Devils Lake weekly world. (Devils Lake, N.D.) 1911-1914, 1912-04-12
THE LAST STRAW,

THE LAST STRAW.
The pardon board, which by the way
Governor Burke won have anything
to do with since he was out of the
state during the period of the wholesale
pardons, must feel as though they have
done considerable wrong, and unless q
hurried meeting of the board is held
to reconsider some Of the work which
they carried out, the people generally
over the state will not be satisfied and
may bring Indignation to bear to such
an extent that the pardon board will be
forced to back water. The new phases
of the work of the board which NAV
have been led estray by democrat
with subernatorial aspirations, has upt
a "crimp'' into any excuses which the
wholesale pardon organization might
make, even the lame excuse made
through the democratic organs of the
state would not hold water now. Gov.
ernor Burke's absence from the state
might be considered for moment, but
since his return he must have been be.
sleged with letters asking him to look
into this matter or we miss our guess.
OF course P. D. Norton as secretary of
state has not heard anything about
how the people object over North Da-
kota or he would have spoken about
it long ago through his medium, the
Fargo Courier News, but "P. d.
doesn't know much about what goes
On in the secretary of states Office
he doesn't "stick around" long
enough to sign a proclamation, the last
two, for "Mothers' Day. and "Arbor
Day. having been signed by his part.
ner, John Andrews.
If Governor Burke would take a
hand in the matter he might rvc;ifv
the mistake and if it is necessary to
have petition signed one might be
passed around and thousands of names
secured in Devils Lake of people who
! condemn the action of the pardon
board, even though those pardoned
committed crime miles away from this
city. There must be some leak in this
flaw Of the government; surely the PEG.
pl.. cannot be made to suffer for the
personal gain of one man. That sew.
era lof those pardoned have committed
henous cdimes, which might be re.
peated in the event that they are al
lowed to pass the gates of the peni.
Tertiary is almost a certainty. VOL.
lens career has been shown to be rot.
ten even within the prison walls where
ne has been tied to the post day after
day according to the prison record.
Remington, according to the latest dis.
patches, is wanted for crime other
than that which he is now imprisoned
for and as 500 mas he steps from the
penitentiary he will be re-arrested and
taken to another state on a charge of
murder.
It would seem that all these things
must show clearly to the pardon board
that the men whom they have pardoned
are not deserving. Enough people have
commented upon it and newspapers
have written enough about the whole.
sale pardons to at least bring it to the
attention of the governor, and while
he shuns criticism in being out of the
state during the pardon period, he has
been back long enough to see the folly
of his board and take some action.
Governor Burke's hands are not tied
in this affair. A few excuses and rea.
sons have been given out but none have
hit the mark. The sayso of Warden
Hellstrom has been given too much
credence by the board in the case of
.Wollen and no mention need be made
of the Remington case. Even the news
papers who hurried to the defense of
the pardon board are now hushed
They would prefer that nothing more
be said about it, All have made a
mistake and are anxious to have the
matter kept dark.
Governor Burke can only be forgiven
and not censured for not being here
and knowing nothing about the work
of the pardon board during his absence
by taking immediate action now. The
people demand it. There is scarcely g
person in the state who would raise
his voice in APPROVAL of the pardon:
that were made. Governor Burke is 6
member Of the pardon board, his Office
gives him the power, and if the power
is used with that diligence claimed fol
. him in the excuses which were made il
his behalf, saying that he could not b.
blamed since he was not here. surel,
when he lid return there was n,
change in the situation. The indigna
ton is spreading ike wildfre and i
will not be long before the entire stat
with one accord will demand that tn
wholesale pardons be reconsidered j,
, just so far as possible and especial,
, in the case Of Remington, who has no
, yet stepped across the peniteptiar,
threshold.
+ THE RAMSEY COUNTY PLAN.
Ramsey county has been taking wha
: tho Timou ho1savoo 20 %ho ~ro,k -.