The Devils Lake world. (Devils Lake, N.D.) 1920-1982, 1921-03-09
BY FRED ]. TRAYNOR
Published BY His Request.

By FRED ]. TRAYNOR
Published BY His Request.
Last November l published over my
signature a letter stating my position
paving. Following the pub
lication of that letter, I personally
prepared a number of petitions to be
signed by property n protesting
against paving. These were literally
signed. They were then filed with the
City Auditor. Subsequently the Board
of City Commissioners publicly an
'nounced that they would contract no
further paving and all proceedings for
paving were discontinued definitely
and absolutely. These facts speak
for themselves.
l am still opposed to the contract
ing Of any paving in Devils Lake in
the years 1921 and 1922 apd shall con-
tinue to oppose it, by every honorable
means, even after 1922, if in my judg-
ment prices are not reasonable or the
need for paving does not exist. am
confident that no Board Of City Com
nissioners will dare to force in paw
ing when public sentiment is opposed
to it. If public sentiment had mani
Tested itself as opposed to paving in
1920 there would have been no paving
then. I have $50 feet frontage of
last years paving to pay for. l did
mt oppose it because / deemed the
downtown paving necessary ever at
the then prevailing price. I have 450
feet frontage outside of the present
paved district that will be affected by
future paving. You'll agree, l think
that I am enough interested to be IN
guard against future paying that is
unnecessary or unreasonable costly.
In spite of the foregoing an impress
sion has gained some credence among
my friends and neighbors that l have
turned my back on them and gone in
to some mythical conspiracy to force
paving on the city. l have been &C.
cused of being a "hired lobbyist
Sisted as City Attorney in the tele-
phone directory" who went to Bis
marck and and in conjunction with
other persons worked against Sena-
tor Stevens Paving Bill. It is be-
cause Of such statements
that I publish this letter.
Now let's get this straight. I am
not City Attorney of Devils Lake and
have not been for nearly two years
last past. l am not now, and have
never at any time been, requested OF
employed or paid, pr promised pay
either directly or indirectly, by the
City Of Devils Lake or any of it's of.
fcers or anyone in its or their behalf
or by any other person, firm OF cor
,poration, to lobby for or against Sena.
tor Stevens Paving Bill or any othe,
bill in any way relating to the City
of Devils Lake in the present session
sof the legislature.
i was in Bismarck during the frs
week in February on business. Wha'
that business was is my business, bu'
It had absolutely no connection what
soever with Senator Stevens Paving
Bill or any other matter in which tn
City of Devils Lake or it's citizen
were in any way affected or interest
ed. I go to Bismarck a number o
times every year on business befor
the Supreme Court and other depart
.ments, I have been in Bismarck thre
different times during the presen
session. On none of these occasion
has my trip there had any relatio,
whatever to Senator Stevens PAWN
Bill or any other legislation affectin.
Devils Lake. On February 9th, I hear
shout five minutes of the closing par
Of the speech of Mr.. Blood to tn
Senate Committee on the Stevens Bill
i did not, however, appear before tn
committee at any time nor in an
! manner participate in the discussion
lat that time I had not ever read til
bill and had no knowledge when I lei
for Bismarck that such a bill existe'
Can we, as citizens, control the pa,
ing situation? OF course we cal
How?
First: There is a city election
April at which we will elect the Pr,
.aident and two members Of the Gil
Commission. That is a majority
the Board. We can force the cand
dates to pledge themselves as Oppose
10 paving during the next two year
or If we wish, until same is petitions
for by q majority Of the proper
holders. II they refuse we can defe
them at the polls if public sentime
u opposed to paving-and it is.
Second: II any members god I
FCommission breaks his pledee or
sany other manner IL unfaithful to {
people we have the right Of Reca
The Recall stares these officers
sEhs face ct al times and thsy do
ars ruthlessly override publie sen