The Fargo forum and daily republican. [volume] (Fargo, N.D.) 1894-1957, 1911-05-29
WEAK NEED GOVERNOR?

The Mandan Pioneer is not pleased
with the methods used by Governor
Burke in the Sioux county seat mat
ter. 1t doesn't like the idea of a gov
ernor Of North Dakota turning the
trade OF fertile section of the state
over to South Dakota, II is not par
tieularly enthusiastic over his shift
ing of the responsibility. The atti-
tude Of The Pioneer is no surprise to
any one who has studied7-the COVER
nor. 1t says:
In all the history OF North Dakota
there has never been a more farcical
proceeding than that which has
marked the Sioux county seat fight.
We have had presented to us the spec
tacie Of two forces, those favoring
Selfridge and those standing for Fort
Yates, running their heads off over the
Indian reservation asking the Indians
who compose rs per cent of the popu-
lation TO affix their signatures to petit
tons, indicating their preference in the
matter. There are a few educated
Indians ON the reservation, who UNI
qusationably are as well qualified to
act as the whites, but by far the great
er majority are influenced by the last
man who gets at them. And so it
happens that many names were on
both petitions.
Although realizing the conditions,
unwilling to take the matter in his own
hands. shielding himself behind the
law which is all very well when APP
piled TO white men, Governor Burke
sent the two factions racing over the
reservation for petitions a second time
although there was no guarantee but
that the farce would be repeated over
again.
The men came back with the petit
tons signed, names of many on two
petitions, names Of men who died years
ago II liz alleged occupied considerable
space on one Of them, and the govern
or knowing just about as much as
ne aid two months ago as to the pre-
ferences OF the inhabitants OF proposed
Sioux county.
1t was fight Of the Northern Pa
cific and It's supporters against the
Milwaukee road and it's adherents;
fight of North Dakota interests against
South Dakota, with Governor Burke
afraid TO stand for his own state and
give a liberal enough Interpretation to
the law to decide for his own state.
In the recent supreme court decision
on the Standard Oil case the justices
had a good deal to say about the e.rule
OF reason. Governor Burke is respect
fully referred 10 this decision ag in
dicattng that the people have a whole
lot more of respect fox one who ex-
hibits back bone, than for one who
cringes behind literal Interpretation
OF the law, and shrinks from what he
sees and knows to be his duty.
In the controversy over the county
seat there has never been a valid
reason offered why Selfridge should
be chosen as the county seat except
that it was geographically nearer the
center Of the county. The fact that
Fort Yates Is the center of popula-
tton; that II Is an historic spot: that
1t is already d place Of considerable
pretensiOn. with schools, bank. build
ltngs OF various kinds where temporary
county Offices might be located, all this
was brushed ruthlessly aside by the
governor as he dramatically read the
law to his audience composed mostly
OF Indians few weeks ago. 1t mat
tered not to him that Eelfridge was
but q speck on tbs map where If the
county seat were even temporarily
located II would be necessary To erect
buildings which might be vacated Ia