Bismarck daily tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, Dakota [N.D.]) 1881-1916, 1912-10-23

justice" and through political affilia-
ton. I have not met a man on the
list who has denied that the allega-
| tons were true and l do not believe
there is a reputable man that will say
over his signature that he does not
believe them true.
If the allegations are true, is there
not sufficient grounds to try to defeat
Mr.. Barnes? II they are true. is Mr..
Barnes a fit man to be sheriff of Bur.
leigh County? Mr.. barnes says in his
| announcement IF reelected, this Office
/ win be run the same as under my
present. administration" What are the
facts? While Mr.. Barnes has been
| sheriff from 10 to 20 blind pigs have
thrived in the city Of Bismarck con.
t%inuously, two or lore bawdy houses
where prostitutes spread impurity and
| disease have. run wide open all the
time until the Enforcement League
had them closed, and gambling joints
have fiourished and showed their lack
of fear by not moving out until a new
constable was appointed. These viola.
tons were common knowledge in Bis
marck and ven In other parts OF the
| state. If Mr.. Barnes claims ignorance
he admits an unusual dnmbness of
perception and dcgre of incapacity and
incompetence. II he admits knowledge,
he admits guilt under the law. But
! afiidavits attached show knowledge
and completely as well. and if it is
true that Mr.. Barnes is a member
the drinking clubs where liquor is kept
for sale or distribution, he Is also
] guilty Of direct violation of the law
under Sotion No. 9377 of the code
| which carries a penalty of 80 days and
5000 fine as a minimum.
If these things are true, it is prema.
ture for a number Of citizens who in
heir petition do not even deny the
charges, to condemn the procedure
when action is started with such evi'
hence attached. Why should action
against any such official be stayed for
fear 1t would defeat his reelection?
Does not every requirement of good
citizenship demand his defeat? Why
should a few citizens raise the cry OF
politics." II it were the case of a
common blind pigger would the same
cry be raised? believe am as loyal
z progressive as any who signed thai
petition and as anxious to G certain
good men elected and it looks to me
as II some of these signers are allow
ing progressive politics" to cover 1
multitude of political sins. Gentle
men, ! assure you | would rather beal
the political turpitude of trying tt
defeat a man who has not done hi,
duty than to reflect one who has not
" am also willing to let the publ
Judge between my actions and yours
am at this work solely because til,
officials in certain parts of the stat,
10 not do their duty. There is ii
county in which the officials could no
enforce the law. That these place
run ul1molested is evidence to al,
air minded person that the official ]
not doing his sworn duty. The LAY
abiding people of the state who wan
protection pay taxes to pay the Off
ials and then have to hire some OH
outside of official circles to secure. eli
fofcement of the law. This is not
salr deal. a .,
The problem of law enforcement ]
largely a problem OF the official. TIL
sheriffs and police are woefully dert
lict in some counties and the thin
most needed is to remove some .
them from Office and nothing else WI
so so far as to enforce the law on
teach the majesty Of the law, as thi
very thing. I find in my possessiD
the evidence in a certain case. Di
fail through personal. political D
other motives, to act in the matter,
would be guilty Of the very same thin
am trying to remedy in the official.
As to the time of starting the actor
that is but an excuse to cover the res
issue. That issue Is, is Mr.. Barne
guilty of the charges in the complaint
Be it known to the public that Nj
Barnes himself. carried the protest "
tltion and solicited the signers. d
Mr.. Barnes tell these persons that h
was not guilty..o the charges? WI
: Mr.. Barnes say owe his own siEns
ture that the charges ere untrue?
F. u. WATKINS,
. supt. N. D. Enforcement League.