Grand Forks herald. [volume] (Grand Forks, N.D.) 1916-1955, 1921-09-01
NO HELL FROM THE STATE.

untaYorable tor threshing of late. Rains have inter
rupted the work, and the warm weather since til
rams have caused grain to sprout unless it could b
dried promptly. In order to avoid this the re-shocl
ing of a good many fields has been necessary, an
throughout the state the present is a time for urgeT
icy or. farms. Lawless men who have invaded til
state, not to help with its work, but to prey on thcs
who do work, are taking advantage Of this condition
and acts of intimidation against both farmers an
their working employees are frequent, Arrests 70
this cause were made at Langdon, and immediate
the I. W. W. forces began to move for the Liberation
OF their friends A mob OF these fellows who has
congTegated at Devils Lake adopted resolutions de
handing the release OF the Lang1on prisoners, re
gardless OF the charges against them. and regardless
OF what a reguaas hearing might develop~ In orde
10 enforce this demand they proceeded to take pos
session Of railway GssHs 10 have themselves trans
ported Tree TO L1agSea. their declaration being thai
at they could not seezrs the release of their com
rads Ssesher means they moad employ force
The Langaaa eass about the most acute that
has developed eAas far. bot there have been many
others SzaassT N eAarzet-s and differing from it only
N degree State csfScas OF West Virginia have
been censz7ea hecaase through negligence and tim
ad7ry Saev have pezEsrsed disorder which prompt &C
0cn would have checked to pass beyond their con.
uoa IheSrase officials OF North Dakota have been
worse shsa negligent Their attitude has been that
OF sylpstav with Eawbreakes and Of opposition to
adj etscres % protect the state from such experiences
as that with winch Lzngdon has been threatened.
The position taken BY Governor Frazier two or
three years ago, and from which he has never reced-
&C, amounted to an Invitation to the wobbics to
come 70 North Dakota, take possession, and make
Themselves at home It was so interpreted by the
Kobb2ies themselves, who have heaped praises on
Governor Frazier for his expressions of friendship
for them.
In their riotous behavior now the I. w. WIS re-
" on the support of the state administration. and in
view of what is past, that expectation is entirely log
lcal- Local communities have learned to expect no
aid h cfnk1 -, $I4,- e. a. 81
and in that they, also, are logical.s The citizens of
the state must rely for the safety of their persons
and the protection of their property on their own.
initiative and the courage and fidelity of their local
officials. If these prove inadequate, they are help
less.
It is all the more important. therefore. that
when there is even a suggestion OF disorderiy agita-
ton IN a community it be dealt with promptly and
dec1slvely by the properly constituted local author
tiles. Had it not been for the promptness and de-
termination of the officials of Langdon and Cavalier
county, backed by an un1nistakable public sentiment
the city of Langdon would have been invaded by a
mob OF 200 or more men ready for any sort OF trouble
which their leaders might propose. The members of
the mob were warned that if they approached Lang
don they would run into a fight, and that warning
was gwen IN such a way as to carry conviction. The
expedition, IN that form, was abandoned.
In niping this Instruction in the bud there has
been no violation of the constitutional rights Of in
d1yiduals, no matter how humble any of them NAV
be. Several men were arrested on credible testimony
charging them with interference with and intimida-
ton of peaceful workmen who were attending to
their own business. The arrested men are held reg
ularly.and legally. Their rights to fair trial will be
fully protected. If they have friends whom they
wish to consult opportunity for that will be grant
ed. But there will be no intimidation OF courts or
juries by mobs, and no taking of prisoners from the
custody Of officers who have lawful charge of them.
That is the attitude of the people of Langdon. and
it ought to be the attitude Of every community in
the state.