The Ward County independent. [volume] (Minot, Ward County, N.D.) 1902-1965, 1911-08-10
Arne Writes In
Own Defense
Commissioner Explains His Attitude Towards
The Countys Unfortunate and Pays ffis
Respects to the Independent Editor

= that we have at the poor house, and
IN one sense of the word, it will be
practically the same thing for those
patients. While upon this subject
| want 10 refer you to a very undis-
putable fact that we all have, or have
had, parents, who have raised US and
| worked for us practically one-half of
their lives, and given us all the COM
forts that they under the circum-
| stances possibly could afford, but III
the long toll of life they grew old and
feeble and in a good many cases they
at that time were down financ ally as
we'll as physically What would then
be more to expect but for the young
people to repay some part Of all
this good that we have received from
the old folks. But I am sorry to Say
that in good many cases they leave
the old folks to become public charges
either to be taken care of by public
charity, or as generally is the fact in
most cases, they will be left to the
county to be provided for at the poor
house. 1t appears to me that this
type of people that can 50 easily forget
that they are sons or daughters of
the old folks, or that the old folks
are their parents, might just as we'll
forget that they were ever born.
The overseeing Of the poor is one
of the duties of the county commits
sioners and as such we come in con-
tact with good many peculiar cases
of this kind. Probably very few peo-
pie realize that there is scarcely q
day when there is not an application
to the board of county commissioners
for aid or donat ton in some form or
another and if we should accept them
all we could easily spend from $4,000
to: $40, GOO more annually than we do
now .sof the county's money. Another
fact is that it Is not always the needy
] ones that apply to the county. for
/, help, but, We are endeayoring to use
! our best Judgment in sitting out those
!. who are most needy and worthy. and
the balance of them we generally ad.
wise to put forth little more effort
TO help themselves and they can get
along fairly well without any public
help, which We find in a good many
cases that they do.
! My action on the board of county
commissioners evidently does not an.
peal very favorable to the editor OF
the Independent and this very respect.
able farmer from Ryder, and I would
suggest to these two friends of mine
that the next time you get differ
ent man. The man that would suit
the editor Of the Independent and This
friend of mine would be one that
would do just exactly as every Tom
Dick and Harry tells him, instead OF
doing as he sees it and according to
his best judgment.
It appears that my friend. the edi
or Of the Independent, has alread,
started some Of his usual and YER,
sanitary campaign arguments. mas
much as he advised this very re
spectacle farmer to read my letter t.
all the voters providing should com,
out for reelection. have never tho
OF coming out for reelection or an,
other election. but If should, he cal
pin this with the other and read i
to the voters, as 1t matters hut yer,
little to me. II ever should corn,
out for another election, should soon
er trust myself to the man who ha!
ordinary knowledge enough TO Judge
for himself, than to be under thu
mercy of twisted up newspaper facts
ana others that will do their twisting
4 according to compensation.
H In conclusion Wish to pay mJ
highest compliments to my deal
friend, the editor of the Independent
/ for the very kind and generous inter
est that he has taken In my behalf
and trust that in the future he vii
| find some other needy place to apply
his demagogism, and that he vii
leave me alone, at least for a while
to take care OF my duties and affairs
Yours very truly,
ARNE AMUNDsON