The Fargo forum and daily republican. [volume] (Fargo, N.D.) 1894-1957, 1912-06-25
STATEMENT TO
CASs CO. VOTERS

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, l can see no reason why Mr..
Fowler should be entitled to break
this rule now and receive a third term.
1t is true that I 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 l have drawn in salary from
these offices. All that I nave 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 car 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 a most conspicuous testt-
monial as to the service / can give
the county as states attorney, based
on my experience.
I was o "born in this county," nor
have I 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, l have simply this to say I
have not had the time to ascertain
what, If any, difference in expense
there has been between my admins
tration as states attorney, and that
Of Mr.. Fowler, but the expense Of
criminal prosecutions depends entirety
upon the number and extent of such
prosecutions. While 1 was states att
torney / prosecuted no man that I did
not think l had reasonable grounds for
believing was guilty, and / incurred no
expense as states attorney which l
did not deem necessary. Further than
that, however, the records show that
during the four years of my admin
istration, there were 3S5 criminal con-
victions, while during Mr.. FoWler'S
administration there a been but
218. 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-
tigate. The fact that I obtained 1877
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 Jour 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
secured the convictions Of nearly Il
per cent more criminals.
During my administration as states
attorney, l prosecuted liza cases in the
district court n secured 163 convic-
lions. This is almost as many con-
victions as MI. 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
81, 800 had remained unsolicited from
my administration. This shows on its
face, that without considering the
fines and penalties actually collected
under my administration, that thu
} amount uncollected which Mr.. Fowlel
afterwards collected. exceeded by $40l
!. the total fines and penalties which Mr.
Fowler collected as the result of hi
own administration.
Furthermore, the record shows tina
during my administration, that insteac
Of collecting a paltry $1,4O0, as dit
Mr.. Fowler, / caused to be paid int
the county treasury a sun in excess
I Of $12, zoe, which sum does not includ
moneys received from criminal o
: victions in the various justice court
g of the county.
Further than that, of the $500 o
fines and penalties from my admins
tration which Mr.. Fowler claims t
have collected, $500 of said sum wa
: fully secured by ample security, tn
balance Of $1,000 was upon a bone
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 Cas-
county $4,000 during Mr.. Fowler's ad
ministration to collect $1,400, while
cost Cass county $4,000 during m.
{ administration to collect rel $12,0 0O
Which is the better financial state
ment?
With respect to the collection of de
linquent real estate taxes, as I under
! stand the law, the method of collect
: ing delinquent real estate taxes is b.
selling the land, SO that such take
! are at all times fully secured, and tn,
rights or interests of the county ar,
/ never in Jeopardy.
! In addition to the foregoing, neithe
Mr.. Fowler nor Mr.. Stambaugh, hi
assistant, have at any time to an,
considerable extent. been taxpayers o
this county. Zach year, for practical.
the last seven years, both Mr.. Rich
ardson, my former assistant and my
self, have paid more taxes than MI
/, Fowler and Mr.. Stambaugh togethe
have paid in all during the entiT
length of time that they have beef
practicing law in the state of Nortl
Dakota.
. I therefore feel that my candidac.
is. entitled to the consideration of tn
voters of this county, and if the sam
receives such fair consideration, am
I shall be nominated, / will endeavo
to enforce the laws of the state to tn,
best of my ability.
/ am not tied up with any com
I, bination, but am making this figh
alone and single-handed, on my recor,
during my term of office.
If, however, the voters of Cass coun
ty shall see fit to nominate MI. Fow
Ter. I can assure the voters and MI
Fowler that his administration vii
receive my earnest support and goot
will. Most respectfully,