The evening times. [volume] (Grand Forks, N.D.) 1906-1914, 1913-10-11
SATURDAY, OCTOBER II, 1918.
THE sULzER CASE

The SulZer case is draWlnE u d
close. The testimony is all in, and the
arguments have been made. IT remains
only for the court to determine the
rules for its final procedure. to decide
,r what testimony shall be considered
and what rejected. and to return It's
verdict.
In all of its aspects the case has
been truly a remarkable one. MIR.
sulzer has been a member of congress
FOR some years. During his entire
public career he has desired 1t to be
known that he was a friend of the
people. He has said SO. time and
again. and in order to make it perfect
ly clear, while he was a candidate lot
the nomination for governor ne ca"s-
ed a compilation to he made OF the
declarations Of friendship for the PEG
nile which had been contained in his
various speeches. The result was q
book Of considerable size. and If any
! one doubts that Mr.. Sulzer loves the
plain people, all that he needs to do
in to get a copy Of that book and read
lM
su,zer was nominated and elected.
iTammany accepted him. just h
probably Tammany knows. He is not
all the type of man that would be
high in the councils of Tammany. but
! there was reason to believe that he
was the sort of man who could be use
full to Tammany, vain. shallow, am
hiticus. and likely. because Of his pose.
to retain a considerable popular fol-
lowing. But Sulzer proved intract-
able. Being elected governor he n
nounced that he was the head Of the
party in New York state, and lie be-
reyed 1t. The country needs a presi-
dent every -four years. and doubtless
the road from Albany to Washington
looked easy. and the goal was very
attractive. Why should not he con-
tipue to be the friend of the dear peo-
pie until he got to Washington? The
humiliation Of Tamlnany would be a
popular thing. and might help quite
a lot. The work Of hulniliating Tam
man. was begun. Tammany was de-
fed, and there was a throwing up OF
hats and shouting. a new David had
come forward to deliver the state from
the Goliath who threatened 1t.
Just why Tammany decided to fight
is doubtless known to Mr.. Murphy.
There are many reasons which will
appeal to almost any person and some
Of which doubtless appealed to the
Tammany management. At any rate.
It wal determined to fight. The man
who had become undesirable to the
organization must be removed. How
was it to be done: It was found. or
perhaps II had been known all the
time. that sulzer had juggled his cam
patgn funds. and had used contribu-
lions intended for campaign purposes
IN stock tobbing operations for the
recouping Of his private fortunes. 1t
wal known that the statement Of cam
paign expenses and contributions
which he had hled according to law
were false. And 1t was known that he
had used the power Of his once to
force through the legislature leEisla-
ton which he desired. All Of this
would have been a matter Of indif-
ference to Tammany IL the governor
had only stood solid with the organi-
xation. He might have committed any
crime on the calendar and 1t would
not have disturbed Tammany. But.
having offended Tammany, he must
suffer, and he was indicted.
The facts which have been ascer-
tanned show that the whole case is a
miserable one, looked at from any
angle. The governor has not shown
up we'll. He has clustered and threat
ened, and then weakened. He was
willing to accept immunity by the
transfer Of the charge of guilt from
himself TO his wife, when a better man
would have gone to any length to
shield his wife. ever IL she had been
the guilty party. He has sought to
suppress evidence. and has had the
temerity to suggest to men Of honor
that they perjure themselves in his
interest He has shown himself the
shallew demagogue.
What will be done with him remains
to be seen. The whole atmosphere is
surcharged with politics. sulser is no
longer an element in the situation. 1t
rs q night between Tammany and its
a~dversaries. There are doubtless some
men on the high court who have kept
their minds free from the contaminat~
Ing influences Of partisan warfare, and
who will Judge the case on It's merits,
but 1t 10 almost a certsinty tina the
bulk Of the membership of That court
will decide according to their political
afhliations. The whole case is dis
graceful. and something for the state
OF New York to be ashamed Of.
~Vv cmrr,-,o