The Fargo forum and daily republican., 1912-06-25
STATEMENT TO
CAsS CO. VOTERS

am candidate for the nomination for
states attorney. Pressing business,
and my engagement in the trial of
cases this spring has, and will, pre-
vent my making a personal canvass
Of all the voters OF the county.
In view of certain statements which
have been made by my opponent for
the nomination, I deem it necessary
to make the following statement:
Four years ago Mr.. Fowler was in
sistent that two terms was enough for
any incumbent of the states attor-
ney's Office. If two terms were enough
then, can see no reason why Mr..
Fowler should be entitled to break
this rule now and receive a third term.
1t is true that / was police magis-
trate for eleven years, assistant states
attorney for four years, and assistant
United States district attorney for
four years. / have neither the time
nor the inclination to figure up how
much have drawn in salary from
these offices. All that I have to say
in that connection is that / have fully
earned all that has been paid me.
What the citizens want in the states
attorneys Office is service and the
man that can give the county the best
service for the money ought to have
the job. The fact that / have held the
various offices mentioned above, in my
opinion, not only is not a criticism of
my candidacy, but on the other hand,
should be most conspicuous testi-
monial as to the service / can give
the county as states attorney, based
on my experience.
/ was not "born in this county," nor
have always resided in this state =
but have practiced law in Fargo for
thirty two years, and l am willing to
place my reputation for ability as a
lawyer against that of either Mr..
Fowler or his assistant, or both.
With respect to the expense of my
former administration as states at
torney, / have simply this to say. /
have not had the time to ascertain
what, if any, difference in expense
there has been between my adminis-
tration as states attorney, and that
of Mr.. Fowler, but the expense of
criminal prosecutions depends entirely
upon the number and extent of such
prosecutions. While / was states at
torney | prosecuted no man that / did
not think had reasonable grounds for
believing was guilty, and incurred no
expense as states attorney which /
did not deem necessary. Further than
that, however, the records show that
during the four years of my admin
istration, there were 385 criminal con-
victions, while during Mr.. Fowler's
administration there have been but
21S. The difference in the number of
convictions, therefore, would much
more than compensate for any diff
ference in expense, if, indeed, there
is any material difference in expense,
a fact which / have had neither
the inclination nor the time to inves-
fn ocf hot nh tot ir1n
more convictions in four years than
did Mr.. Fowler, it seems to me, is
an effective answer to the claim of
Mr. Fowler that there was less money
spent under his administration. Either
warrants were not issued by Mr..
Fowler when they should have been,
or the prosecution was inefficient, and
neither horn of the dilemma is good
advertising for reelection.
In addition to the foregoing, during
the four years Of Mr.. Fowlew's admin
instration, the county has been COM
PEELED to pay an annual salary of
$500 to the clerk Of the states at
torney's Office, an expense which /
found entirely unnecessary, although 1
secured the convictions of nearly rs
9er cent more criminals.
During my administration as states
attorney, 1 prosecuted 174 cases in the
tions. This is almost as many con-
victions as Mr.. Fowler secured in the
district court, county court and JUS
tice courts. in all, during his entire
administration.
Mr.. Fowler states that he collected
$4,000 in fines and penalties, of which
$1,800 had remained uncollected from
my administration. This shows on it's
face, that without considering the
fines and penalties actually collected
under my administration, that the
amount uncollected which Mr.. Fowler
afterwards collected. exceeded by $400
the total fines and penalties which Mr..
Fowler collected as the result Of his
own administration.
Furthermore, the record shows that
during my administration, that instead
of collecting a paltry $1,400, as did
Mr.. Fowler, caused to be paid into
the county treasury sum in excess
of $12, 200, which sum does not include
moneys received from criminal con-
victions in the various justice courts
of the county.
Further than that, of the $1,000 OF
fines and penalties from my admins
tration which Mr.. Fowler claims to
have collected, $500 of said sum was
fully secured by ample security, the
balance of $1,000 was upon bond
signed by a business man of Fargo
so that the county was entirely pro-
tected at all times.
So it will be seen that it cost Cass
county $4,000 during Mr.. Fowler's ad-
ministration to collect $1,40O, while il
cost Cass county $4,000 during my
administration to collect over $12, 900
Which is the better financial state
ment?
with respect to the collection Of de-
linquent real estate taxes, as under
stand the law, the method of collect
| ing delinquent real estate taxes is by
| selling the land, so that such taxes
are at all times fully secured, and the
rights or interests of the county are
never in jeopardy.
In addition to the foregoing, neither
| Mr. Fowler nor MIR. Stambaugh, his
assistant, have at any time to any
considerable extent been taxpayers OF
| this county. Each year. for practically
the last seven years, both Mr.. Rich
i ardson, my former assistant, and my
self, have paid more taxes than Mr.
| Fowler and Mr.. Stambaugh together
have paid in all during the entire
/ length of time that they have beer
practicing law in the state of NORTH
| Dakota.
| / therefore feel that my candidacy
is entitled to the consideration of the
voters of this county, and if the same
receives such fair consideration, and
shall be nominated, I will endeavor
to enforce the laws Of the state to the
best of my ability.
am not tied up with any com
bination, but am making this fight
laIone and single handed, on my record
| during my term of office.
II, however, the voters of Cass coun-
| ty shall see fit to nominate Mr.. Fow-
| Ter, can assure the voters and Mr.
Fowler that his administration will