The Brookings register. [volume] (Brookings, Brookings County, S.D.) 1903-1971, 1918-04-18
WILL CURB ANIMOSITY

In a notice published in this week.
Register the states attorney and sher
III have served notice on all people
in the county that they viii not stand
for any displays of unlawfulness even
though it is claimed that patriotism
has compelled the act. The Register
can get just as mad and feel just as
indicative against a Stacker or dis.
loyalist as any man, woman or child
on this earth, and at times it is mighty
hard 10 control our actions or curb
our tongue. And perhaps we don't al
ways do it. But the truth never-the-
less Is that no wrong is righted by an
other wrong. If laws are made for
the alien and Stacker to keep, they
are also made for us who claim to be
patriots. And if we do not keep them
we can hardly expect the other fellow
TO see why he should do so. If we
can take the law in our own hands to
resent an insult to the government,
then the n who commits the insult
feels justified in his course.
In dealing with the yellow painting
at Sioux Falls a few days ago, the
assistant u. S. district attorney, e. w.
Fiske, made the following statement
to a newspaper man:
This is no time for excitement or
acts tending to create riots or disturb
ances. Alien enemies and other per-
sons suspected Of pro-German procliv-
tiles are under surveillance, and have
been for the last two years, not only
In this state, but in other states. | do
not think there Is at present a single
case in this city or in the entire state
where any rank d~isloyalty exists that
the department OF justice has not been
apprised Of 1t and has taken cogniZ-
ance of the matter. There are per-
haps a few minor cases, but they, too,
will be attended to, and the govern
ment now has the matter of disloyal-
ty prosecution in such shape that the
law can look after all such cases. That
is the only thing to do, to let the law
take its course in these matters. The
attempt by individuals to mete out
justice in their W way, under cover
of darkness, even though the act be
done in a spirit Of patriotism, is I'M
called for and can have in the end,
no good results. We are now in a po-
sition to deal with all reasonable.
pro-German cases in the way they
should be handled, and it may be sur
prising. but Is nevertheless a fact. that
the painting or otherwise marking the
property of accused persons or their
attorneys is somewhat embarrassing
to the district attorneys office in it's
official work.
at may be a peculiar thing, to the
layman, to see an attorney take a case
Of a man against whom there exists
a strong charge Of d~isloyalty, but we
attorneys know that it is the duty of
every lawyer practicing in the state
to do his best to see that every ac-
cused man gets a square deal" The
statute makes it the duty of an attor-
ney never to reject for n personal
consideration the position of counsel
for the 'defenseless or the oppressed
1t is the duty of a reputable lawyer"
said Mr.. Fiske, "to take such a case,
when it has been made clear by the
client that 10 other attorney within a
reasonable distance will take the Job.
/ hope that the efforts of these night
visitors will be stopped. for it works
no benefit to anybody. and cannot but
in more bitter feelings and ami
mostly"
There have been cases Of ~disloyalty
gossiped about all over the county,
and il there is any proof of the mat.
ter It must be placed in the hands of
he proper oficer. The officers of this
county have taken a stand for law and
,rder and it is the duty of all u peo-
,le to back them up. II they fail to
10 their duty there is a proper way