Grand Forks herald. [volume] (Grand Forks, N.D.) 1916-1955, 1919-11-24
THE GOVERNORS FIzzLE

Governor Frazier's military achievement In 'connec-
ton with the coal mines Of this state, reminds ono ire
army Of . hundred thousand men; and nrst he marched
them up the hil-then he marched them down again"
Governor Frazier. with a much smaller army, acquitted
himself with equal skill and effectiveness. The only
casualties sustained were those inflicted on the inflated
ambition Of IN individual who. essayed the role OF die
tatoE, and on the plans Of a group Of Socialist conspirators
who sought to capitalize a national emergency for the
promotion Of their own destructive policies.
The situation as 1t is now presented is fun Of inter
estins features. BY his own declaration OF purpose and
his onhand decision OF a question OF wages, the governor
brought about a strike of which there had been no pros
pect, Disdaining recourse to the regularly constituted
civil authorities. Of which the state is fun. and in cheer
full disresagd Of the manifest fact that there existed not
the slightest excuse for military interference carried out
the next part Of hts program by taking forcible posses.
sion Of coal mines and undertaking to. operate them in
tho name Of the state.
Called into district court on the application Of the
owners Of one Of these properties. the governor. through
his attorney, perpetrated q piece of unparalleled I'm
pertinence. not In denying formally the courts jurisdic-
tton,. which was a matter for argument, and subject to
review and decision, but in the bald assumption that,
through some God-given right, he was superior to the
constitution, and the statutes Of the state, and not
amenable to the ruling of its courts.
The supreme court has made short work of. that
amasinE contention. It has denied his demand that the
authority Of the district court be rejected and repudiated,
and leaves standing ahd in full force the order of Judge
Nuessie that the seized property be restored to It's own
es before Monday noon. The governor, in his effort to
cover his tracks and save himself from some Of the rid,-
Guile and condemnation which he has 30 richly merited.
will undoubtedly seek to have IT. appear that his restor-
alton Of the Wilton mine wasNdue. not to any court
order, but to his knowledge that the miners would return
to work as direct employees OF the mine owners. That
viii not wash. The court order ID there. The governor
had appealed from it. and his appeal had been denied.
And he has obeyed the order q the court, the SPECIFIC
order Of the judge whose ofnoial@ act, according to Mr..
Ienke. would properly subject him to court martial,
followed by decapitation or perforation for high crimes
and misdsneanors against the dignity of the great
Poo-bah Of the state.
The whole thing would be exorutiatingly funny if
1t were not 80 serious and, serious though It is, It ID
funny anyway. The amusing features are those which
stand out most prominently. The serious s,smsnta appear
when these are brushed aside and We nnd that the man
who occupies the position Of governor OF Thu. state de-
Iclasss hs right to deal at his pleasure With the property
Iof ID catisenA1 In emergencies which may be purely
imaginary, or which may have been deliberately crested
By himself. The same line OF unreason would Justify
his sstzure, not alone Of the property. but Of the persons
Of citizens. their confinement during hs pleasurs. ana
even their execution under his newly invented artlclss
o. war 8s@aS@