The Ordway new era., 1916-11-03
McElroy' 5
Challenge
Harry e. Mast.

r. Harry e. Mast.
he Republican County Chairman and
ttorney-at-law.
bear Sir:
see in last weeks papers, the fol-
bwing article:
"In order to correct an erroneous
bcalities who have been misled into
Believing the Probation Officer Law"
as been changed as to abolishing the
kffice, deem 1t advisable to set the
eople right on the subject. The
kbolishment OF the Probation officer
discretionary with the County
fudge THE LAW HAS NOT BEEN
cHANGED IN THE LEAST PAR
rICULAR.
AS to whether we shall have a Pro-
BATON officer will depend upon who
elected County Judge.
If Mr.. woodbridge is elected we are
assured this useless expense of 5000
Der year will cease after January 1st,
t917. He has promised to and will
kbolish the Probation Officer If he is
Elected.
Respectfully,
Harry T.. Mast,
Chairman Republican Central Com.
Now, Mr.. Mast, to the end that the
beople of Crowley county be relieved
from further torture of the Probati
Officer rot, and political boomerang,
challenge you to state one instance
IN which the Democratic candidates
tor County Judge has ever said that
be would employ Probation Officer
5000, or $1,000 per year, or any
bther sum. And I demand that you
Atnfa 10 ;,
That under the last section of the law
hbolishing the fee system on page
R26, Session Laws 1918. if said sec
lion does not prohibit the payment of
, clerk as Probation Officer? And
further, since the Judge cannot any
longer use the Probation Officer, un-
der the law, as clerk, do you want
the people of Crowley county to un-
aerstand you, that the Democratic
Candidate would appoint a Probation
Officer for the probation work alone.
II a salary of 5000 year? l observe
you say that Mr.. Woodbridge will or
can abolish the Probation Officer.
Now do you mean to say that he can
pr will abolish the Probation Law?
pr will he file information himself
Rnd then try the cases in his own
court? Or will he hire someone out
bf his $500 per year to make these
Investigations and file these informa-
lions? Or will he get someone that
will do it for nothing? Or will he
Fefer it to the District Attorneys
bflice and allow him an attorneys fee
FOR filing these informations? Will
your candidate be Judge and Clerk
end Probation officer. all? Further
i is easy for you to say that your
candidate will do the work, BUT
HOW? TELL US HOW HE WILL
pO THIS WORK. and then the voters
Fan estimate the probable cost You
know who he has picked to do the
flerical work. Come out in the open
hnd tell us.
Section 2. Session Laws 1911, Page
|b42, reads as follows: "In counties
bf $500 0inhabitants. or less, the
county Judge II DENIED necessary by
|him to carry out the provisions men,
stioned in Section 1. is authorized to
appoint, not to exceed one such Pro-
patton Officer at a compensation not
10 exceed $1,000 per year" Under
fhis section a County Judge may ap-
point Probation Officer and use him
|as clerk of his court, which is done
Pr nearly every county in the state
where the Board of County Commits
fioners refuses the Judge any cleri-
gal assistance. In counties where a
CLERK is provided. the clerk does the
work of both Clerk and Probation
|Ofilcer. In counties where the Board
refuses to allow any clerical assis-
Itance, the Judges appoint Probation
|Officers and make them do the work
(Of clerk.
The Legislature. in Session Laws
Ll913. at page 225 and 226 passed a
[law abolishing the Fee System and
put the Judge in counties of this class
|on fixed salary of $500 per year,
|or $7200 for the four years. And the
past section reads as follows: 1.-THE
Slerk of the County Court and ALL
CLERICAL ASSISTANCE SHALL BE
PAID ONLY OUT OF THE FEES
AND EMOLUMENTS OF THE Of
FlCE OF THE COUNTY JUDGE AND
CLERK OF THE COUNTY COURT
ACTUALLY COLLECTED IN EX-
JESS OF THE SALARY OF THE
COUNTY JUDGE" as fixed in Section
g thereof respectively, and not other
wise.
Now, Mr.. Mast, are you willing as
lawyer to say to the people of Crow
ey county, that this does not prohibit
he Judge from paying clerk, either