The Fargo forum and daily republican. [volume] (Fargo, N.D.) 1894-1957, 1911-05-02
CASE Will COST
STATE $4,000

Bismarck, n. D., May 2.-That "air
surcharged with excitement" which
expression certain newspaper cores
pondents are wont to apply as express
sive of the situation existing in Bis
marck as a result of developments in
the Cowan case, must exist largely
about the Office of the state treasurer,
for it is in that quarter that most OF
the unexpected developments are oc-
curing
Early estimates that $50, 900 would
cover the cost Of the Cowan trial have
been shattered, the statement issued
Saturday evening by State Auditor
d. X. Brightbill showing that up to
that time the cost to the state Of the
case was $51,124.76, and with the
prospects that the action will con-
tinue till either Friday or Saturday
of this week, another $4,000 will be
added to tle cost.
Neither Auditor Brightbill nor State
Treasurer Gunder Olson are very
much excited over the case at the
present time. even in view of the con-
slant drain that is made upon the re-
sources, and from all appearances at
the present moment, they are about
the only persons who have any real
cause for "surcharged excitement"
The RoombshelI--WowI
And as to the "bombshell" that was
burst on the floor of the state senate
when Attorney A. G. Divet of Wahpe-
ton was on the stand In connection
with the newspaper investigation
the inquiry may be dignified by such
designation.
Mr.. Divet told very interesting
story of how, while the fight for the
impeachment OF Judge Cowan was in
progress before the house last Feb
ruary, he had held several CONVERSE
tions with Senator Judson LaMoure
of Pembina county, in which converse
tions the Pembina county senator
is said to have expressed his own
sentiments on the Cowan case, being
to the effect that he himself would
never vote to convict the accused jur-
list, even if the case did come to the
senate, and furthermore, he is said to
have made declaration to the effect
that Cowan could not possibly be con-
victed because of the complexion Of
the upper branch. And that is where
the inquiry into Senator LaMoure's
position ended.
It was Judge Cowan himself who
stated, IN opening the case for the
| defense, that there were some MEM
bers of the senate whom he would not
allow to sit as jurors If the jury was
to try and pass judgment on him was
drawn in the ordinary manner. And
that same statement probably holds
| true with reference to the prosecu-
| ton.
Political Features.
To divorce the political feature from
an impeachment proceedings OF this
nature is admittedly difficult, and that
would be especially true of the Cowan
case, where, in the house Of represen-
tatives, the insurgent republicans were
whipped into line to impeach. In view
of the action taken by the insurgents
in the lower branch, It is not to be
supposed that every senblance OF the
political could be eradicated the mo-
ment the case left that body.
Sifted to the bottom, with both sides
of the question presented, there is real
lily very little to the reports Of that
| ''air surcharged with excitement" and
bombshells, etc. They are largely, If
not entirely, creatures of imagination
The wish is father Of the thought.
The Newspaper Feature.
1t is doubtful If the newspaper feat
ure of the Cowan case viii be so inn
portant in the senate as it was in the
house, although 1t is admitted, or al
least 1t is known beyond all reason
able doubt that the same tactics are
i being employed now to bring about
1 the conviction of Cowan as were used
last February in bringing about his
impeachment before the house.
4 A statement to the effect that stor-
les on the Cowan trial antagonistic
to the accused jurist and prepared
for the express purpose Of creating
sentiment against the court OF Inn
II parchment and the accused are being
prepared in Bismarck by what may BIZ
termed an anti Cowan press bureau
attempting to bring influence upon the
court, is absolutely and positively
J within the truth.
These stories are prepared and
4 turned over to such newspaper COR
respondents as are here representing
] the portion of the state press active