The Fargo forum and daily republican. [volume] (Fargo, N.D.) 1894-1957, 1910-10-13

Devils Lake, N. D., oct. ITO The
Fourm: My attention has been called
to the fact that in a recent issue you
wrote an editorial censuring Govern
or Burke because of the connection
Of his law Arm with the defense Of
some men arrested, charged with
blind pigging." / have not seen the
editorial and can refer to it only as
I have. been informed as to its con-
tents. / feel it no more than my duty
to write you for publication, some OF
the facts relating to Devils Lake, and
also, to the connection of the law firm
of which Governor Burke is member
to the persons recently arrested
charged with violation of the liquor
law.
First, because the statements which
have been sent broadcast all over the
state and in other states as well, are,
for the most part, false and in all
cases that have seen or heard about,
greatly exaggerated, and a SANDER up
on the good city of Devils Lake.
Second, because they are unfair and
unjust to Governor Burke. / am per-
sonally, Mr.. Editor, a staunch repub-
lican i'm politics and one who is not
ashamed of his political belief. / feel
that campaigns could and should be
conducted without falsehood and cal
jimmy and about 81 per cent of the
reports which have been set forth
from this city are false. AS an illus
tration. in recent edition of paper
published in one of the small towns
In the western part Of the state, on
N Flg 7 aly
headline, was given an account of the
recent arrest of some blind piggers
and of the shooting of Dan Brennan.
The article concluded by saying that
over 100 cases of beer were taken.
The facts were that in the raid that
was made during the night not
single bottle was obtained but the
next day a search was made at one
place and about two cases and a half
of beer were found so that the state
ment was at least 97k per cent false
hood and that is more truthful than
many Of the statements which have
been sent out, which have not had
the slightest foundation of truth.
Time, Mr.. Editor, would not permit
me to nail to the cross all Of the false
hoods which have been told at the
instigation of a few would-be poll
ticians in their desire for revenge. l
simply wish to brand them as false
hoods and say that l stand ready to
prove them false to any fair minded
man who will visit the city Of Devils
Lake and go among the business men
and the best citizens indiscriminately.
l do not pretend to say there have
not been illicit sales Of liquor during
past six months, nor during past three
years that ! have resided here, but l
do say that the town has been as
clean as any Of the towns of its size
and cleaner than a great many, from
my observation going around over the
state and also from conversation with
of various cities over the
state.
Blind pigs will spring up in every
community and many arrests are made |
for violation of the prohibition law
in every community as cases involv- |
ing the attraction of the prohibition !
law are tried frequently in every |
within the state and that there |
should be arrests made for violations |
Of the prohibition law in Ramsey |
county is nothing unusual, no more !
motives which have inspired the SLAM
than is done in other counties. The |
derous assaults upon the city and the |
citizens of Devils Lake are so well |
known by the people who reside here |
that l would not take the trouble to |
write you or any other newspaper, |
were it not for the fact that these !
are disseminated all over
the state and by people who do not
know the actual facts.
Now as to the charges which have |
been made as l am informed, in var
ous papers of the state, rejecting on |
Governor Burke because of his con-
aection with the law firm who repre- |
sented men charged with infraction |
Of the Liquor law. These statements, |
which were published and sent out !
from Devils Lake, were equally as
false as the statement which I called |
your attention to, as to the quantity |
Of beer taken possession of or found |
by the sheriff. Yet, upon those false |
hoods, they have sought to build |
to stand upon and be-
smirch the character of Governor
Burke as an official.
The facts are that there were ar
rested during the night of the raid" |
nine men and one woman and it is
true a majority of them came to me |
to defend them. l refused to take |
'etainers from any of them excepting |
three who are business men in the |
city and regular clients of the office |
and men who stand certainly as we'll |
as the average citizen of Devils Lake, |
one the proprietor of the second best !
hotel in the city, the other two pro-
prietors of dray lines. These three |