of the
two-ffths Of disfranchised and dis.
credited voters of this county TO the
three -fifths who perhaps did sign the
petition. l,.a "a
The court Of the whole people will
sit upon this case on the 8th 81 Novem.
her next, and We believe they viii decide
rhat locality that has shown 8 much
greed and such snapiud -gment hsthods
are not the people 70 s. trustsd With
the custody of the county ssit nd the
building q ! new court hop,a. he they
10 tricky nov they VII ~ tsiall thsn.
they hlys showa how Il ~ thsl
essss a3t rs;