The Ward County independent. [volume] (Minot, Ward County, N.D.) 1902-1965, 1917-06-07
JUDGE LEIGHTON MAKES REPLY
District Judge Explains His Attitude
Towards Law ViolatOrs to Correct
Some Mistaken Ideas.

Underwood, N. Oak, May 81, 1917.
Judge Leighton,
Minot, N. Oak.
Dear Sir:
AS l take from the papers you are
not in sympathy with Mr.. Langer's eff
forts to curb the Liquor gang. Can
this be possible, that you, man who
holds public office, and Judge at that,
can side in with the vile crowd of law
breakers? The dirty business of liq-
uor, bawdy houses and gambling dens;
what good does that bunch ever do to
the community? Are they Wealth
producers No, they only take the
money from the working man, from
the father, the family that needs it,
and in return give them misery, tears
and starvation and ruin.
l am glad we still have some MEN
like LANCER, that dare to do their duty
as officers of the public, and know
for the good work of destroying the
will come when this fair land of ours
will be rid of the liquor and gambling
business, and | ask you, as a public
officer, to dare to do your duty, and
help curb the law breakers, and make
them all respect the law the big fell
lows as we'll as the little fellows.
These words written with kindest
feeling and hearty desire for a clean
Government, I am, yours truly,
R. E. BUSCH.
Minot, N. Oak, June 2, 1917.
Mr.. R. E. Busch,
Underwood, N. Oak.
My dear Mr.. Busch:
Your favor of the 31st ult. received
this morning.
I was very glad to receive your let
ter for l had been wondering whether
or not these newspaper stories which
have been circulated by Mr.. LANCER,
for his own particular use and benefit
and for the benefit of one or two of his
satellites, if they were really being be-
lieved by men who were not CONVEX
SAINT with the facts.
I am heartily in accord with your
idea that the liquor traffic, gambling
houses and the bawdy houses should
be eliminated, and have been of that
opinion for many, many years. We
have ample law upon the subject to
curb and govern these matters, and I
have attempted at various times to Sc
cure other legislation, which in my
opinion would be advantageous for
that purpose.
l notice that you say in your letter
that you see from the papers that I
am not in sympathy with Mr.. Langer's
efforts to curb the liquor gang, bawdy
houses and gambling dens. am lit
tie surprised that any one who would
stop to think and reason, would believe
such statement against one who has
held the office of District Judge in one
community for more than six years.
and who has been recently elected in
campaign where all such scurrilous
statements were made, by majority
of over 1900 out of about 10000 votes,
could be the kind of an individual
whom the papers have intirated that
/ am. a-at'
I think if you have read the papers
carefully, that you will find that these
stories have emanated from Mr.. Lang
er and Rev. Watkins. -.. vi
l do not think that you have ever
seen my name in controversy through
out the newspapers, through any eff
fort upon my part. | have, always
gone upon the theory that a man
should go ahead and do his duty as he
saw it, without regard to what the
press might think; and have never
employed the service of brass band
or a press agent to inform the people
of the good things which have done.
or to minimize the eyii things which
| have done. No man is perfect, and
l make no claims to perfection. SO far
as my reading and information goes,
there. has only been one perfect man in
the history Of the world, although
there have been many who have at
tempted to give the impression
through the press and their own state
ments, that they very closely resem-
bled that immortal person.
My observation for a period of tWen-
ty years has led me to believe that
the man who goes about the country
parading his official acts, does so, not
through the sense of duty, but entire
ly for the purpose of self-aggrandize-
ment. I know of no single instance
where this does not hold true, and it
most certainly holds true in regard
to the two gentlemen whom have
mentioned. These men care not whose
reputation they may blacken, if it will
only rebound to their own selfish inter-
est, and I know that many men will
take their statements for truth, for
the time being, and until they are in
formed better 1t is one of the I'M
fortunate things Of the human race,
that they are ever glad to believe
things that are bad, and give but little
appreciation for the good l have no
fear whatever of any Statements which
are made working to my injury
among those people who know me
best; no matter whether it be the At"
torney General who makes those state
ments, or any one else who is care
less of the truth
These statements are being made by
a man who does not know me, or whom
I do not know, and I do not care to
have his acquaintance, and are being
made without any basis Of fact, and
for the particular purpose of shield
ing himself from the criticism which
he knows will sooner or later assail
him; and I will suggest to you, that
it is always well before believing all
these things which you hear of any.
person, to inquire of those who know
him best, whether there is any truth
in the statement In the case of an