The Fargo forum and daily republican. [volume] (Fargo, N.D.) 1894-1957, 1912-04-11

Devils Lake World: The pardon
board, which by the way Governor
Burke won't have anything to do with
since he was out of the state during
the period of the wholesale pardons,
must feel as though they had done
considerable wrong, and unless a hur-
ried 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
may have been led astray by a dem
ocrat with gubernatoFial aspirations,
has put a 'crimp" into any u
which the wholesale pardon organiza-
ton might make, even the lame excuse
made through the democratic organs
of the state would not hold water
now. Governor Burke's absence from
the state might be considered for a
moment, but since his return he must
have been besieged with letters ask
ing him to look into the matter or we
miss our guess. OF course p. ID. Nor
ton as secretary Of state has not heard
anything about how the people object
over North Dakota 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 oflee-he doesn't stick
around long enough to sign a proc
lamation, the last two, for Mothers
Day and Arbor Day having been
signed by his partner, John Andrews.
If Governor Burke would take a
hand in the matter he might rectify
the mistake and if it is necessary to
have a petition signed n might be
passed around and thousands of names
secured in Devils Lake of people whe
condemn the action Of the pardon
board, even though those pardoned
committed crimes miles away from
this city. There must be some leak In
this flaw Of the government; surely
the people cannot be made to suffer
for the personal gain of one man
That several Of those p~ardoned have
committed heinous crimes, which
might be repeated in the event that
they are allowed to pass the gates Of
the p~enitentiary is almost a certainty.
| Wollen's career has been shown to be
rotten even within the prison walls
where he has been tied to the post
day after day according to the prison
record. Remington, according to the
latest dispatches, is wanted for q
crime other than that which he is now
imprisoned for and as o as he
steps from the penitentiary he will be
rearrested and taken to another state
ON a charge of murder.
1t would seem that all these things
must show clearly to the pardon board
that the men whom they have parl
doned are not deserving. Enough
people have commented Upon it anC
newspapers have written enough aboui
the wholesale pardons TO at leasl
bring it to the attention Of the gov
erhor, and while he shuns criticism IL
being out OF the state during the par.
don period, he has been back Ions
enough to see the folly of his board
and take some action. Governor
Burks's hands are not tied in this at,
fair. A few and reasons have
been given out but none have hit thu
mark. The sayso Of Warden He'll.
strom has been given too much Gre,
dence by the board in the case OF VOL
len and no mention need be made q
the Remington case. Even h news
papers who hurried to the defense o
the pardon board are now hushed
They would prefer that nothing NOR,
be said about 1t. All have made I
mistake and are anxious to have thu
matter kept dark.
Governor Burke can only be- for,
given and not censured for not beins
here and knowing nothing about thu
work Of the pardon board during hi
absence by taking Immediate actor